The Coachers Podcast

Keanu Yamamoto
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Welcome to The Coachers Podcast 🤙🏽 — hosted by Keanu Yamamoto.Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with coaches from every level and sport, sharing their real journeys: toughest moments, biggest wins, best practices, and the hard-earned lessons that build tougher athletes, stronger teams, and better leaders.  From forging a culture and mental toughness to balancing life beyond the whistle, this is your go-to vault for authentic inspiration on coaching, leadership, and team building. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans — dive in for stories that unite and motivate across the game. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe now and join the conversation! ⛳️🗣️

  1. Coach AJ Cooper - SDSU DEF QC / Corners: Football is the Greatest Metaphor For Life

    5D AGO

    Coach AJ Cooper - SDSU DEF QC / Corners: Football is the Greatest Metaphor For Life

    Coach AJ Cooper is a Defensive QC and Corners Coach for San Diego State Aztecs, he joined the staff in spring 2026 under head coach Sean Lewis. A North Las Vegas native, Coach Coop was a standout defensive back at Southern Oregon University, where he was a multi-year starter, two-time NAIA national champion, and racked up 198 tackles and nine interceptions. After earning his business degree from Southern Oregon and a master’s in athletic administration from Central Washington, he quickly climbed the coaching ranks: He started off as a GA and Corners Coach at CWU (2019-20), Oregon State Def GA (2021-22), linebackers coach at Sacramento State in 2023, then secondary and inside linebackers coach at Oregon State from (2024–25), where he earned AFCA 35 Under 35 honors. His new role at SDSU is full circle moment; his father, Hunkie Cooper, was SDSU’s WR Coach from (2015-22). I had the opportunity to work with Coach Coop at OSU and learned a lot from his approach and process. Players of all positions naturally gravitated towards him, and he had a knack to motivate, inspire, and teach. I’m excited to see where his journey takes him, thank you once again for your time and insight Coach! In this episode, Coach AJ Cooper shares his journey from a player to a coach, detailing his experiences at various levels of football. He discusses the motivations behind his coaching career, his coaching philosophy centered on building relationships, and the challenges faced in modern coaching. Coach Coop emphasizes the importance of proving oneself daily and the significance of football as a metaphor for life, highlighting the lessons learned through the sport. In this conversation, Coach Coop discusses various aspects of recruiting and coaching in college football, emphasizing the importance of player evaluation, positional versatility, and the impact of NIL on recruitment. He shares insights on what makes an ideal cornerback, the significance of experience in players, and how to effectively integrate transfers into a team. Additionally, he offers advice for aspiring coaches and highlights the value of building relationships with players and staff.  Takeaways: -The Why behind Coaching -Coaching Philosophy: Motivate, Inspire, Teach -Be Their Family, Not Their Friend -Proving it to myself everyday: Having a Process -The Disease of Mediocrity -Balancing praise and accountability -Greatest Challenge in Coaching: Outside Distractions -Identity at Practice -Football is the Greatest Metaphor for Life -NIL has exposed these kids' true intentions. -What does your prototypical corner look like? -Red Flags During the Recruiting Process -Recruiting Position Versatility -Willing Tacklers and Playmakers -P.R.I.M.E -Meeting Structure and Game week / Scouting Prep -Preparation is everything. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    57 min
  2. Coach Samson Anguay - CWU WR Coach: You Don't Coach for the Logo, You Coach for the Kids

    APR 25

    Coach Samson Anguay - CWU WR Coach: You Don't Coach for the Logo, You Coach for the Kids

    Coach Samson Anguay is the wide receivers coach for Central Washington University Wildcats. A native of Hawaii where he graduated from Campbell HS and played wide receiver for the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors from 2011 to 2016. He previously served as assistant wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Idaho State University, wide receivers coach at Southern Oregon University, assistant running backs coach at the University of Hawai‘i, and co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach at Pearl City High School in Hawaii.  In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Coach Samson shares his journey from playing football in Hawaii to coaching at various levels, emphasizing the sacrifices made by his family and the passion that drives him. Coach Samson shares his coaching philosophy, core values, and the challenges faced in college football today, including the impact of NIL. He highlights the importance of teamwork, the life lessons learned through football, and the structure of their practice sessions, aiming to create a high-energy and focused environment for his players. In this conversation, Coach shares his insights on coaching, recruitment, and player development in college football. He discusses the characteristics of an ideal receiver and outlines the recruiting process at Central Washington. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, communication, and understanding player dynamics while addressing challenges in recruitment and player expectations. Lastly, Coach Samson offers valuable advice for aspiring coaches, highlighting the significance of passion and commitment to mentoring young athletes.   Takeaways: -If you can do anything with Grit you will be Successful -Coaching is about passion and your why, not about financial gain -Football teaches discipline and molds better human beings. -“Football Always Repays you Back” -Building relationships with players enhances coaching effectiveness. -Current Challenges of College Football: Player Retention.  -Why is Football the Greatest Sport? -WR Room: “Dawgs not Dudes” -Ooze Blocking and Chaos Drill -Ideal Recruiting Traits for a College WR -Recruiting involves assessing not just talent but also character and work ethic. -Red flags in the Recruitment Process -Effective communication is key in the recruiting process. -Coaches should be authentic and transparent with their players. -A Coach Works for the Athlete -Be authentic, Be Yourself -Mistakes are part of the coaching journey – Don’t be afraid to jump in the Fire https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    1 hr
  3. Coach Legi Suiaunoa - UCLA Football: Your Why Needs To Be Greater Than The Paycheck

