The Coachers Podcast

Keanu Yamamoto

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SPORTS

⛳️Ball Talk🗣️ Raw Stories. Hard-earned wisdom📝Coaches, Athletes, Parents, Fans - this is your vault for inspiration! Purpose: To unite coaches across all sports and levels to inspire and share their stories, their experiences, and the love for their craft.

6D AGO

Coach Jordan Harlow: Help Your Players Become Their Own Best Coaches

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach Jordan Harlow, the head baseball coach at Linfield University. They discuss Coach Harlow's journey from high school coaching to leading a college program, his coaching philosophy, the challenges of modern coaching, and the importance of character in recruitment. Coach Harlow emphasizes the significance of teamwork, mental toughness, and the evolving landscape of baseball, including the impact of analytics and the NIL era. He shares insights on effective communication, handling player slumps, and the brand of baseball at Linfield. Coach Harlow believes in the significance of teaching players to be their own best coaches and respecting the game and those who came before you. Coach also shares insights on off-season training, scouting reports, and the importance of maintaining a positive team culture. The conversation concludes with discussions on lifelong learning and book recommendations for coaches. Takeaways - Help Players become their own Best Coaches - You can’t hold a player accountable for something they haven’t been taught - Base Running is like Special Teams in Football - Both get overlooked - 3 Pillars: Tradition, Toughness, Team First - Respect the game and it will respect you back - Recruiting: What do we look for in a prospect (LKGs) - Win the Freebie War - The Game within the Game and what makes Baseball unique - Coaching is about continuous learning and adaptation. - 6 Tool Player: Availability - Help teach your players to compartmentalize their life. - Empower assistants to be masters of their domain - Meetings should be structured and purposeful. Photo Credit: Linfield Athletics https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 18m
12/19/2025

Coach Jon Eagle: You Put the Person Together, You Put the Team Together

Coach Jon Eagle is a highly accomplished football coach with over 40 years of experience in high school and college coaching. Originally from Vancouver, Washington, he built a legendary career in the Pacific Northwest, compiling an impressive overall head coaching record of 278-77 across 34 seasons. Eagle’s head coaching journey included stints at Evergreen High School (Vancouver, WA: 88-39 from 1988-2001), Redmond High School (WA: 18-12 from 2002-04), and Camas High School (WA: 127-22 from 2008-20), where he led the Papermakers to Washington state titles in 2016 and 2019. After a brief assistant role at Portland State University in 2021, he took the helm at West Linn High School (Oregon) in 2022. As the Lions' most recent head coach (2022-2025), Eagle guided West Linn to a remarkable 45-4 record over four seasons, capturing Oregon 6A state championships in 2022 and 2024. His 2025 season, announced as his final one, ended with an 11-1 record and a tough semifinal loss. Eagle retired after the 2025 campaign, passing the program to successor Anthony Newman. In this conversation, Coach Jon Eagle shares his extensive coaching journey, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with players, adapting coaching strategies, and fostering a strong team culture. He discusses his coaching philosophy, the significance of leadership, and how success is defined beyond just winning games. Coach Eagle also reflects on the evolution of football and the cyclical nature of the sport, while providing insights into effective communication and player development. Takeaways - Good Coaches see what’s on the field, The best Coaches see what’s off the field - Transitioning a program: Define Pushback - Practice Structure: First Things First - Communicate the Vision and Staff alignment - “Blind Spots” Transparency and communication within the staff - Continuous learning and adaptation are vital in coaching. - 1 Formation Challenge and Scheme Philosophy - We want to create coaches on the field - Daily goals: Don’t focus on the peak - “The Whole is a sum of its parts” - Leadership involves empowering coaches and players alike. - Creating a fun and structured environment is key to player engagement. - Success is defined by relationships, not just wins. - A successful coach must adapt their strategies over time. Photo Cred: Camas-Washougal Post Record https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 7m
12/12/2025

Coach Steve Pyne: The Twin Thieves, Kids First, Players Run the Culture

In this episode, Coach Steve Pyne shares his extensive coaching journey, highlighting the importance of building relationships, developing players, and fostering a strong team culture. He discusses the qualities he seeks in assistant coaches, and the balance between developing athletes and coaches. Coach Pyne emphasizes the significance of trust, compassion, and empathy in coaching, as well as the need for innovative strategies and drills to engage players. He reflects on the challenges of making tough decisions and the evolution of his leadership style, as well as focusing on the selfless pursuit of a common goal within a team. Coach Pyne currently serves as the Head Football Coach at Union HS, in Vancouver, WA. Prior to Union, he was a long time Head Coach at Central Catholic (OR), where they won 5x state titles and 14x conference titles. Takeaways · Coaches establish the culture, players run the culture · Tell your players you love them – encourage vulnerability. · The Twin Thieves – Fear of Failure & Fear of Judgement · Coaching is about building relationships and impacting lives. · Success is measured not just by wins, but by the growth of players. · “Kids First, Wins Second" · Team culture thrives on selflessness and mutual support. · Assistant coaches should embody the mission and vision of the program. · Establishing trust with assistants allows for effective delegation in coaching. · Innovative drills can energize practice and foster competition. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 9m
12/05/2025

