🏐 Emily Kohan on Building a Sustainable Division I Volleyball Program at Colorado State

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Emily Kohan, head coach of Colorado State Volleyball, to break down what it really takes to build and sustain a successful NCAA Division I program in today’s college athletics landscape.

Four years into her tenure as head coach, Kohan shares how she leads with intention—developing systems, prioritizing communication, retaining players in the transfer portal era, and balancing elite performance with family life. The conversation covers program-building, staff leadership, player development, organizational habits, and what separates healthy, stable programs from ones constantly chasing the next fix.

This episode is a must-listen for coaches, aspiring head coaches, recruits, and families who want a clear look at modern Division I leadership—without shortcuts, noise, or gimmicks.

🔹 Topics include:
• Building a Division I program with clarity and consistency
• Player retention and development in the portal/NIL era
• Leadership habits that scale under pressure
• Balancing family life with the demands of college coaching
• What sustainable success actually looks like

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📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here: https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

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John Payan on the Recruiting Fit Truth About Division III Basketball | (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this Significant Coaching conversation, Matt Rogers continues his discussion with John Payan, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Coe College, with a deep dive into what college basketball recruiting actually looks like from the coach’s seat.

Payan breaks down how he builds his roster—starting with fit as a student and person before anything basketball-related—why winning your “backyard” matters, and how geography, culture, and family support all factor into long-term success. He explains why seeing recruits in person still matters, what body language and behavior reveal during evaluations, and why some traits simply can’t be taught.

This episode covers:

• How coaches truly evaluate recruits beyond film and stats
• Why body language, respect, and response matter more than highlight plays
• The reality of JV development and why playing time is never promised
• What families often misunderstand about Division III basketball
• Honest advice for recruits, parents, and high school coaches navigating the process

This is a truth-filled recruiting conversation—direct, practical, and grounded in long-term development and fit, not shortcuts.

🎧 Missed Part 1? Go back and listen for a coaching-focused conversation on culture, standards, and program building.

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Support the show

📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here: https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get y...

🏀 John Payan on Mindset, Accountability, and Building a Program That Holds Under Pressure | Significant Coaching Podcast

In Part 1 of this Significant Coaching conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with John Payan, head men’s basketball coach at Coe College, for a deep, honest discussion about what it really takes to build a program that lasts.

Payan shares lessons from his rise through the coaching ranks—from grinding as a graduate assistant to helping lead back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams, and now carrying the responsibility of the head chair. He breaks down why mindset, effort, and energy are daily expectations, not motivational slogans, and explains how fundamentals, physicality, and habits show up when games tighten and seasons get hard.

This episode dives into:

• Teaching accountability without crushing confidence
• Why rebounding and ball security are mindset issues first
• How young head coaches learn to adjust without ego
• Practice planning that mirrors real game situations
• Developing players for basketball and life beyond the game

This is a pure coaching episode—practical, grounded, and built for coaches who care about standards, development, and doing the job the right way.

🎧 Part 2 of this conversation shifts to Significant Recruiting, where Coach Payan shares insight for student-athletes, parents, and high school coaches navigating the recruiting process.

📚 Books & Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

The Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions)

• Soccer Recruit’s Journal: https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX
  
  
• Volleyball Recruit’s Journal: https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S
  
  
• Basketball Recruit’s Journal: https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ
  
  
• Baseball Recruit’s Journal: https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ
  
  
• Softball Recruit’s Journal:

Send us a text

Support the show

📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here: https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get y...