Beyond The Whistle with Odell McCants

Beyond The Whistle is the podcast that takes basketball coaches beyond Xs and Os with actionable tips and advice to grow your network, create a plan for your career and maximize your influence. Hosted by Odell McCants of McCants Sports.

The Role of Strength and Conditioning Coach During Crisis and Beyond with Matt Johnson, Director of Men's Basketball Strength and Conditioning, Butler University 05/04/2020

Keeping It Simple and Consistent with Kevin Sutton, Rhode Island and Randolph Childress, Wake Forest 04/20/2020

Lessons From Legendary Coaches and HBCU Heroes Supporting Student Athletes with George Lynch 04/16/2020

What Matters Now In Your Recruiting More Than Ever with Dan Tudor, Tudor Collegiate Strategies 04/14/2020

More Than Ever, It's Bigger Than The Ball, with Kyle Adams, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff 04/02/2020

I'm Back and Honoring Kobe Bryant 01/27/2020

Build Your Personal Brand with a Podcast, with Jerod Morris 11/06/2018

Why You Need a Personal Brand as a Coach, with Ron McKeefery 10/11/2018

Kevin Sutton, Assistant Coach, University of Rhode Island 07/11/2018

Tom McMillen, President & CEO of Lead1 Association 06/29/2018

Journaling to Coaching Career Success with Khadija Head, Associate Head Coach, Kennesaw State 06/06/2018

Brittany Wagner of Netflix Last Chance U 05/16/2018

Take Control of Your Recruiting Process with Dan Tudor Part Two - The Campus Visit 02/27/2018

Pursuing Financial Excellence with Romone Penny 02/12/2018

Do We Need a Signing Day? 12/01/2017

College Basketball Scandal. W.I.S.E. Recruiting 09/29/2017

Take Control of Your Recruiting Process with Dan Tudor - Part 1 09/20/2017

Rising Coaches Elite 2017 08/08/2017

Rising Coaches Elite 2017 Rising Coaches Elite 2017 I recently had the opportunity to speak at the 8th Annual Rising Coaches Elite 2017 Conference. Rising Coaches Elite is an annual conference that provides professional development for basketball coaches, primarily just starting in their careers. Most of the attendees are graduate assistants, directors of basketball operations and team managers. Attendees came from a wide range of programs. I was also pleased to meet and get to know a few high school coaches who attended as well. The conference was held at Marian University. Marian is an NAIA school with a beautiful campus about 3-4 miles outside of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. This speaking opportunity was a direct result of social media. I have been following Rising Coaches Elite on Twitter for a while and often share their content. And they have done the same with me. From that, I connected with Adam and the result was receiving the honor of being invited to speak at this year’s conference. It was an honor to be part of a great group of speakers. And it was a great group of speakers. They included Tennessee Tech Head Coach Steve Payne, Danny Mills, college scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, Duke Women's Associate Head Coach Hernando Planells (what a motivating speaker he is), and several others. You can find the full speaker list with links below. As you see, attendees were provided with information, tips and advice on career development from a cross section of levels of basketball and levels of coaching. I know that I took away a great deal of knowledge myself from every speaker. My presentation was the Five Stages of the Business of Coaching. I presented how the stages of a coaching career match those of a business lifecycle. They are: 1. Incubation 2. Start-up 3. Emerging 4. Enterprise 5. Legacy I’m going to speak in more detail on each stage, with examples of coaches, the challenges of each stage and the strategies and resources you need to succeed at each stage and bridge yourself to the next, on future episodes. It’s something I’m really looking forward to sharing with you. So be on the lookout! For now, I want to thank Adam, Brandon and the Rising Coaches Elite team for the opportunity to participate and learn myself. For those who attended the conference, I commend you on making the investment in yourself. Most of these guys are young, aren’t making a lot of money but took the time and found the resources to attend, and learn and connect with other professionals. If you are are starting in your coaching career, or want to start, or just want to learn and make some great connections, I highly recommend attending next year’s conference. If you are a head coach, assistant coach or even perhaps an administrator, I urge you to recommend and even find a way to help your young coaches and support staff attend this event. It’s a way to invest in your staff, your program and the future of the great game of college basketball. I know for me, It was exciting to spend a few days with the future coaches and leaders of college basketball and if they will have me, I want to continue to support and participate in Rising Coaches Elite. As always, I want to thank you for listening. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Subscribing is the best way to stay updated on new episodes. Links: Speakers: Vance Catlin, Pro Personnel Scout, Indiana Pacers Adam Glerlach, Assistant Coach, Cornell Sean Dwyer, Assistant Coach, Northern Kentucky University Steve Payne, Head Coach, Tennessee Tech Rich Czeslawski, Pure Sweat Basketball Brandon Rosenthal, Assistant Coach, Phoenix Suns and Norther Arizona Suns Hernando Planells, Associate Head Coach, Duke University Adam Gordon, Assistant Coach, Southeast Missouri State Danny Mills, College Scout, Philadelphia 76ers Ken Huber, NCAA /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/5619827

