International Coaches Club

Liran Zamir
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  • Sports
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International Coaches Club features International Coaches who crossed borders to chase their passion and make it in the U.S. Each episode explores the journey, mindset, and drive it takes to turn challenges into opportunities and build lasting impact on and off the court. Hosted by Liran Zamir, an international volleyball coach with extensive experience in the US (George Mason University, Santa Monica College, Alabama State University, USA NTDP)

  1. 6d ago

    Ep. 15 Alan Koch – FC Cincinnati & College Ball: The Ever-Evolving Coaching Journey

    Keep evolving is what it takes to build a coaching career that can survive different continents, cultures, and levels of the game. A new episode with Alan Koch, former FC Cincinnati head coach and 2018 USL Coach of the Year, who has coached soccer at the highest levels around the world for more than two decades, is Born and raised in South Africa, Alan’s journey has taken him through college soccer, professional academies, the USL, Major League Soccer, the Canadian Premier League, and across three continents. Alan built his reputation at Simon Fraser University, transforming the program into a national contender and helping make history as the first Canadian school to reach the NCAA Division II Final Four. From there, he moved into the professional game with the Vancouver Whitecaps organization, where he helped develop the next generation of players, including Alphonso Davies, his first professional minutes at just 15 years old.His journey continued as head coach of FC Cincinnati, where he led the club to the 2018 USL Regular Season Championship, earned USL Coach of the Year honors, and helped guide the organization through its transition into Major League Soccer. He has since coached professionally in the United States and Canada, led player development in New Zealand, and today is back in the college game as Head Coach of the University of Guelph men’s soccer program.In our conversation, Alan shares what more than 20 years of coaching across different countries and levels have taught him about adapting to new environments, building culture, developing players, managing transitions, and continuing to evolve as a coach. We also talk about the differences between the college and professional game, his experiences building and rebuilding programs, and the lessons that have shaped his approach to leadership.Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 15 Alan Koch – FC Cincinnati & College Ball: The Ever-Evolving Coaching Journey

  2. Sep 10

    Ep. 14 Agustina De Giovanni – Two-Time Olympian: Mastering the Mental Game

    This coach has participated in high-performance on both sides, competing at the Olympic level and helping elite athletes master the mental side of the game. A new episode with Agustina De Giovanni, two-time Olympic swimmer for Argentina and Mental Performance Coach, is live now on all platforms!Agustina represented Argentina at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, became a 12-time national champion, and competed collegiately as an NCAA All-American at the University of Alabama. After retiring from elite competition, she turned the lessons from her own career toward helping athletes and teams perform at their best under pressure.Her work has since taken her into some of the highest-performing environments in professional sports. She served as Director of Mental Performance and Culture at D.C. United and has worked in mental performance with Bay FC, bringing a perspective shaped by both years of elite competition and her work developing high-performance teams.In our conversation, Agustina shares what she has learned about training the mind with the same intentionality as the body, performing under pressure, building confidence, creating habits that sustain excellence, and separating performance from identity. We also talk about her transition from Olympic athlete to coach and what years at the highest level have taught her about helping athletes become more complete performers.Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 14 Agustina De Giovanni – Two-Time Olympian: Mastering the Mental Game

  3. Aug 27

    Ep. 13 Majo Orellana – TCU Beach Volleyball: The People-First Path to a National Championship

    Very few coaches can build a championship culture while putting emphasis on the athletes' well-being. A new episode with Majo Orellana, former Associate Head Coach of TCU Beach Volleyball, a Performance Coach and a Podcast Host is live now on all platforms!A former Guatemalan National Team captain and four-time Pan American Games athlete, Majo spent nearly two decades representing her country on the international stage before turning her focus to developing the next generation of elite players.Since joining TCU in 2018, she has helped transform the Horned Frogs into one of the premier beach volleyball programs in the country. Along the way, she earned AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year honors, helped lead TCU to multiple conference championships, and played a key role in the program’s historic 2025 National Championship.In our conversation, Majo shares what she has learned about developing elite athletes, creating trust and accountability, building a championship environment, and sustaining excellence year after year. We also talk about how her experience as an international helped her create her business, The Growth Performance, and her own podcast, D1 Coaches Pod. Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 13 Majo Orellana – TCU Beach Volleyball: The People-First Path to a National Championship

  4. Aug 13

    Ep. 12 Daniel Clitnovici – TAMUCC Soccer: Redefining Culture

    Coaches keep saying "Culture This" and "Culture That". But what does this really mean? And what if your culture is facing a negative spiral? In this new episode, I host Daniel Clitnovici, Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.An Australian native with more than 15 years of experience across collegiate, professional, international, and elite youth soccer, Daniel has built a career defined by player development, tactical leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the people he coaches.Daniel’s journey has taken him around the world—from playing professionally in Europe and Australia to coaching at programs including Ohio State, Villanova, and the Western New York Flash. Today, he leads the women’s soccer program at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi while continuing to contribute to the game as a U.S. Soccer coaching educator.Daniel shares the experiences that shaped his coaching philosophy, what it takes to build trust and accountability within a team, and why developing the person behind the player is essential to creating lasting success.Daniel’s perspective is passionate, honest, and filled with practical lessons for coaches, athletes, and leaders at every level of the game.Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 12 Daniel Clitnovici – TAMUCC Soccer: Redefining Culture