    APR 17

    Coach Legi Suiaunoa - UCLA Football: Your Why Needs To Be Greater Than The Paycheck

    In this conversation, Coach Legi Suiaunoa shares his journey from player to coach, highlighting the profound influence of family, mentorship, and using football to serve young men and create value in their lives. He discusses his coaching philosophy, the exciting challenges of adapting to new teams each season, and what makes football unique as the ultimate team sport. Coach Legi reflects on his proudest coaching moments, the valuable lessons learned from his players and offers practical advice for aspiring coaches. He provides insight into the daily life of a college football coach—including a typical week’s structure—while emphasizing player development, effective feedback, game planning, and the mastery of fundamentals through individual drills. Coach also explores the competitive realities of modern football, the evolving recruiting landscape, the importance of building strong relationships, and the critical role of toughness and character. Coach Legi addresses the growing impact of NIL on recruitment and player development. Lastly, he leaves some great parting advice that is applicable in almost every walk of life: Your Why Needs to Be Greater Than Your Paycheck.  Photo Credit: UCLA Football UCLA Football Directory: Coach Legi Bio  Takeaways: -Importance of Family and Faith throughout journey -What is your Why? -Coaching philosophy evolved from personal ambition to serving young men -The Greatest Challenge in Coaching? -Why is Football the Greatest Sport? -Identity as a Coach  -The Importance of Practice and Learning how to Fail and Respond -Meeting Structure and Consistent Feedback -3 Principles of the DL Room -DL Install. Fundamentals and Technique make the Scheme -The Importance of Indy’s – The life of a DLineman -Gameplan and Scouting: What Information is Pertinent to Provide the Players -Players develop Their own Rush Plans.  -How has the Recruiting Process Changed -Are HS Head Coaches getting phased out? -The 4 Recruitable Traits! -NIL & the Evaluation Process -Minimize misses  -Create a Safe environment to allow players to be themselves -Your Why needs to be Greater than the Paycheck https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    1h 35m
  4. Coach Mike Simons - Thurston Wrestling: Pin To Win

    APR 10

    Coach Mike Simons - Thurston Wrestling: Pin To Win

    Coach Mike Simons is a longtime wrestling coach at Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, where he has led both the boys’ and girls’ programs since the early 2000s. He is known for building competitive teams with strong participation and depth, developing one of Oregon’s top girls wrestling programs, and emphasizing academics, character, and life skills in addition to athletic achievement. Coach Simons has earned multiple national coaching honors, including the 2020-21 NFHS National Wrestling Coach of the Year and the NWCA National High School Girls Coach of the Year. He has guided the girls’ program to multiple state titles. In 2026, he led the boys’ team to its first state championship since 2002, breaking through after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Coach Simons wrestled collegiately at Oregon State and followed in his father’s footsteps as an educator and wrestling coach after a 13 year hiatus in the business world.  In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Coach Simons shares his journey into coaching, the impact of wrestling on youth development, and the importance of creating a positive team culture. He discusses innovative coaching techniques, the evolution of wrestling, and the core values that guide his coaching philosophy. The conversation also touches on the challenges of recruiting athletes to the sport and the mental toughness required in wrestling. Coach Simons emphasizes the significance of commitment, teamwork, consistency, and the flow of practice in developing successful wrestlers. He shares insights on overcoming setbacks, the influence of mentors / colleagues, and defining success beyond just winning championships. Coach Simons also offers advice for young coaches, highlighting the significance of surrounding oneself with good people and the value of continuous learning in coaching. Takeaways:  -Building Confidence through consistency! -Why is Wrestling the Greatest Sport? -The Impact of Wrestling on Athletes -PIN to WIN! Pin Chain for the fastest pinner of the week. -What makes a great wrestler: Elite Competitor and Willingness to Learn -The greatest challenge is getting kids to try wrestling for the first time -Wrestling teaches resilience and self-reliance. -Core Values of Thurston Wrestling -Wrestling teaches you to compete in life! -Practices Must Have a Flow to them -Team success is built on individual contributions. -Wrestling is the best way to get into Wrestling shape -Don’t try and reinvent the Wheel – Surround yourself with Good People -Success is measured by the impact on athletes' lives. -Passing the Torch to the next generation of Coaches -Continuous learning is vital for coaches – Seek guidance from others who’ve done it https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    1h 3m
  5. Coach Bubba Lemon: Help Kids Reach Their Goals