Stand Out On The Recruiting Trail 07/12/2017

The Coach’s Resume 06/16/2017

The Rise of eSports with Manny Anekal 04/19/2017

The Rise of eSports with Manny Anekal On this episode of the podcast I chat with Manny Anekal, Founder and CEO of The Next Level, which covers the business of eSports and owner of eSports team Versus Sports. Manny is THE guy to discuss what’s happening in the world of eSports. If eSports is new to you, Manny gives a great, quick eSports 101. He and I also discuss the NBA’s investment in eSports, the growth of eSports at the collegiate level, career opportunities in eSports and much more. eSports is more than gaming. It’s a sport and a growing, $600 million business. If you wonder why kids will sit watching YouTube videos of another person playing their favorite video game you don’t have to look any further than the money trail. One of the most popular YouTube personalities made between $6 million and $7 million last year. It’s become a very real business opportunity, not just for the players but also for investors. Eight NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards, have invested in eSports teams. This is in addition to the NBA’s eSports league to launch in 2018 based on the NBA 2K game. On this episode of Beyond the Whistle, Manny Anekal tells us about a wide variety of roles that can be filled in the rising eSports industry and gives his advice how you can get involved in a very successful career in eSports. Minecraft is more than a game - it’s an eSport that builds skills for the real world. In this conversation with Manny Anekal, he and I discovered something we have in common - we each have a son who absolutely LOVES the game of Minecraft. And while many parents feel that they should restrict their child’s consumption of video games, Manny pointed out how the skills that are developed while playing Minecraft are in high demand in the real world, so much so that many school districts are using it as a curriculum to help kids develop logic and reasoning skills that are needed to fulfill some of the most demanding roles in the world, like computer programming and software development. Listen to our conversation to learn more. The eSports job market and how you can get in. If you can think of a position or role in the world of traditional sports, there’s likely a counterpart in the eSports world that you could pursue. From players, to sales, to agents, to managers and coaches, the need for individuals with skill sets to fit the demand is rising as the eSports industry itself grows. On this episode, Manny Anekal explains how you can become an in-demand person in the industry and what it takes to get there. Take Manny’s advice seriously. The eSports space is already tremendously crowded so you’ve got your work cut out for you if you want to get into eSports on a professional level. Focus on what you want and make yourself into an expert. That’s how to rise in eSports. When I asked Manny Anekal what he recommends to those who want to pursue a career in eSports he said it’s like pursuing a career in any industry. Decide what it is that you want to pursue then do everything you can to become an expert at it. So when it comes to eSports that advice applies to being a player, manager, sales person - you name it. You need to learn what is needed to fit the role and the industry and be the best at it. That’s one of the many pieces of advice Manny offered on this episode. So if you’re at all interested in being a part of the rise of eSports, this episode is for you. Outline of this episode [0:41] Why eSports is big business and a real thing. [4:29] How Manny got involved in the eSports business. [10:01] How are fans consuming eSports contests? [16:13] The rise of eSports on the shoulders of kids who love Minecraft. [19:10] Why basketball franchises are leading the way in eSports. [26:21] The rising job market within the rise of eSports. [30:37] The role colleges are playing in the rise of eSports. Resources & People Mentioned - Rick Fox’s Private Equity Firm BOOK: Machiavelli's “” (affiliate) JayZee’s first album Connect With Manny Anekal - website - iTunes Manny /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/5272999

Helping Women’s Basketball Coaches Thrive In Their Careers, with Brian Stanchak 03/16/2017

