The Coaches Podcast: Lessons from Legends.

Joe Owens
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Sports
  • Biweekly

Studying and deconstructing the world's greatest coaches.

  1. Oct 22

    John Wooden - Families, Values, Virtues. (1/2)

    We approach the land of the "holy" this week with John Wooden. Your favorite coach's favorite coach. The wisdom of Wooden is all over the place in athletic circles, and for good reason. He demonstrated so many good virtues and taught so many great lessons during his life. I myself have a rich history with the book we use as the source text today. I hope you enjoy this episode on the Wizard of Westwood. 00:00 Intro06:52 Multi-generational success12:57 END EDIT12:57 Gentle Strength + Muli-Generational Successs17:44 Helping Others Golden Rule / Matthew 7:12 / Acts 20:3520:15 Gratitude & Mindfullness21:29 Self-fulling Prophecies23:10 Equality of Man...Egalitarian Views 24:34 Marriage27:16 Conclusion Book: Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court - John Wooden, Steve Jamison https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Lifetime-Observations-Reflections-Court/dp/0809230410

  2. Oct 7

    Jimmy Johnson - "How Bout Them Cowboys?" (3/3)

    In our final episode on Jimmy Johnson we dive into his Dallas years. There was winning, there was losing, there was burn out, and there was a whole heap of relationship drama. I hope you enjoy. Please like and subscribe if you find value. Thanks very much for listening. 00:00 Losing Side of a Winner? 06:47 First Year In Dallas: "The most miserable year of my life" 14:59 Relationship with Jerry Jones 24:56 Troy Aikman & Fish Tanks 27:46 Avoiding Success Disease - 1993 Season 33:23 2x4's For Handling Pressure 35:54 Conclusion Jimmy's Book Swagger: https://www.amazon.com/Swagger-Super-Bowls-Footballs_A-Memoir/dp/1668008629/

  3. Sep 24

    Jimmy Johnson - Master Talent Evaluator (2/3)

    Jimmy Johnson is up there with Bill Walsh to me in regards to his ability to find diamonds in the rough, to think independently, and to apply a high degree of emotional intelligence to his personnel. I hope you enjoy this episode. 00:00 Intro01:32 Speed Over Size04:56 Johnson's 5 Pillars for Evaluating Talent05:28 1) Intelligence10:55 2) Works Hard13:59 4) Playmakers19:20 4) Gym Rat / Loves To Compete25:17 5) Character28:44 Innovator - Draft Value Chart36:49 Draft Tactics & Innovation40:03 Herschel Walker Trade43:04 Draft Savvy - Emmit Smith44:37 Draft Savvy - Scuttlebutt48:45 Conclusion Jimmy's Book Swagger:https://www.amazon.com/Swagger-Super-Bowls-Footballs_A-Memoir/dp/1668008629

  4. Sep 10

    Jimmy Johnson - Unexpected Introvert. (1/3)

    You'll love studying Jimmy Johnson, more so than you think. He's an unexpected introvert, a master psychologist, and yes, brash and abrasive. All the things. Future episodes will be about his incredible abilities as a talent evaluator (2/3) and his emotionally painful years with the Cowboys (3/3). I hope you enjoy going deeper on the man. There is a ton to gain and learn. 00:00 Intro03:48 Unexpected Introvert / Islamorada08:40 Master Psychologist15:03 Pygmallion Theory 19:42 Brash But Disciplined24:50 Conclusion: Remains NFL Sage Andre Agassi's book OPEN:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=open+by+andre+agassi Socials: the_coaches_pod

  5. Aug 27

    The Best of Episodes 1-17

    This week we're rolling up the first 10 coaches (17 episodes) and I have compiled a "best of" episode. I hope you enjoy. There are many more coaches and episodes in the works...including some live interviews. Thanks for listening! 00:00 The Best of Episodes 1-170 1:41 Dan Hurley - Late Bloomers Need Love Too 03:39 Nick Saban - Dominate 05:58 Joe Maddon - Independent Thinker 07:31 Joe Maddon - 2016 World Series (Theo Epstein Speech) 10:01 Jay Wright - Street Sweeper 13:43 Earl Weaver - Conversation with Steve Stone 16:42 Dean Smith - High Empathy 19:25 Lou Holtz - Deep Character 24:52 Vivian Stringer - Marriage 27:32 Curt Cignetti - Unexpected Promoter 31:26 Dick Bennett - The Parable of David Burkemper 34:30 Conclusion

  6. Aug 13

    Curt Cignetti - Please Explain. (2/2)