    APR 3

    Coach Bubba Lemon: Help Kids Reach Their Goals

    Coach Bubba Lemon is the Head Coach for both Boys' Basketball and Girls’ Flag Football at Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Oregon. Coach Lemon graduated from Tualatin in 2006, then went on to play football, basketball, and track at Linfield University before transferring to Willamette University. He is the grandson of Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon. After 9 nine years as an assistant football coach at Willamette, Coach Lemon returned to his alma mater. He spent six seasons as a junior varsity and varsity assistant before being named head coach in June 2022. In his first season (2022-23), he guided Tualatin to a 24-5 record and the program's first OSAA 6A state championship. The team repeated as state champions in 2023. Under his leadership, the Timberwolves have secured multiple Three Rivers League titles, earned a third-place finish at state in 2024, and won another 6A title in 2026. Coach Lemon has been named 6A All-State Coach of the Year and has received many other coaching honors.  In this conversation, Coach Bubba Lemon shares his journey from a multi-sport athlete to becoming the head basketball coach at Tualatin High School. He discusses his coaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of player development, joy in the game, and building a winning culture. Coach Lemon also highlights the growth of girls' flag football and the fun dynamics of coaching them. He elaborates on practice strategies, the significance of trust within the team, and the overlooked aspects of game situations and timeouts in basketball. Coach Lemon shares insights on coaching strategies, emphasizing the importance of structured timeouts, unconventional statistics, and the pivotal role of point guards in his system. He discusses building a strong team culture akin to family, handling losses with a constructive mindset, and the significance of continuous learning in coaching. The dialogue highlights the mental aspects of sports and the need for intentional communication with players. Photo Credit: Tualatin Life Takeaways: Help Kids Reach Their Goals Coaching is about providing opportunities for players! The Why: Help players find their Joy / Create Experiences Female Athletes are like Sponges and show incredible support for one another Practice should be high-energy, loud, and constantly moving Culture of Competing and Never Failing our Teammates “A Quiet Gym is a Loosing Gym” Practice Structure: Personal Development Time The Infinity Drill Synergy with the Youth Program How Can I make Tualatin A Basketball Hotspot? Why is Basketball the Greatest Sport? Timeout Strategy: Don’t call them to stop Momentum  Greatest Challenge in Coaching: Buy-In Who’s on The Court At The End of The Game? Emphasizing Tip Outs! https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    47 min
  6. Coach John Mannion: A Team Is A Reflection Of Their Coach

    MAR 27

    Coach John Mannion: A Team Is A Reflection Of Their Coach

    Coach John Mannion is a longtime high school football coach and was most recently the founding head coach of the Mountainside High School Mavericks in Beaverton, Oregon. Hired in 2017 when the school first opened, Coach Mannion built the program from the ground up, leading the Mavericks from their inaugural 2018 season through 2022. Over those five seasons, he compiled a record of 29-20, including a strong 9-2 campaign in 2022 that saw the team reach the 6A state quarterfinals. Before Mountainside, Mannion spent seven successful years as head coach at Silverton High School (2010–2017), where his teams went 57-20, won two league championships (2012 and 2014), made multiple playoff runs, and reached the state championship game in 2014. A coach for more than 35 years overall — starting back in 1988 — Mannion also had earlier success at Foothill High School in California, where his teams won multiple league and sectional titles. Coach Mannion stepped down as Mountainside’s head coach in January 2023, since retiring, he’s stayed active in the coaching community through writing and sharing insights on the game. You can check out his work via Substack: “John Mannion’s Coaching Playbook”.  In this conversation, Coach John Mannion shares his journey coaching football across multiple high schools, including the challenges of building programs from scratch. He highlights the central role of relationships, core values, and resilience in developing strong teams and coaching his own children. Coach Mannion stresses consistency in coaching, the importance of making practices harder than games, and football’s inherently unselfish nature. A major focus is building a cohesive culture where every player feels valued and has a role, regardless of athletic ability. He discusses accountability, consistent treatment of all players, and the power of team-oriented rewards. Coach Mannion also emphasizes the often-overlooked impact of special teams in high school football and defines success through personal growth and player experience rather than just wins and losses. Finally, he reflects on the evolving landscape of football and its effects on team dynamics and player retention. Takeaways: Focus on what you can control – Out scrap the other team. Why is Football the Greatest Sport? The Value of Special Teams! Every Kick in the Endzone is like a Sack in HS. The Dynamics of coaching your own kids. If you Tolerate it You Encourage it. A team's demeanor reflects the coach's attitude. Success is built on resilience and learning from setbacks.  Consistency in all aspects translates to performance on the field. Making practice harder than the game prepares players for real situations. Every player should feel valued to enhance team culture. Football allows players of varying abilities to find their role. Helmet Stickers: Team recognition boosts morale and encourages participation. Success should be measured by player development, not just wins. Practice is where meaningful relationships are built. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    1h 9m
  7. Coach Chris Knudsen: Be Yourself, Control the Controllable