Helping Women’s Basketball Coaches Thrive In Their Careers, with Brian Stanchak It’s not often that you find a professional who has served in most of the roles that make up their field of specialization. Brian Stanchak has been a Division I basketball coach, collegiate Director of Athletics and now a sports agent specializing in representing college basketball coaches - which makes him not only a rare person in the realm of college athletics but also a very valuable commodity. But for Brian, it’s not only about the services he provides. He is committed to getting to know his clients and building relationships that serve them throughout their careers, not just when they need representation. Brian generously shares both his story and his advice for women’s basketball coaches and those wanting to break into the field, on this episode of Beyond The Whistle. The road from average player, to coach, to agent for women’s basketball coaches. When Brian Stanchak was playing basketball he knew that his talent was average at best, but he loved the sport all the same. He determined at 16 years of age that he was going to pursue a career in sports and began coaching basketball then. He had the opportunity to serve as an assistant and eventually head coach on the collegiate level as well, gaining experience on and off the court. One of the opportunities where he discovered a hidden talent was helping colleagues navigate the negotiations and contract talks, career path, and more. That’s when he decided to move into the realm of serving as an agent, and The BDS Agency was born. Brian shares his story on this episode, so be sure you listen. Specializing in women’s basketball coaches makes Brian Stanchak a valuable resource. There are many agents out there serving college coaches, but most pursue the avenues where the most money is to be made, which is primarily in men’s basketball. But Brian Stanchak decided to focus on the underserved area of women’s basketball coaches and has found a niche that has served both him and his clients very well. In this episode, Brian shares the unique challenges and opportunities presented to women’s basketball coaches and how he’s found his place helping them walk the career path less traveled, but one that is just as rewarding. Moving through the minefield of a coaching career, it’s good to have some help. Brian Stanchak loves the opportunity he has to walk alongside his clients as they move through the negotiations and pitfalls involved in being a women’s basketball coach. As much as he enjoys the challenges of his actual work, even more, he enjoys the relationships he has built with his clients. I’ve noticed how his clients remark on social media about their appreciation of him and the things he does to build into them as individuals. That’s unheard of in sports, so I know you’ll want to meet the man those clients are talking about. Brian shares his story and advice on this episode. Assistant coaches: Spend 25 minutes a day networking. One of the things I asked Brian Stanchak was how an assistant coach, whose job is to make their head coach successful, can also pursue their own career goals to become a head coach themselves. Brian gave some great advice when he said that every assistant coach should devote time every week to maintaining their professional network, not for the sake of finding new opportunities necessarily, but for the sake of maintaining relationships. It’s those relationships that will serve later when the need arises. Brian has seen the success of this heart-based approach work for his clients time and time again. Learn more from this player, turned coach, turned agent, on this episode of Beyond The Whistle. Outline of This Episode [2:15] A day in the life of a college coach consultant. [3:30] Brian’s journey from player to coach to consultant to coaches. [8:36] The services Brian provides to his coaching clients. [10:05] How service and relationships undergird Brian’s business. [15:09] A typical job search process for one of Brian’s clients. [20:13] How assistant coaches can balance career goals with their Assistant Coach role. [23:55] Brian’s head coaching center and why he started it. Resources & People Mentioned Brian on Brian on - coaching center BOOK: (affiliate link) /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/5177236

