Momentum Sessions

Matt Minkus
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Sports

Momentum Sessions is a podcast for coaches building better teams. Host Matt Minkus talks with leading coaches and experts about the everyday work of building team culture: setting clear standards, earning trust, developing leaders, and helping athletes take ownership. Featuring conversations with guests including Jay Bilas, Herm Edwards, Mike Candrea, and Molly Miller, each episode explores the habits, decisions, and relationships that help teams thrive, offering practical ideas you can bring to your next practice.

  1. 2d ago

    Turn Team Values Into Everyday Behaviors | Emma Doyle

    Respect. Effort. Teamwork. What do those words actually look like at practice? Emma Doyle, coach and author of What Makes a Great Coach, discusses how coaches turn team values into specific behaviors athletes can understand, practice, and take ownership of. Coach EM also shares why athletes need a voice in shaping their team’s values and how coaches can guide that process through better questions and consistent reinforcement. She also explores how everyday coaching choices help athletes build the confidence to think and make decisions for themselves. In this episode, we explore: • How to involve athletes in reviewing team values and defining what they look like in practice and competition. • How “next time” questions help athletes learn from mistakes and identify what to try next. • How to design practice activities that give athletes opportunities to solve problems and make their own decisions. --- Connect with Emma Doyle Continue learning with Coach EM through her book, podcast, and programs for coaches and leaders: • Read: What Makes a Great Coach? — practical coaching lessons drawn from conversations with more than 500 coaches across sport and business. • Listen: The Coaching Podcast — conversations about communication, leadership, and bringing out the best in others. • Explore: Coaching and leadership programs — learn more about Emma’s courses and training opportunities. About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  2. Oct 1

    Coachable Doesn’t Mean Compliant | Ric Bucher

    Can an athlete disagree with a coach and still be highly coachable? Ric Bucher, sports journalist and author of Coachable, shares how confidence, humility, and trust help athletes take greater responsibility for their development. He explores why asking questions can signal investment, why athletes need to understand the purpose behind their role, and what it takes to turn feedback into action. In this episode, we explore: • Why an athlete’s questions can open the door to greater commitment and why disagreement still requires working toward a shared understanding. • How coaches can adapt their communication to each athlete while maintaining consistent team standards. • What coachability looks like in everyday behavior: seeking feedback, applying it, and following through without constant reminders. About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  3. Sep 24

    You Don’t Want Compliance. You Want Ownership. | Carol Hutchins

    Your athletes know the rules. But what happens when you’re not in the room? Carol “Hutch” Hutchins, drawing on her years leading University of Michigan softball, shares what it takes to build a program that athletes feel responsible for. From earning trust to developing captains, she explores how coaches help players take greater responsibility for their growth, their teammates, and the standards they share. In this episode, we explore: • Why teammate accountability starts with everyday connection and how coaches can help athletes navigate difficult conversations. • How giving athletes a voice in creating team standards helps them take ownership of those expectations. • Why Hutch asked prospective captains to make their case in front of the team before a vote and what that revealed about their readiness to lead. About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  4. Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 Trailer: From Buy-In to Ownership

    You’ve explained the standards. You’ve talked about accountability. But you’re still the one doing all the reminding. How do you help your athletes take ownership? Season 3 of Momentum Sessions explores how coaches help athletes take greater responsibility for their actions, their teammates, and the culture they’re building together. Hosted by Matt Minkus, this season features conversations with: • Carol Hutchins • Ric Bucher • Emma Doyle • J.P. Nerbun • Zach Brandon • Jay Martin Together, we’ll explore: • What separates compliance from ownership and what coaches often misunderstand about coachability • How to turn team values and good intentions into everyday behaviors • How athletes can help shape team standards and develop as leaders throughout the roster Six conversations about what ownership looks like in practice and what it asks of us as coaches. Follow Momentum Sessions so you don’t miss the first episode. About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  5. Jul 9

    Why Great Teams Make Leadership "Cool" | Dave Clawson

    In our Season 2 finale, Dave Clawson, the former head football coach at Wake Forest, shares why leadership and character must become part of a team’s identity long before they’re needed. He explains why great programs intentionally celebrate the behaviors they want repeated and why making leadership “cool” creates teams that stay connected when pressure rises. In this episode, we discuss: • Why leadership and character should be celebrated • What actually holds teams together under pressure • Building culture before adversity arrives • Reinforcing the behaviors you want repeated • Why winning starts long before game day 🎧 This conversation originally took place inside Momentum Sessions, a free community where coaches learn from some of the world’s best leaders in sport. Join future conversations and connect with coaches who are building stronger cultures at: 👉 momentumteams.com/sessions About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  6. Jul 2

    Stop Chasing Better Drills. Build Better Standards. | Zach Lutz

    Former MLB player and current youth baseball coach Zach Lutz explains why successful programs don't chase the latest drill or coaching trend. Instead, they relentlessly reinforce the fundamentals, establish clear expectations, and create an environment where everyone understands what winning behavior looks like. In this episode, we discuss: • Why healthy cultures aren't built on star players • The importance of clear, non-negotiable standards • Why fundamentals beat gimmicks over time • Creating buy-in through simple daily expectations • What sustainable player development really looks like 🎧 This conversation originally took place inside Momentum Sessions, a free community for coaches who take culture seriously. Join future live conversations and connect with other coaches at: 👉 momentumteams.com/sessions About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  7. Jun 25

    Your Athletes Believe What They See, Not What You Say | Kerry Castillo

    Leadership and high school coach Kerry Castillo explains why one of the biggest threats to team culture is the say-do gap—the distance between the standards we communicate and the behaviors we consistently model. If your body language, energy, and daily habits don't reinforce your message, athletes notice. And over time, that gap quietly erodes trust. In this episode, we discuss: • What the "say-do gap" really is • Why athletes believe actions more than words • How body language shapes team culture • The daily behaviors that reinforce your standards • Why authentic leadership starts with self-awareness 🎧 This conversation originally took place inside Momentum Sessions, a free community for coaches who take culture seriously. Join future live conversations and connect with other coaches at: 👉 momentumteams.com/sessions About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

  8. Jun 18

    Most Teams Lose Before the Season Starts | Randy Jackson

    Coach and leadership expert Randy Jackson explains why great teams focus on winning "Day Zero." It's the period before competition begins when expectations are set, relationships are built, and culture is established. Randy shares why culture matters more than strategy, how alignment impacts performance, and why getting everyone moving in the same direction is one of the most important responsibilities of a coach. In this episode, we discuss: • Why most teams lose before the season starts • Creating alignment before adversity arrives • Why culture matters more than plays and schemes • Vision casting and building team buy-in • Getting everyone moving in the same direction 🎧 This conversation originally took place inside Momentum Sessions, a free community for coaches who take culture seriously. Join future live conversations and connect with other coaches at: 👉 momentumteams.com/sessions About Momentum Sessions Momentum Sessions is a free, private community where coaches explore how culture, leadership, and standards actually work inside real teams. Join future sessions:  👉 momentumteams.com/sessions

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5
out of 5
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About

Momentum Sessions is a podcast for coaches building better teams. Host Matt Minkus talks with leading coaches and experts about the everyday work of building team culture: setting clear standards, earning trust, developing leaders, and helping athletes take ownership. Featuring conversations with guests including Jay Bilas, Herm Edwards, Mike Candrea, and Molly Miller, each episode explores the habits, decisions, and relationships that help teams thrive, offering practical ideas you can bring to your next practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Minkus
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Momentum Sessions
  • Show Website
    Momentum Sessions

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