Rewrite The Playbook: Identity,& Belief- Interview On GrandeConnections - S6E4

 Thank you, Donna Grande with  GrandeConnections, for having me as your guest!! 

A seven-year-old falls in love with Giants football. Years later, she’s calling plays, building culture, and proving that coaching is a craft earned in the film room, on the practice field, and through a thousand quiet acts of leadership. Coach Mikki St. Germain joins us to share how she moved from team mom to Varsity Special Teams Coordinator and D-Line Coach.

We dig into the hard parts: being second-guessed, a sideline confrontation that crossed the line, and the moment she chose accountability over ego to protect her team’s standards. She breaks down why “winning and learning” beats “winning and losing,” how players absorb their coach’s mindset under pressure, and why belief, consistent, practiced, and visible, changes on and off the field. 

If you’re ready to trade doubt for reps, bias for standards, and noise for purpose, hit play, subscribe, and leave a review with the bold move you’ll take this week.

Connect with Donna 

Connect with Coach Mikki 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Hi everyone. I am Donna Grant with Grand Connection. And today I have a very, very special guest and very special friend of mine, Coach Mickey Saint-Germain. She's a coach for football. She's an author. She's a speaker. I'm so happy that you're on the call today. And we're gonna just kind of have a conversation here so that everyone can know a little more about you and what you do. So, Coach Mickey, you want to give more of an introduction of what all you do, and we can um get this party started.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

Thank you for having me, Donna. I appreciate you taking the time to have me as your guest. And uh yes, I'm I'm excited to be here. So thank you.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

Yeah. So tell us about a female coach in football. That is a unicorn. We both have talked about this and we agree. Um, let our viewers know how did you get started in this field? Because it's very unique and we'll talk more about it. But give us a little bit of a backdrop of how you got started.

From Team Mom To Head Coach

Eighteen Years On The Sidelines

SPEAKER_00 1:15

So at age seven, I got I was lucky to get a new dad. And one of the ways that we bonded was watching football. And uh I'll never forget it was a New York Giants game. And the first time I saw it, I said, I want to do that. And I I loved it. And I've yes, I'm a Giants fan. I'm a Giants fan, good or bad. And I say that because we've had some terrible seasons and people go, You're a Giants fan. I'm like, Yeah, I am since seven. So I'm not a fair weather one. And I I loved it. And unfortunately back then you couldn't play. And we had uh, you know, you would you would do anything you could to be around it. I mean, if you were a football fan, and uh I lucked out because I had a son who was interested in doing football, and I've never pushed my kids to do things that they didn't want to do, but he came to me and said, I'd really like to play football. And I said, you know, flag. He said, no tackle. I'm like, okay. So at the time I started out as a team mom, and uh from there, a lot of times they didn't have coaches to fill in. So I knew the game inside now, and I started out and got on the youth football leagues as an offensive coordinator, then uh defense. And as the years progressed, I lucked out one year and had an opportunity to become a head coach. And I I loved it because I had another woman who was the president of that organization. So she took a chance on me. And I was to this day, I'm still grateful because that really has launched my football career uh because she did take that chance on me. Um, up until then, I had worked and had teams and I was practicing on a field, uh, a high school field, and our team, the team that I was head coaching at the time, went on to win our Super Bowl, our division, and our league. He saw the work I was doing with my guys and then made the offer the following season for me to be his varsity special teams coordinator and uh D-line. And I ended up uh doing that. And I've been at high school and I've I've even moved on to some of the college level uh over the years. So, how long have you been a coach then? So I've been a coach for 18 years.

Adversity In A Male-Dominated Sport

SPEAKER_01 3:16

18 years. Wow. Wow. I'm sure you've come up uh with a few challenges in your life in that career time, right? Oh yeah, yeah. So um, you know, let's just talk about that because I mean you're you're you're very inspirational. I've known you for a while now. Um I can't imagine just how you probably help so many students, not only with the sport, but just in their lives. Um, tell me, tell me how maybe some of the challenges that you experienced um help you even stay that long in a career with being a female coach on a football team. So maybe share a couple of those challenges and maybe how you overcome them, because I think that's going to be important for people that's listening to understand life isn't easy, but it's, you know, it's how you handle those situations that help you grow stronger. So do you mind sharing maybe uh an experience or two of that?

