Ep. 138: "Coach the Heart First" with Greg Gisinger

In this episode of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Coach Greg Geisinger to dig into what it really means to “coach the heart first.”

After more than 20 years in boys’ high school basketball and a successful run as the head boys coach at Arcola High School, Greg made a surprising move: stepping away from a winning boys program to take over the girls team in a really tough situation. He shares honestly about:

• How he realized he was once “coaching out of fear, not love”
• Moving from an old-school, iron-fist style to a heart-first, relationship-driven approach
• Why wins and losses alone left him feeling empty, even during Elite Eight and Sweet 16 runs
• How coaching the heart has actually produced tougher, more connected teams

A major theme in this conversation is accountability and spiritual support. Greg talks about a former player he now calls his “spiritual caddy” — a trusted brother who walks with him daily in Scripture, prayer, and honest conversations. They text each other their “God shots,” encourage each other, and call each other out when needed.

Greg unpacks:

• Why every coach (and every man) needs a “foxhole brother” and spiritual accountability partner
• How his coaching transformation changed who he is at home as a husband and father
• The tension and humility of leaving a successful boys program to help stabilize and rebuild the girls side
• Why coaching with love does NOT mean coaching soft—and how his teams are both tough and deeply connected

If you’re a coach, parent, or leader who senses there has to be more than just chasing the scoreboard, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you lead, how you measure “success,” and who you surround yourself with as you coach the heart first.

Subscribe to The Mental Mettle Podcast and start forging your 100% Mettle today.

For more information about Mental Mettle Coaching

Contact:  matt@mentalmettlecoach.com

www.mentalmettlecoach.com

Schedule a free coaching session with Coach Thomann

Order The Mental Mettle Podcast Gear
The Mental Mettle Podcast | Official Gear | Bonfire

Mental Mettle Links