    MAR 20

    Coach Chris Knudsen: Be Yourself, Control the Controllable

    Coach Chris Knudsen is a longtime high school football coach best known for his 32-year tenure as head coach at Centennial High School in Gresham, Oregon. He served as the Eagles' head football coach from 1986 until his retirement in 2018 with a record of 158-158. Coach Knudsen was recognized for his coaching excellence, having been selected as the large classification state Coach of the Year three times. After retiring from Centennial, he transitioned into roles supporting coaching, including serving as an associate director for the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association. He also serves as a defensive analyst for the College of Siskiyous, where he gets to work alongside his son, Tyler who’s the defensive coordinator.  In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach Chris Knudsen, who shares his extensive journey in coaching. Coach Knudsen discusses the importance of high school coaches in shaping young athletes, the challenges of coaching, and memorable moments from his career. He emphasizes the need for coaches to be themselves and the valuable life lessons that football teaches. In this conversation, Coach Knudsen shares his insights on football coaching, emphasizing the importance of teaching, team dynamics, and mental health awareness. He discusses strategies for effective coaching, including the significance of reinforcing positive behavior, and communication during setbacks. Coach Knudsen also highlights creative fundraising strategies and the need for shared leadership within teams, ultimately defining success in coaching beyond just wins. Photo Credit: The Oregonian Takeaways: -High school coaches help players become the best person possible. -We need to hire more coaches as teachers. -The influence of coaches on students is significant. -The Impact of Coach Ad Rutschman -Football teaches valuable life lessons. -The camaraderie in football lasts a lifetime. -Why is Football the Greatest Sport -Be yourself as a coach, don't emulate others.  -Control the Controllable -High school players often lack discipline, which the triple option can expose -Coaching should focus on teaching rather than just yelling instructions. -Mental health awareness in sports has evolved significantly over the years. -The Ford Dealership and Fundraising at Grateful Dead Concert -Success in coaching is defined by improvement and character development, not just wins. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    56 min
  8. Coach Brad Uemoto: Konawaena Football - Perseverance & Commitment

    MAR 13

    Coach Brad Uemoto: Konawaena Football - Perseverance & Commitment

    In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, host Keanu Yamamoto interviews Brad Uemoto, head football coach at Konawaena High School in Hawaii. Under Coach Uemoto, Konawaena has secured multiple BIIF championships, a state title in 2022, and runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024. They explore Coach Uemoto's path into coaching, the critical role of strong team culture, and the realities of high school coaching. Key topics include: Staff retention and Player Commitment / PerseveranceKonawaena Community & Island Lifestyle Coaching Philosophy, Emotional Investment in the Sport, and Head Coach ResponsibilitiesWhat does Team mean: Players, Administration, Staff, and Team Mom’sThe conversation emphasizes teamwork, dedication, accountability, and innovative techniques, while sharing stories about post-game meals, emotional player support, leadership development, self-scouting, and maintaining perspective through wins and losses. They celebrate the growth of young athletes and the distinctive community spirit of coaching in Hawaii. https://linktr.ee/The_Coachers_Podcast

    54 min
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About

Welcome to The Coachers Podcast 🤙🏽 — hosted by Keanu Yamamoto.Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with coaches from every level and sport, sharing their real journeys: toughest moments, biggest wins, best practices, and the hard-earned lessons that build tougher athletes, stronger teams, and better leaders.  From forging a culture and mental toughness to balancing life beyond the whistle, this is your go-to vault for authentic inspiration on coaching, leadership, and team building. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans — dive in for stories that unite and motivate across the game. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe now and join the conversation! ⛳️🗣️

Information

  • Creator
    Keanu Yamamoto
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Coachers Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Coachers Podcast

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