Tell Me Your Story Coach Kevin Mondro

This is officially the conclusion of Season #1 of the “Tell Me Your Story, Coach” Podcast. I appreciate everyone listening. Hopefully, we helped some young coaches learn and grow. In Episode #1, I said the goal was to talk to 100 Coaches. We accomplished this goal! My parents always told me to finish what I had started. And I thought it was imperative that my 7-year-old son, JJ, saw this example firsthand. I am unsure how and when and, honestly if ever, Season 2 will happen. The past 18 months have been super fun but also very challenging. Creating a weekly podcast takes hours upon hours of work. I can’t thank my wife, Liz, for her support- Enough! This podcast has been, indeed, a labor of love. I was unsure, before this podcast, that I ever helped a coach grow. That is, if I ever gave back to the coaching industry. I am proud to say that I can now sleep at night, knowing that I gave back to the coaching industry. Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank all 100 coaches who took time out of their busy schedules and trusted me to tell their coaching stories. I will be eternally grateful. 

Coach Elyse Schlump,
Today we are talking to Coach Elyse Schlump. Coach Elyse is currently the Head Coach at Concordia University. This season marks Coach Elyse’s first season as the Head Coach. She was hired as the Head Coach on July 1st. And, if you follow the WHAC, Coach has her team right in the mix in a highly challenging NAIA Women’s Basketball Conference. Coach Schlump played for and graduated from Concordia. As a player, she was a key team member who made a first-ever NAIA D2 National Tournament Appearance in 2011. So, Concordia is indeed home to her! Coach Elyse returns to Concordia after four seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations at Marist College. And, before her position at Marist, Coach Schlump was the Associate Head Coach at Skidmore College for five seasons. In this conversation, you will hear Coach Elyse discuss the impact her Dad, Dave, made on her coaching career. It is a tremendous tribute. In addition, wait to hear coach talk about her balancing challenging her players and being their best Cheerleader too. It is an excellent perspective into what makes Coach so successful.

Follow Coach Elyse Schlump @CoachSchlump
 Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Jon Tropf,
Today we are talking to Coach Jon Tropf. Coach Tropf is currently an assistant coach for Head Coach Neal Young At Ohio Northern University. Coach Jon arrived at Ohio Northern after spending the past eight seasons at Goshen, including the previous five as their head coach. At Goshen, Coach Jon’s  2017-18 team led the Crossroads League in scoring with 84.9 points per game, the most in program history. In addition, this is Coach Jon’s second tenure with Coach Neal. Coach Jon was an assistant coach with Coach Neal from 2015 to 2017 at Goshen. Before Goshen, Coach Jon was a Graduate Assistant Coach for Head Coach Greg Kampe at Oakland University. And, before Oakland, Coach Jon graduated from Eastern Michigan University. While at EMU, Coach Jon spent four years as a men's basketball manager, including three as the head manager. I had the opportunity to spend one season with Coach Jon at EMU. I have always been so proud to see Coach Jon’s career take off. To see Coach Jon be a head coach at Goshen was a tremendous moment of great pride. And, this conversation is again so special. Coach Jon is not only a high-level coach but a wonderful husband and father. It is my pleasure to share his coaching story.

Follow Coach Jon Tropf @JonTropf 
 Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Will Delgado, 
Today we are talking to Coach Will Delgado. Coach Will is the Head Coach of the Men’s team at Washtenaw Community College, where he’s been the Head Coach since 2017. In his first year, Coach Will was the Women’s Head Coach. The following year, he transitioned to lead the Men’s program. In addition, Coach Will works as a Sales Manager for Marriott Hotels. There is a good chance that if you are traveling to the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area with your college basketball team, then there is a high chance that Coach Will has played a part in making your team feel as comfortable as possible. He is also an active member of the Latino Association of Basketball Coaches (LABC). As you soon will find out, this is a podcast about perseverance and following a passion. From Minnesota, California, Texas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska and to Michigan, Coach Will has been passionate about three things in his life: his family, the game of basketball, and growing as a coach. Trust me, this is an inspiring story about a coach who has never stopped dreaming about being a coach. Massive Respect to Coach Will Delgado and his story. And, incredible respect to Coach Will for being a big time husband to his wife, Holly and his three incredible children: Santiago, Max, and AJ.  
Follow Coach Will Delgado @TheCoachDelgado
Follow The Latino Association of Basketball Coaches @LABCBasketball
Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Kevin Mondro,
Today we are talking to Coach Kevin Mondro, currently the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Cleary University. Everyone knows Coach Mondro as Coach Dro. As you soon will hear, Coach Dro has a special interviewer - his son, JJ Mondro. This is a pretty fun conversation. JJ might have a future in the broadcasting Industry!  Happy holidays from the Mondro family! Wishing you and you family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Keep growing as a Coach. And, thank you for listening to the Tell Me Your Story, Coach podcast. 

Follow Kevin Mondro @KevinMondro
Follow Cleary WBB Basketball @ClearyUWBB
Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro

Coach Darren Sorenson,
Today we are talking to Coach Darren Sorenson. Coach Darren is currently the assistant director for the Army A Club at the United States Military Academy. In addition, Coach Darren is the Vice President at Superior Sports Management. Coach Darren plays a massive role in annually building one of the bigger college basketball MTE’s - the Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic. As you will learn, even though Coach Darren has not been on a college coaching sideline for the past seven seasons, this coach is indeed still coaching at a high level! After an incredible college coaching career, stops at Oakland University, the University of Arkansas, the University of South Florida, Jacksonville State University, Georgia State University, and UCLA, Coach Darren decided seven years ago that his family was his number one priority. And, his story is an inspiring one. And if you are a coach who is not currently in college, you are going to hear how Coach Darren is still making an impact in the industry and utilizing his coaching skills in his professional work. He is also going to give countless tips and advice to young coaches. He is an open book and his real life experiences are going to resonate with a young coach. And, wait until you hear Coach Darren talk about his coaching resume. Darren Sorenson is a tremendous coach, a great family man, a people person, and a high-quality person. It was my pleasure to tell his coaching story.

Follow Darren Sorenson @CoachDSorenson
 Follow Tell Me Your Story Coach @CoachKevinDro