What if your job as an athletic director, coach, or leader wasn't about winning games — it was about transforming people? John Woods lives that reality every day. As Athletic Director at Libertyville High School, John oversees one of the largest athletic departments in Illinois — 31 varsity sports, 93 teams, and a $1.1 million budget. But those numbers don't define his work. For more than two decades, John's mission has been simple and unwavering: to inspire, influence, educate, and empower others to become the best they are capable of becoming. In 2018, John founded Wildcats Will, a mental performance and leadership development academy that teaches student-athletes how to lead themselves, respond to adversity, think neutrally, compete with resilience, and strengthen the habits of championship performers. In 2025, the program expanded beyond Illinois with a community-wide implementation at Flushing High School in Michigan. John authored and continues to chair LTC 727 (Leadership Training Course), the national course on building, cultivating, and sustaining championship culture. He has taught the course across the country, presented at the National Athletic Directors Conference, and dedicated over 20 years of service to the Illinois Athletic Directors Association as President, Treasurer, and Hall of Fame Chair. In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, John exposes the biggest lie culture sold athletic directors and coaches, breaks down why culture is the single greatest competitive advantage in sports, and shares what it really takes to build championship systems that transform people — not just win games. John's belief is simple: The true measure of an athletic director is not how many games were won, but how many people were changed. This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Connect with John: School: Libertyville High School Program: Wildcats Will Course: LTC 727 (Leadership Training Course) Support the show CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: blueprintbluechip.com 📸 Instagram: @blueprintbluechip 💼 LinkedIn: Erin Sarles 📧 Email: erin@erinsarles.com FREE RESOURCE: Join the 5-Day Reset™ — designed for athletes ready to build identity, discipline, and purpose beyond the game. 👉 blueprintbluechip.com/blueprintfoundationschallenge SUPPORT THE SHOW: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Share this episode with an athlete, parent, coach, or leader Follow us on social media and join the conversation BOOK ERIN TO SPEAK: Looking for a speaker who challenges comfort and calls out truth? Erin is available for team workshops, parent seminars, and leadership events. 📩 erin@erinsarles.com ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard. New episodes drop every Monday. Raise the bar. Rebuild the culture. Become the standard.
