Every athlete’s path looks different — and sometimes the biggest growth happens when the spotlight isn’t on you.

In this episode, Chris and Pat sit down with Delaney Crawford, wide receiver for the Ohio University Bobcats, whose journey from high school quarterback and track standout in California to college wideout in the MAC is a story of resilience, adaptability, and faith.

Originally recruited to play quarterback at Virginia, Delaney has learned what it means to embrace change, stay patient, and keep working even when the plan shifts. He shares what it’s like to transition positions, transfer programs, and continue developing in every aspect of his life, while trusting the process and the people around him.

Discipline, standards, accountability, behavior — all are words that can make or break a team. In this episode of The Coaching Life, Chris and Pat dive into the tough conversations around holding athletes accountable.

When a player shows up late, displays bad body language, or challenges team standards, how should a coach respond? Is it about punishment, or is it about teaching life lessons that extend far beyond the field?

Through real-life case studies, we explore:

• ​Why consistency in discipline matters
• ​The tension between talent and team culture.
• ​Creative ways to make discipline a positive part of player development.

Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, this conversation will challenge how you think about consequences, standards, and the role of sports in shaping character.

In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Chris and Pat talk about artificial intelligence in youth and high school sports.

From breaking down swing mechanics and optimizing practice plans to helping parents understand their child’s development, AI is becoming a tool that coaches, players, and families can use to enhance everyone's experience of the game.

Whether you’re a coach, player, or parent, this conversation is about how AI can be a helpful teammate in the ever-changing world of technology and sports.

In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Chris and Pat dive into how coaches can invest in the "middle-bottom" players of your roster (forgive us for that label, it's tough to describe). But, how do we keep them motivated, and how do we help them understand their value.

We’ll talk about:

• Why and how the middle-bottom players often set the tone for team culture

• How to define success beyond playing time

• Practical ways to keep these players engaged and motivated

• How to use practice to build their confidence and skill

• The bigger picture: coaching every player is a "big picture" skill for coaches

Whether you coach youth sports or a high school sport, this conversation is about making sure every kid on your team is seen, valued, and developed. Because at the end of the day, it’s the whole roster that builds a team’s culture.

Coaching isn’t just about practices, games, and strategies — it’s about the little things in between.

In this episode, Chris and Pat talk about the subtle but powerful moments that shape a team’s culture: conversations on the bus, greetings at practice, building connection, being intentional about gratitude.

These “in-between” moments often go unnoticed, but they build trust, connection, and buy-in over time. Whether you coach at the youth, high school, or college level, the little things you do outside of the game can leave the deepest impact.

In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Chris and Pat dive into one of the most important—and sometimes, most underprepared—aspects of youth and high school sports: practice.

Are we practicing the right way or the wrong way? Do drills actually build transferable skills, or are they just busy work? How much of our time should be spent on fundamentals versus competition?

We tackle questions like:

• Are our practices preparing players for real game situations?

• How can we design drills that force decision-making instead of mindless repetition?

• What’s the right balance between technical, skills work and competitive reps?

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  We also challenge coaches and parents to rethink the purpose of practice and to ask tough questions about their own routines and to even discuss with your players, "What did you learn today?"

After a summer break, Chris and Pat are back to kick off Season 12 of The Coaching Life Podcast! In this episode, we share an overview of some of the conversations we’ll be having this season, including:

• Are we practicing the right—or wrong—way?

• Coaching the “middle” and “bottom” kids on a team.

• The impact of bus rides, team meals, and other “little things” that shape a season.

• …and much, much, more!

Join us as we set the stage for another season of honest, practical, and sometimes tough conversations about the realities of high school and youth sports.

In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Chris and Pat dive into a conversation about loving the sport you play. We chat about the deeper connection athletes can have with their game, their team, and the entire experience of being part of something bigger than themselves.

We discuss:

✅ Why passion for the game matters sometimes as much as talent for the game

✅ The impact of loving your team—through wins, losses, and everything in between

✅ How youth coaches and parents can help young athletes develop a lifelong love for their sport

✅ The powerful impact youth coaches at younger levels can have on the success of a high school program

🎙️ Subscribe, share, and let us know—what do YOU love most about the sport you play?