A Sports Medicine Career At The Highest Levels with Ralph Reiff 02/13/2017

A Sports Medicine Career At The Highest Levels with Ralph Reiff My guest today is my friend Ralph Reiff, Executive Director of St. Vincent Sports Performance. Ralph started his sports medicine career as athletic trainer for Butler University where he managed the athlete health care, weight room and equipment for all sports. He also developed the athletic trainer curriculum at Butler. During his tenure at Butler he was selected to provide sports medicine to many national and international sporting events and professional athletes. Ralph has managed the medical aspects of more than 20 NCAA events, including three Men's Final Four Basketball Championships; the 1988 and 1996 US Track & Field Olympic Trials; 2003 World Basketball Championships; medical director for the 2004 FINA Swimming World Championships; and the 2006 USA Track Outdoor Championships. In this conversation, Ralph not only tells his story, but also provides insights into what it's like for an athlete to prepare for the NFL draft, and even some tips for coaches and other sports professionals regarding what they can do to stay at the top of their game. When I asked Ralph how he's been able to be so successful as a sports medicine professional he said that he's always felt that he was blessed with a stubborn gene from somebody back in his family history. He's always had a chip on his shoulder, in a good way and not wanting anyone who says he can't do something to be right in the end. That desire has motivated him to work harder than most of his contemporaries and build a career that has fueled the success of professional athletes and Olympic teams alike. In 1996, Ralph was manager of Athlete Care for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. This selection took Ralph to Atlanta for 18 months of planning, implementation, and management of all medical and performance operations for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. But that wasn't his first involvement with the Olympic games. He was selected by the United States Olympic Committee for the 1987 US Olympic Festival, numerous USA Basketball team selection events and was Head Athletic Trainer for the Gold Medal winning USA Basketball Team at the 1989 World University Games in Germany. But even that isn't where he started. He began as a fresh graduate from college, stepping into an ailing sports program at the now-famous Butler University. I can't help but believe that the part he played at Butler was instrumental to the dramatic turn-around of the program. Often, sports professionals find the business side of sports to be challenging. Their passion and training is in performing, leading teams, or providing care of athletes. Ralph is no stranger to the management and business side of sports, having served in organizational and management capacities for sporting events as large as the Olympic games. On this episode, Ralph generously shares his insights into the challenges of the business side of sports so that you can make the right decisions in your career. You may have heard the news: The Indiana Pacers are building a brand new practice facility that will house their general offices and also include a state of the art sports medicine facility and sports psychology lab and they have tapped Ralph and the team at St. Vincent Sports Performance to run both. On this episode of Beyond the Whistle, I asked Ralph how that partnership came about, how the project is going, and what expects to experience once the facility is finished and the partnership begins. It's a fascinating conversation that I hope you take the time to listen to. Outline of This Episode: [0:14] My introduction of Ralph Reiff, Executive Director of St. Vincent's Sports Performance. [3:20] Ralph's amazing journey from college to his current position. [7:57] Butler University as an example of values-based sports doing well. [17:24] The current status of the deal Ralph is working on with the Indiana Pacers. [23:30] A day in the life of an athlete in the NFL pre-draft program. [30:46] Ralph's tips for coaches and other sports professionals about their own health and peak performance. Resources and People Mentioned: BOOK: (affiliate link) /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/5075282

Persistence On The Coaching Career Path with Coach Kevin Sutton 01/17/2017

Persistence On The Coaching Career Path with Coach Kevin Sutton The coaching career path is often thought of as linear. You start out in one role, you move into another, and each serves as a stepping stone to the next, more advanced position. But University of Pittsburgh assistant basketball coach Kevin Sutton’s career path has not followed a linear path at all. I want to start the Beyond the Whistle podcast by having a conversation with Kevin about the way his career has unfolded and how it did so. His experience is full of life lessons and approaches to coaching that anyone interested in starting or advancing in a coaching career can learn from. I invite you to come meet my long-time friend, University of Pittsburgh Assistant Coach Kevin Sutton, on this episode. What it takes to successfully join a coaching staff that’s already established. Kevin Sutton has joined existing coaching staffs a handful of times as he’s journeyed the coaching career path. Those on the coaching staff already have a chemistry and team dynamic that the new coach has to learn, fit into, and enhance through his/her contributions. Kevin has done that beautifully every time he’s made that sort of move and on this episode of the podcast, I asked Kevin to explain how he was able to accomplish that. As always, Kevin was very generous to unpack the dynamics of what it’s like to step into that sort of situation and what he has learned that makes the transition smooth for everyone involved. What's the best approach for a college coach to evaluate high school players? There are many approaches to evaluating high school talent as a college basketball coach. And there are many missteps that can be made in the process that put a college in a bad place, simply because the recruiters evaluated the players based on limited or incomplete information. Coach Kevin Sutton says that it’s vital for college coaches to not only observe high school players in game situations but also in practice. In this conversation, Kevin explains what he looks for in each setting, why he’s evaluating the things he does, and the benefits that come from doing so. If you’re interested in what it takes to successfully evaluate high school talent for a college basketball team (or any sport for that matter) Kevin’s recruiting advice is like gold. How can you evaluate new opportunities you encounter on the coaching career path? Coach Sutton has changed positions many times in his career as a basketball coach - and he’s done so very successfully, seemingly making just the right moves at the right time. In this conversation I did my best to get inside Kevin’s mind, to understand his thought process on how to evaluate new career opportunities. If you want to know the key things a successful coach has considered with every career move, you’re going to need to listen to this episode. I promise it’s worth the time. Coach Kevin Sutton: "The assistant coach’s primary role is to make the head coach successful." Every coach is climbing the ladder, walking his/her own coaching career path. But those who are self-serving and only interested in their own advancement are missing what it means to be part of a team. They’re missing the opportunity to make themselves indispensable to their head coach in a way that will wind up advancing their own career in the end. Coach Sutton shares why it’s vitally important for every assistant coach to do the most they can to bring about the success of their head coach. It’s an insight that’s powerfully important for anyone climbing the coaching career ladder. Make sure you hear what Kevin’s got to say. Outline of This Episode [0:29] My introduction to this episode and my guest, Kevin Sutton. [3:48] How college coaching careers do NOT always follow a linear path. [7:30] The first 90 days on a new coaching staff. [10:48] Building a basketball program at the high school level. [13:09] The things Kevin learned as a high school coach that have helped him at the college level. [14:10] What Kevin looks for when evaluating high school talent. [17:43] Why evaluating players during practice is important. [19:43] How Kevin evaluates new career opportunities. [21:40] The assistant coach’s primary responsibility to the head coach. [23:10] People, events, and environments: Three impacts on success. [27:10] Books Kevin recommends. [29:30] How you can connect with Kevin. Resources & People Mentioned - Kevin’s blog Kevin Kevin BOOK: BOOK: BOOK: /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/4998426