The On-Field Confrontation

Why She Keeps Coaching

Shoutout To A Future NFL Kicker

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Sure, sure. Uh you know, a lot of everything I teach on the field, I also teach the kids. These are life lessons for off the field and and even for myself, because as you as you said, I have dealt with some adversity and in especially being a male-dominated sport. And first I want to preempt it with I've had some amazing people I've worked with, I've had some amazing coaches that I've worked with, and even to this day I still work with. Um, however, like anything, and I guess like any job, you're gonna deal with those here and there that are gonna be difficult. Unfortunately, within this sport, because it's so male-dominated, you know, I'm I'm not the norm. I am the outsider. And uh, and I want to I want to share that I had to learn over the years before I tell you these stories, that this is not about judgment in who I am as a person. It's based on their being conditioned. I think people are conditioned to how things are supposed to be or the norm, or and when you bring in something different, especially you know, being someone who's never played the game, it's uh you know, they question, they're like, Well, what do you know? You know, how do you know? And what I have found over the years, which is even funnier, I know some great coaches that never played, and they become great coaches. But I've also other known other coaches that have played all the way up to the NFL level and they come in as a coach. And while they're an amazing athlete, coaching is really not their expertise because being a coach and being a player is two different things. And I've learned that you've got a huge responsibility when you coach because these kids look to you for what happens and how you react and how things happen. And I always teach them there's not, you know, there's not winning and losing, it's winning and learning. And one day I had to realize that for myself because some of the challenges I've been up against is just the coaches. It's really never been the kids. It's once in a while the kids, but it's usually the coaches and the parents. And I've had uh situations where coaches, I actually had a coach that was not having it that I was there on that field. And uh it got to a point where he would belittle me, he would say things to me, he would do it in front of my kids. It got to the point where um even during a game, we had a situation where I made a call. And they're they're players, they're kids. Anything can happen in football. I mean, you can plan for everything and they can you can run whatever you want, and something can always go wrong. This is football, and it's part of the game. Well, anyway, uh a play that I called didn't transpire the way it did. It ended up turning the ball into uh the other situation, you know, to the other team. And uh he came after me. He came after me physically and was physically screaming, yeah, and was screaming at me and calling me obscenities, and as he came at me, and now I've I'm a secondary black belt, and my first instincts came in, and I've taught I'm 20 years of teaching women's self-defense. So as he came at me, I got into a fighting stance and I thought, go ahead, swing at me. And and as and of course, because I was mad, I threw my gunboard down. I was like, go ahead, and I was waiting. I was just waiting for him to come at me. But as I did, four of my guys, which were two of my linemen, grabbed him, pulled him off me. Two of them got in front of me and said, Coach, we got you, we got you. And they pulled him off the field. And at uh halftime, the head coach was livid, he was livid. And and I thought about it and I was like, what am I doing? This is not good. Yeah, I shouldn't have reacted that way. Um so at halftime, he's screaming, we're losing, and you. I got my coordinators screaming at each other and and and uh and fighting. And I'm just like, I said, you know what, you're right. That's on me. I'm sorry. I said, I should have never responded. We should have taken this off the field. And I said, I go, you know what, can we get through this and we'll talk about this later? And I extended my hand. He refused to shake my hand. Well, at that point in time, they realized that he had to go because it was that that just wasn't acceptable. Not because I was a female, but you just don't do that as coaches. You know, you take it off the field. Um, I've had I've had parents scream at me and and tell me I'm no good and I'm useless and and I shouldn't be there. You know, I've had other coaches refuse to shake my hand. You know, it's just the list is a mile long. Um, but the reality is, is you ask me why do I do it? I why my why is I love it. I love the kids. I love the opportunity to make positive changes in someone's life. I love being able to take a child, and they are their kids because they're 15 all the way up until they you know they graduate, depending on who I'm working with. And they're they had they want to learn their sponges. They sometimes knowing that someone believes in them and cares for them and knows that that they can do something that they never thought they can do and be there to talk to and understand them is huge. And making that difference in somebody's life is more important to me than worrying about what somebody thinks of me. And that is why I coach through all of it. And every year, every season, I deal with somebody and I go, here we go. But I I I'm now I hold my head up and I shall throw my shoulders back, and I'm like, I go just go do my job. I do my job because I love the kids and I love the difference I can make in their lives.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Wow. Wow. Well, we probably should watch for some of those kids going into collegiate uh football or even NFL. So anyone in particular that maybe want to do a shout out to to share someone you've been working with that you see that potential happening?

