In this solo episode, I break down how to separate yourself in the coaching interview process and land your next job. From getting your foot in the door to preparing for Zoom and on-campus interviews, I walk through the strategies that make the process simpler, clearer, and far more effective.

I cover how recruiting, interviewing, and sales are deeply connected, what you should be researching before every interview, and how to communicate your value with confidence. I also explain why every coach should build a Portfolio Packet, what to include, and how to use it as a true separator in the hiring process.

This is a short, practical episode for coaches who want to show up prepared, stand out in interviews, and position themselves as the obvious choice.

⁠⁠EP 7: Phil Baier | Making Career Moves, Acing Interviews, and Developing Interns⁠⁠

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Getting Your Foot in the Door

01:31 Building Your Resume

02:31 The Research Phase

03:35 Connection of Recruiting, Interviewing, and Sales

06:08 Zoom Interviews

07:48 Zoom Slides

10:27 Making a Lasting Impression

11:42 Building Your Portfolio Packet

13:02 Preparing for On-Campus Interviews

Julian Lo Casto, Head of Performance and Nutrition at Challenger Strength, joins the show to discuss what actually goes into building elite basketball athletes. Julian recently released his first book, The Foundation: The Proven System for Building Elite Basketball Athletes, and this conversation centers around the principles behind that system.

We dive into the most common mistakes basketball players make, the myths young hoopers often fall for, how athletes should structure their weekly schedules, and how to approach sprint and jump training throughout the year—including why AAU season should be treated like a mini in-season.

Julian also shares lessons from the business side of private-sector training, including how to consistently show parents that their athletes are improving, the sacrifices he’s made along the way, and why he still prioritizes protected time for family and himself, even without perfect work-life balance.

Check out Julian’s book The Foundation: The Proven System for Building Elite Basketball Athletes by [clicking here].

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

06:13 Common Myths in Youth Basketball Training

13:27 In-Season Training: Maintaining Strength and Performance

17:56 Educating Parents: The Importance of Consistency

23:29 Structuring a Balanced Training Schedule

31:35 Maintaining Speed and Strength During the Season

35:25 Communicating Progress to Parents

38:01 Establishing Clear Metrics for Success

41:58 The Importance of Skill Development

45:58 Ruthless Consistency in Business and Training

49:16 Sacrifices on the Path to Success

53:21 The Foundation: A Resource for Young Athletes

Connor Abreu, owner of Thunder N Lightning Performance in New Jersey and winner of the 2024 Gym of the Year award from the Business of Strength group, joins the show to break down the strategies behind running a highly successful and profitable single-location gym.

We dive into what Connor would do if he had to start over in a brand-new city with zero connections, the core principles he would use to rebuild his membership base, and how he identifies true core-value fits when hiring staff.

Connor also shares how he develops employees, builds clear systems and SOPs, and ensures that high-quality individualized programming can still fit inside a scalable, efficient business model.

If you’re a coach or gym owner looking to strengthen your systems, staff, and long-term sustainability—this episode is a must-listen.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Thunder Lightning Performance

06:51 Transitioning from College Coaching to Entrepreneurship

09:29 Advice for Aspiring Coaches and Entrepreneurs

12:02 Building a Business from Scratch

17:41 Establishing Authority and Value in Coaching

20:45 Creating a Vision for Life and Business

23:04 Hiring and Evaluating Employees

31:34 Core Values in Hiring

39:58 Developing New Coaches and Standard Operating Procedures

48:35 Shifting Business Beliefs and Philosophies

54:35 Motivation and Growth in Business