Intro: A Recovering Sports Agent 01/02/2017

Intro: A Recovering Sports Agent I have a confession to make. I’m a recovering sports agent. And that’s the thing I believe is going to make this show worth listening to. My name is Odell McCants, the host of Beyond The Whistle - and I want to sincerely thank you for checking out this debut episode of this podcast. I know you have lots of options when it comes to how you spend your listening time and I appreciate the trust you’re placing in me to listen to this debut episode. I played at the highest levels of the sports business as an agent. Then I quit. You might be surprised to hear that a guy who was working professionally in the sports industry as an agent would quit that kind of job. But it’s something I had to do. As I explain on this episode of the podcast, being a sports agent is a high pressure, always-on, kind of job - and it takes a toll on your family life and personal relationships. And losing clients hurts, especially for a small, solo agent. I wasn’t willing to keep making those kinds of sacrifices so I decided to find something else to do. But that’s not the end of the story - because I still loved working in sports. This episode is the short version of my journey out of professional sports and back - and why I'm getting back in to bring a bigger game to the industry. The relationships are what I enjoyed most. Yes, the high profile clients and personalities I got to rub shoulders with when I was a sports agent were nice, but they weren’t the things that I enjoyed the most. What I got the most out of my time in sports were the relationships I was able to establish with the coaches, administrators, general managers, scouts and other sports business professionals. Those are what matter to me, and it’s my intention to bring the stories of those incredible people to you on Beyond The Whistle so you can be inspired by their journeys. What are the biggest challenges coaches and sports business professionals face? It’s interesting to hear - the challenges coaches face (and other sports business professionals) are not how to coach better or get better performance from players. What I’ve heard them say over and over is that their greatest areas of need have to do with career development, personal branding, contracts and professional relationships. Hearing this kind of thing made me realize that I have something valuable to bring to the table. I can offer training for the sports professionals who are not on the court to make their career and personal life more fulfilling and more rewarding. That’s part of what you’ll hear on my podcast episodes. Outline of This Episode [0:31] My introduction to this debut episode of Beyond The Whistle. [0:40] My story: from sports agent to entrepreneur. [1:33] Being a sports agent is a full contact sport. [3:00] The relationships were what I enjoyed working in sports. [4:36] The birth of McCant Sports. [5:52] How the McCants Sports Institute will change the game. [7:48] Why a podcast is my method of choice. [9:22] What you can expect from each episode of Beyond The Whistle. Resources & People Mentioned BOOK: /episode/index/show/beyondthewhistle/id/5003920

Beyond The Whistle with Odell McCants

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