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Yeah, I've got one one guy, he's an extraordinary player. He and he even even uh during high school, and I've watched him through his college career, uh, he's playing out at Coastal Carolina right now, and he's their kicker. And uh, if anybody can make it to the NFL, it's gonna be him. And uh his name is Keanu Fructe, and he is he's got good work ethics, he's a team player. I mean, he's so driven. And and uh I wrote about him in in my first book on how his drive and how he would go out and just always work on Saturdays, Sundays before practice, after practice, you know, he always has the drive to get better. And if I could see anybody going forward, he'd be an asset to anybody's team. And I've said that all the way through his high school that any college that got him is really getting a gift. He's he's an extraordinary player. And what's his name again? Let's do it just. He and a fruit tag. He's in Coastal Carolina, he's their kicker. Yeah.

The First Book: Fourth And One Mindset

SPEAKER_01 10:53

Okay. Well, you mentioned about your book. So let's talk about your book. And I think you have um, um, I don't want to say too much unless you I'll let you um take the that position, but you have another one coming. So let's talk about the first one, which I I've purchased and I've read. Awesome. So tell us about the book and the second one, and then we'll also talk about your speaking engagements too. So tell us about the book.

Breaking Records With A Female Kicker

The Next Book: Hail Mary And Heals

SPEAKER_00 11:18

So my first book was back in May. It's called Fourth and One Mindset, and um, it is all my stories. It is all my stories about me being a football coach and and just like the one I told you about Ken. Um, actually, I had one year, actually that same year, uh well, no, he came on. I met him as a freshman. Hit junior year, I had well my uh second year there, I had a uh female come on, a girl who wanted to play, and I ended up playing her on my special teams. Um, and then the following year, I actually had a gal come out as a kicker. And that year, her and I uh broke a record because we were a female uh special teams coordinator with a female kicker. She kicked the first uh a field goal that actually was the first time in history at Dane Hills High School. So the two of us we did it, and she was another one who was extraordinary. She worked hard. She did if the guys did it, she had to do it better, she had to do it faster. She she never complained. She was out there in the weight room, running, you know, in the cold, in the rain. You know, she the guys, the guys really took her under their wing because they saw how hard she worked. I mean, she did not slack. I mean, she did everything they did and she tried to do it better. Now, um, when I put her out there, and I was really proud because this is another, I'm gonna give another shout to Kim because her coming in as a kicker, he would take the time and work with her and help her, you know, and that's how close we were as a team because we helped each other. And I have stories like that. I've got stories about some of the things that happened when we, you know, uh during my uh games, during my field. But everything I I put down in that book, it's not just the story of what happened, it's a how we got there, how we dealt with it, and how you can use it in your own life, regardless of what you're doing, whether it's, you know, making a change in your career, your life, you know, uh, relationships, finances. It all comes down really to the exact same format uh of of learning and and being who you are and your self-belief and getting out there and doing something outside the norm, outside your comfort zone. And that's uh that's really what this first book is about. Tell us about the second book. So the second book I titled Hell Marion Heals. Love that. I love that title. And I'm I'm looking to have that one come out uh in March. So I'm looking forward to that one. Uh that one is uh mostly based on being a woman in a male-dominated sport, and it's about really just what I had said prior. It's about people being conditioned. Where did it transpire? How did it happen? And then how has it formed us? How's it formed our identity? You know, how has it affected our self-belief? And and I just take all my stories again and share with you what transpires and how it's transpired, and then how do we deal with it? And how do we keep moving forward? And how do we get past that that judgment, that identity, that that belief system that not only that other people have, but what we've come to think is what we need to be or who we are and how we can change it. Just because you have an identity based on what who you are or what you've experienced and what has happened, doesn't mean that's who you truly are inside. And when you have something such as like I have with coaching, and you find I this is not my life. This is not who I really am. This is, I know there's more. Um, but not knowing the steps to take or being afraid to step out of your comfort zone is so important to know that you're not alone, that you can do it, that um other people have done it, and to know that you can do it once you've got that self-belief and understand that your true identity is your authentic self and that you're gonna totally uh rocket and shine once you once you start taking those steps to get forward and do it. And these are everything that I have to remember and do each and every time I walk out on a field. And again, I'm being judged or something has transpired.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Oh, well, we can't wait to get that book too. So that's coming out in March.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:35