Coach Doug Sommer: Trust, Persistence, “It’s about us”

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, we interview Coach Doug Sommer, a seasoned football coach with a rich history in coaching at various levels. Coach Sommer shares insights from his 40-year coaching journey, discussing the importance of mindset, the dynamics of coaching his sons / coaching with his sons, and the challenges faced in high school football today. He emphasizes the significance of teacher-coaches, the philosophy behind his coaching style, and the value of building trust and relationships with players. The conversation also touches on the importance of youth programs, the role of competition, and the lessons learned from both victories and defeats. Coach Sommer's passion for coaching and mentoring young athletes shines through as he reflects on the impact of sports on personal development and teamwork. Coach Sommer currently serves as the Head Football Coach for Gladstone HS in Oregon. Coach, thank you for your time, insight, humility, love for the game and most importantly the love for your players and community. Takeaways - Be present – Control the controllable - “It’s about us” – detach from the result. - Building trust and relationships with players is essential for success. - Coaching is about more than just winning; it's about personal development. - Youth programs are vital for developing athletes and building confidence. - The role of teacher-coaches is diminishing, which can impact high school sports. - Persistence is key in overcoming challenges in coaching and life. - Empower athletes by giving them roles – example leading team warm https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

55 min
11/28/2025

Coach Scott Criner: Make it a collaboration, Selflessness, Uncommon

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, host Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach Scott Criner. Coach Criner shares his journey in coaching, the importance of family, and his philosophy on developing young men through sports. He discusses the evolution of athletes, the qualities he looks for in assistant coaches, and the challenges faced in high school coaching today. The conversation also touches on the significance of selflessness, community involvement, and the process of coaching rather than just focusing on wins and losses. Scott Criner is a veteran football coach who just retired as head coach of Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho. A program known for its success and consistency in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference. He just finished his second stint leading the team—after initially taking the reins in 2013—Coach Criner has been instrumental in building a powerhouse that has reached state semifinals or championships nearly every year he’s been involved. A Boise native and former player and assistant coach at Boise State University (until 1996), Coach Criner’s career spans decades. He served as offensive coordinator at Sacramento State, head coach at Timberline High School starting in 2002, and later at Eagle High School, where he helped develop standout quarterbacks like Taylor Kelly (Arizona State) and Tanner Mangum (BYU) en route to a 2009 state title. He also had coaching stops at NAU, Navy, Cincinnati and the infamous XFL, Las Vegas Outlaws. Coach Criner’s first Rocky Mountain tenure (2013–2016) yielded a 38–9 record, including a 2015 5A state championship and Coach of the Year honors. He stepped down in 2017 to become athletic director at Eagle but returned to Rocky Mountain in 2018 as offensive coordinator under Chris Culig, contributing to titles in 2018 and 2020. Rehired as head coach in March 2023, Coach Criner emphasizes player development, camaraderie, selflessness and being Uncommon. Coach Criner, thank you for your time, insights, and wisdom! Takeaways - Coach Criner has 45 years of coaching experience. - Emphasizes the importance of family in coaching. - Coaching is about developing young men, not just winning. - Athletes today are less multi-sport and more specialized. - Selflessness is a key value in his coaching philosophy and a great team. - He believes in the importance of community involvement. - Coaching is about the process, not just the end result. - What you see is a direct reflection of how you coach and teach - Coaches need to teach kids how to watch film and develop their football acumen If you're a coach, athlete, parent, or fan - this is your vault for inspiration! Give us a follow and subscribe to our youtube channel PC 📸: Idaho Statesmen #coaching #leadership #football #footballcoach #fridaynightlights🏈 #coachingphilosophy #highschoolfootball #sportseducation #idahosports https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 20m
11/14/2025

Coach Jim Shapiro: Building Champions, Window Room, Greatness is a Choice

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Jim Shapiro, the head football coach at Kings High School in Seattle, Washington. Coach Shapiro shares his journey from a college football player to a successful coach, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, character development, and building champions. He discusses the influence of his mentor, Coach Frosty Westering, and how his coaching philosophy focuses on transformational coaching rather than transactional coaching. Shapiro also delves into the challenges facing modern football, the significance of shared leadership, and the impact of fostering a positive team environment. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the importance of making choices, the power of teamwork, and the role of adversity in shaping young athletes into men. Coach Jim Shapiro has been the Head Football Coach at King's High School since 1998, marking his 28th season as head coach in 2025 and over three decades with the Knights program. A King's alumnus himself, Coach Shapiro returned to his alma mater in 1994 as an assistant, quickly rising to lead a team that embodies his philosophy: "building champions". The Knights have achieved a lot of success both athletically with deep playoff runs and academically being crowned Academic State Champions 11 times. Coach Shapiro's accolades reflect his impact: he's been named Cascade Conference Coach of the Year six times and Washington State Coach of the Year in 2013. A 1993 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Coach Shapiro was a key contributor to PLU's NAIA Division II National Championship team that year and is enshrined in the PLU Hall of Fame. When not coaching, Coach Shapiro works in fundraising as the Co-Founder of Better Fundraising, which serves over 60 non-profits nationally. Coach is a man of humility and servitude. He and his wife, Wendy, have three children and have answered the call to serve as foster parents for over 24 individuals. On their 25th fostering opportunity, they were blessed to welcome Kai, who became their third child through adoption. This was an impactful conversation with a lot of substance. Thank you Coach Shapiro for your time and insights! Takeaways Coaching is about building relationships and character. Transformational coaching focuses on the individual, not just the game. Creating a winning culture requires investment in team dynamics. Shared leadership empowers players and fosters accountability. Life choices impact both personal and athletic growth. Foster care can change lives and communities. Healthy competition drives improvement and engagement. Greatness is achieved through consistent, small choices. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

