Play, Learn, Lead
This podcast dives into the journeys of school coaches, exploring how they bring lessons from the field into the classroom to inspire teamwork, resilience, and leadership. Through engaging interviews, each episode highlights the unique connection between sports and education, showcasing the impact coaches have both on and off the field.
Episodes
13 episodes
Kameron Roach: "I get to Know Them (Student Athletes) Outside of Their Sport"
This week on Play, Learn, Lead, I had the chance to sit down with Kameron Roach, the Director of Student-Athlete Development at UNC Charlotte. From growing up as a young athlete with big dreams to becoming a D1 basketball player, Kamer...
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32:36
Coach Conner: "I’m Not A Big Yeller... I Try To Be As Encouraging As Possible."
This week, I sat down with East Gaston High School’s tennis coach and social studies teacher, Coach Conner, to explore her journey from a young athlete with big dreams to a powerful force in both the classroom and on the court.We kicked...
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37:13
Coach McCray: "You Have to Care and You Have to Want It"
This week, I sat down with W.C. Friday Middle School's football coach, Coach McCray, to dive into his journey from a multi-sport-loving kid to a dedicated leader on and off the field. Coach McCray shared how his early passion for all sports gra...
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38:02
Coach Simmons:"Coaching Helped Me Gain Confidence in the Classroom"
Stuart Cramer High School has officially named a new head football coach—and in this episode, I had the chance to sit down with the man behind the whistle. From humble beginnings in a small town where football isn’t just a game but a way of lif...
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52:07
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Coach Manning: "With Sports You Learn to Fail and You Learn that Failing is OK!"
In this episode, I sit down with Coach Manning, head coach of the Cherryville High School girls soccer team. Coach Manning opens up about how sports shaped his childhood, the impact of a high school injury that changed the course of his college...
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38:11
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Coach Russ: “We All Have Things That We Need to Unpack”
In this episode, I sit down with Coach Russ, the head football coach and athletic director at East Rutherford High School. We dive into the mental side of sports and how it shapes young athletes far beyond the game. Coach Russ shares his philos...
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43:54
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Coach Corey: “Try to Be a Student, Even Though, I’m the Teacher or Coach”
In this episode, we sit down with Coach Corey, the dynamic PE teacher at Ida Rankin Elementary, to dive into his journey from playing college baseball to shaping young athletes in the classroom. Coach Corey shares the highs and lows of his spor...
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43:48
Coach Hawkins:“The Team That's in Better Shape, Typically Ends Up Finding Results”
In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Coach Hawkins, head coach of the men’s and women’s soccer teams at East Gaston, to explore the intersection of coaching and teaching. We discuss his journey through sports, the difficult d...
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47:35
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Coach Murray: "Athletic Field or Anywhere I was Coaching, is Just Another Classroom"
From walk-on at Clemson to mentor—Coach Murray’s journey in teaching, coaching, and inspiringIn this episode of Play, Learn, Lead, we sit down with Coach Murray, the East Gaston Track & Cross Country Coach...
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37:29
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Coach Bartlett: "You're Not Here to Coach; You're Here to Impact"
In this episode of Play, Learn, Lead, I sit down with Forestview High School Basketball Coach and educator, Steve Bartlett, to explore the power of coaching in the classroom and on the court. We dive into what it truly means to
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35:40
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Coach Bowen: "Teamwork and Uplifting others is more important than Winning or Losing"
In this episode of Play, learn, Lead , I sit down with Coach Bowen, the passionate and inspiring PE coach at Pinewood Elementary in Gaston County, to discuss the impact of teacher-coaches in education. We explore his approach to <...
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27:35