Awesome, awesome. And um, you know, I've listened to your podcast. So tell the viewers too, your podcast, they are awesome. Um, great job on that. Um, maybe share a little bit how they can hear you on some of those podcasts, and you're on so many different platforms. So um help us understand how we can connect with you that way.

Coach Mickey And Friends Podcast

SPEAKER_00 15:55

Thank you. Uh yes, I've got I've got uh I've got two podcasts. One is uh Coach Mickey and Friends. Coach Mickey and Friends I've had for over six years, and I have interviewed some incredible people. I've had an astronaut that put up the Hubble telescope, I've had country western singers that are now on the charts. I have had uh I had the driver for the Jamaican bobsled team, the original one back in the 80s. Uh I have had a uh professional stunt man, I have had uh authors, I've had speakers, I've had people that are just doing um just things that that that they love to do. And I I love I've had Donna, I've had you on my podcast to share your stories. And and I love it. And sometimes it's just sometimes it's just me have um and my friends, and we just talk about really real fun things and we laugh and we have a good time. And it's just a place to to share and have invite you to be comfortable and just come on in, be comfortable with who you are and listen to us as if you were having a cup of coffee among friends. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

Well, we'll have some information in this um uh release so that they can um subscribe to you and connect with you. Um also, Coach Mickey, you're on billboards. Tell us billboards. So if we see you on billboards, we're like, hey, I know who she is, right?

Billboards And Visibility

SPEAKER_00 17:25

So um when I first launched my podcast, uh uh we decided to put up on billboards. I said, I gotta get exposure. I'm gonna get I want to get exposure on this. And so I went out through a company and I found a digital billboard, and you have the opportunity to pick the locations you want to be in. So every now and then I'll just put up my podcast and all people will see me in Alabama, they'll see me in Florida, they'll see me in Georgia. I love it in Oregon. I love it. I think I saw you on a billboard. I'm like, you know, it's it's exposure. It was it's fun. It's actually fun. I was driving, I was coming back from LA and I had one that was in um uh Buena Park. And as I'm driving, I can see it. I was like, it's so weird to see yourself up on a billboard. I guess real estate people are used to that, you know. You know, you're you're in five o'clock traffic and somebody seeing your face up on a billboard.

Closing Wisdom And Speaking

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Yeah. Oh my gosh. Well, I'll have to when I'm driving, I'll have to look and I'll say, Yeah, I know her. Yeah. Well, that is great. Well, it's just been such a real pleasure having you on today. Is there any last words you'd like to share with anyone? Uh, words of wisdom or quote or anything that maybe you want to share with our viewers for today.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Thank you. Well, first of all, Donna, thank you so much for having me. And uh one of the things that I I really love doing, I mean, outside of the football field, is uh is speaking. I'm a keynote speaker. I love to inspire women to be able to grow and evolve. And I always say, find you find your way to your end zone of success because every single one of you should be running your own playbook. Don't let other people write your playbook. You should have your own playbook in life. And and I love to teach and inspire women. Um, and I've done some keynote speaking um at life uh Edwards Life Science. I've spoken at Verizon and other companies, a lot of women's groups. Um, I'll teach speak at high schools, colleges, and and anything that I can do to help inspire. Uh, I'm I'm always open to be able to reach out and and do that. And I guess to end on a quote would be uh the most courageous thing you can do is be yourself.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

I love it. I love it. Well, Coach Mickey, thank you so much for being on today. Um, look forward to connecting with you sometime soon. So you take care.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

Thank you.