  5. Jul 30

    Ep. 11 Jane LaRiviere – WSU Rowing: Two Decades of Building a Powerhouse

    In this episode, Jane LaRiviere, Legendary Head Coach of the Washington State Rowing Program.A proud Canadian and one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate rowing, Jane has spent more than two decades building Washington State into a nationally respected program while mentoring Olympians, NCAA champions, and generations of student-athletes.Jane's journey began in Alberta, Canada, where a passion for sport and science set her on a path to the US. Since arriving at Washington State University, she has transformed the Cougars into a perennial national contender, leading the program to multiple NCAA Championship appearances and establishing a culture built on excellence and basic interpersonal relationships.Jane shares what it takes to build a winning culture that lasts for years, how to develop athletes beyond their physical potential, and just shows her great, humble personality that makes people trust her, leading them.Jane's perspective is thoughtful, honest, and packed with practical advice for coaches, athletes, and leaders in every sport.Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 11 Jane LaRiviere – WSU Rowing: Two Decades of Building a Powerhouse

  6. May 28

    Ep. 10 Andrii Diachkov – Volleyball Advice: Developing the Next Generation Through Dedication

    This is what happens when an international playing career evolves into a mission to develop the next generation. In this episode, I host Andrii Diachkov, a former professional volleyball player who represented the Ukrainian national team and is now one of the most respected international coaches, developing players in the United States. Andrii’s journey began in Ukraine, before taking him to some of the highest levels of professional volleyball in Europe. Over a 15-year professional career, he competed in Italy, Greece, Russia, and France. Along the way, he experienced different cultures, coaching philosophies, and environments that shaped the way he now leads athletes today. Andrii shares what it was like stepping away from competition and finding a new purpose through mentorship, player development, and leadership. He talks about the differences between European and American volleyball culture, what young athletes in the U.S. can learn from the international game, and how one can reach anything they set their mind to with dedication and hard work. Today, Andrii is helping grow the game in Texas, one of the pillar coaches in the NTDP, and has an amazing social media following on his "Volleyball Advice" pages:Website: https://volleyballadvice.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volleyball.advice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Volleyball.adviceAndrii is a coach who turned a global volleyball career into a mission bigger than himself. Welcome to the Club. 🎧 Listen here: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalCoachesClub 🛜 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2gSvhZ4hPjNXEv4jizYhSm 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-coaches-club/id1852331462 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/international_coaches_club/

    Ep. 10 Andrii Diachkov – Volleyball Advice: Developing the Next Generation Through Dedication

  7. May 14

    Ep. 9 Alma Kovaci Lee – Army Volleyball: More Than Wins, A Platform to Inspire

    This episode is about leadership and how to use coaching as a platform to inspire young athletes. In this episode, I host Alma Kovaci Lee, the longtime head volleyball coach at Army West Point and one of the most respected leaders in college volleyball.Alma’s journey began in Albania before bringing her career to the United States, where she became a standout player at Temple University and later played professionally while representing the Albanian National Team. Those experiences shaped the perspective she now brings into coaching at one of the most unique leadership institutions in the world.Coaching at West Point requires far more than teaching volleyball. Alma shares what it means to develop leaders in an environment built on discipline, accountability, service, and character. She speaks about building culture, earning trust, and helping athletes grow through adversity while balancing the demands that come with representing something bigger than themselves.Over the course of her career, Alma has built Army Volleyball into one of the premier programs in the Patriot League while becoming the winningest coach in program history. More importantly, she has built a reputation for developing strong people and athletes.Alma is a coach whose story reflects perseverance, humility, and leadership at the highest level.Welcome to the Club.🎧 Listen here:▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalCoachesClub🛜 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2gSvhZ4hPjNXEv4jizYhSm🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-coaches-club/id1852331462📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/international_coaches_club/

    Ep. 9 Alma Kovaci Lee – Army Volleyball: More Than Wins, A Platform to Inspire

  8. Apr 10

    Ep. 8 Ashleigh Van Vliet - Idaho State Basketball: A "Simple" Journey Done Exceptionally Well

    This is the story of WHY I started this podcast, for the coaches who want to think outside the box and re-route to the US. In this episode, I host Ashleigh Van Vliet, a Maltese basketball player who returned to her alma mater as a coach after a journey spans continents, cultures, and every level of the game.Ashleigh’s story begins in Australia and continues through the U.S. college system at Idaho State, where she became one of the program’s most accomplished players. From there, her career expanded across Europe, with her playing professionally in multiple countries and representing the Maltese national team for over a decade. Those experiences didn’t just shape her as a player, they built the global perspective she now brings into coaching.Transitioning from a long professional career into coaching is not simple. Ashleigh shares what it takes to step away from competing and step into leading, and how her time overseas influenced the way she develops players today. She speaks about accountability, culture, and what it really means to connect with athletes who are navigating their own paths.Ashleigh is a coach who has lived the full journey and now uses it to build the next generation of players in the US.Welcome to the Club.

    Ep. 8 Ashleigh Van Vliet - Idaho State Basketball: A "Simple" Journey Done Exceptionally Well
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International Coaches Club features International Coaches who crossed borders to chase their passion and make it in the U.S. Each episode explores the journey, mindset, and drive it takes to turn challenges into opportunities and build lasting impact on and off the court. Hosted by Liran Zamir, an international volleyball coach with extensive experience in the US (George Mason University, Santa Monica College, Alabama State University, USA NTDP)

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