    In part 2/2 on Curt Cignetti we'll continue to unpack what makes this coach so darn good. We'll get into many things relating to his elite level of attention to detail and preparation. And I absolutely love how he takes smart, tough, character guys and steamrolls teams with more 5-star "talent". I hope you enjoy. 00:00 Intro02:31 #6 - The Magic of High Standards07:11 #7 - Insane Attention To Detail & Preparation 10:39 #8 Consistency 15:06 #9 - Proven Playmakers Over Underwear Olympians 19:04 #10 Atmosphere: Fun & Competitive21:23 #11 Authenticity - "Cocky Nerd". Smirks.22:31 #12 High Emotional Intelligence24:53 Conclusion Articles Used/Referenced: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6852835/2025/12/03/indiana-football-coach-curt-cignetti-big-ten-championship/ https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/how-a-sixtysomething-coach-from-a-so-so-school-turned-indiana-into-world-beaters https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/indianas-secret-sauce-its-much-more-than-curt-cignetti# https://www.catholicbusinessjournal.com/voices/columns/thomas-m-loarie/the-cignetti-effect-why-the-long-game-wins-in-a-world-of-instant-gratification/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/the-new-sheriff-of-college-football-has-a-message-for/502151 https://www.mattmayberryonline.com/5-leadership-lessons-from-indianas-national-championship/ https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2026/1/18/football-cignettis-maximum-impact-approach-hit-them-right-between-the-eyeshttps://www.idsnews.com/article/2026/01/iu-football-curt-cignetti-champion-football-indiana https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/19/curt-cignetti-dad-frank-cignetti-sr-indiana-football-iup/88235421007/ Books Referenced:Intelligent Fanatics Project - Sean Iddings and Ian Casselhttps://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Fanatics-Project-Sustainable-Businesses/dp/0997576502/ref=sr_1_1 Amp It Up - Frank Slootmanhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=amp+it+up+frank+slootman Shot Ready by Steph Curry:https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Shot-Ready/dp/B0F2VZQVFF/ref=sr_1_1

  7. Jul 30

    Curt Cignetti - Please Explain. (1/2)

    In this 2-part series on Curt Cignetti we'll attempt to deconstruct the man in order to help explain the wild success we're seeing him have at Indiana. Spoiler alert: it's a 56 year overnight success story. We'll learn about the foundations his Dad set, the market conditions in college football that are helping him, but mostly, we'll just learn that this man has been at it for a while and is just really, really good. 00:00 Intro04:19 Point 1 - Compounding - Frank Cignetti Sr.08:17 Point 2 - Compounding - Cignetti & Buffett 12:12 Point 2b - Compounding - Steph Curry14:48 Point 2c - Compounding - Curt's Staff18:15 Point 3 - Money, Market Conditions, & Mark Cuban27:18 Point 4 - Unexpected Promoter31:12 Conclusion Articles Used/Referenced: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6852835/2025/12/03/indiana-football-coach-curt-cignetti-big-ten-championship/ https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/how-a-sixtysomething-coach-from-a-so-so-school-turned-indiana-into-world-beaters https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/indianas-secret-sauce-its-much-more-than-curt-cignetti# https://www.catholicbusinessjournal.com/voices/columns/thomas-m-loarie/the-cignetti-effect-why-the-long-game-wins-in-a-world-of-instant-gratification/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/the-new-sheriff-of-college-football-has-a-message-for/502151 https://www.mattmayberryonline.com/5-leadership-lessons-from-indianas-national-championship/ https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2026/1/18/football-cignettis-maximum-impact-approach-hit-them-right-between-the-eyeshttps://www.idsnews.com/article/2026/01/iu-football-curt-cignetti-champion-football-indiana https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/19/curt-cignetti-dad-frank-cignetti-sr-indiana-football-iup/88235421007/ Books Referenced:Intelligent Fanatics Project - Sean Iddings and Ian Casselhttps://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Fanatics-Project-Sustainable-Businesses/dp/0997576502/ref=sr_1_1 Amp It Up - Frank Slootmanhttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=amp+it+up+frank+slootman Shot Read by Steph Curry:https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Shot-Ready/dp/B0F2VZQVFF/ref=sr_1_1

  8. Jul 16

    Dick Bennett 3 - Journaling | Inner Conflicts | Quality Basketball

    In our final episode on Dick Bennett we're going to hear about his awesome journaling habit, some of the personal struggles that he has that season, and more on his beautiful views of quality basketball. Thanks for listening. 00:00 Intro 03:17 Quality Basketball | The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of It's Parts 06:49 Journaling / Introspection 12:56 Dick's Inner Conflict 16:45 Conclusion to the 1996-97 Season - "Everything Leads To Something" Show Notes: Upside Down Leadership - Travis Wycoff https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVSZ1DKB?lv=shuf&hvlocphy=9021340 A Season With Coach Dick Bennett - Eric Ferris https://www.amazon.com/Season-Coach-Dick-Bennett/dp/1879483483  X, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok: the_coaches_pod e: thecoachespodcast@icloud.com

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Studying and deconstructing the world's greatest coaches.

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