54 min
11/07/2025

Coach Tony Smith: W.I.N, Legacy and Love, Greatness is an Ideal

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach Tony Smith, head football coach at St. Paul High School. Coach Smith shares his journey into coaching, his philosophy on character development, and the importance of building a strong team culture. He discusses the challenges of coaching, handling setbacks, and the significance of leadership in sports. The conversation highlights the values of teamwork, humility, and the pursuit of greatness in both coaching and life. Coach Smith is a proud alumnus of the school, where he starred as a quarterback in the early 1980s, Smith returned to his roots in 2006 as an assistant coach and PE teacher after a successful nine-year stint as head coach at Silverton High School (1997–2005). Taking the reins at St. Paul in 2008, he quickly built a powerhouse program, leading the Buckaroos to back-to-back Class 1A state championships in 2009 and 2010, and a runner-up finish in 2012. Under Smith’s leadership, St. Paul has become a perennial contender despite one of the state’s smallest enrollments, clinching the 2024 OSAA Class 2A state title with a thrilling victory over Oakland—marking the program’s first championship in its debut 2A season. Known for his run-heavy philosophy, emphasis on fundamentals, and family-oriented approach, Coach Smith continues to mentor student-athletes on and off the field. This past Friday, Coach Smith secured his 200th win! I know Coach Smith as a family friend, hazelnut farmer, and a loving grandpa, so it was cool to sit down, talk some ball, and learn from a man of humility. Coach, once again thank you for your time and wisdom! Takeaways - Coaching is about developing character in young athletes. - The journey into coaching often starts unexpectedly. - Building a strong team culture is essential for success. - Handling setbacks requires humility and focus on execution. - Every play in a game is crucial and should be treated as such. - Communication and positivity are key in coaching. - Leadership roles can emerge organically within a team. - It's important to talk about goals and aspirations, like winning championships (occasionally). - Greatness is an ideal that coaches and players should strive for. - The relationships built through coaching are invaluable https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 11m
10/31/2025

Coach John Lamanna: Building great decision makers, Virtue, Find your Vocation

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach John Lamanna, the head basketball coach at Whitman College. Coach Lamanna shares his journey from a student assistant to a successful collegiate coach, emphasizing the importance of finding one's vocation in coaching. He discusses his coaching philosophy, the significance of building relationships with players, and the role of leadership within a team. The conversation also touches on recruitment strategies, handling setbacks, and the evolution of basketball. Coach Lamanna's insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring coaches and athletes alike. Coach Lamanna has a great story that will relate with many. The adversity of being winless in his first two seasons as a head coach led him to Adoration at 1:00 AM. Sitting in the pew, in the early hours of morning he began to read a book by Curtis Martin, titled “Boys to Men: The transforming Power of Virtue”. He had a revelation about the concept of virtue and its attainment, which led him to solidifying his foundation and philosophy as a coach. He established what he calls as his four pillars of the program, which mirrors the Cardinal Virtues of: Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, and Justice. From winless to sustained excellence, Coach Lamanna’s vocation is to develop men of character and build great decision makers. Coach Lamanna was nominated as the coach of the year in 22’ and 23’ when the Blues’ program was crowned the NWC regular season champions. Coach, thank you for your time and insights! Takeaways - Coaching is a vocation that brings immense joy. - Building relationships with players is crucial for success. - Unity and love are essential components of a team. - Players should take ownership of their roles. - The ball finds energy; effort and enthusiasm are contagious. - Coaches must adapt to the evolving mental makeup of athletes. - Developing good decision-making habits is key to player growth. - Experiencing setbacks can lead to valuable growth opportunities. - Joy in the game is vital for both players and coaches. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

1h 16m

⛳️Ball Talk🗣️ Raw Stories. Hard-earned wisdom📝Coaches, Athletes, Parents, Fans - this is your vault for inspiration! Purpose: To unite coaches across all sports and levels to inspire and share their stories, their experiences, and the love for their craft.

Creator

Keanu Yamamoto
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

22
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 The Coachers Podcast
Show Website

The Coachers Podcast