The Threshold Lab
The Threshold Lab is where “aha” moments and insights go to lift weights. Each episode cracks open a fundamental principle from the world of high performance and aims to transform how you think, work, and lead. Think of it like unlocking a door you’ve passed a hundred times, only to find it opens into a whole new way of thinking. If you're into mindset, growth, and the occasional mental mic drop, you're in the right lab.
Zach Brandon is a coach, speaker, and thought leader blending principles from psychology, coaching, and high performance to empower others toward personal and professional excellence.
The Threshold Lab
Alan Bratton | Oklahoma State Men's Golf Coach | “It’s not like you hold your players to one standard and yourself to another."
Alan Bratton has worn nearly every hat in Oklahoma State University's golf program. A former All-American and member of the 1995 national championship team, he later served as an assistant coach on the 2006 national title run before taking over as head coach in 2013.
Since 2013, Bratton has guided the Cowboys to two NCAA championships (2018, 2025), earned National Coach of the Year honors twice, and continued OSU’s tradition of producing some of the game’s top professionals. His background also includes three years in PING’s tour department and 31 PGA Tour starts, giving him a unique perspective that blends player, coach, and industry experience.
In this episode, we explore how Bratton connects new players to OSU’s storied tradition, the standards that are the foundation for OSU's program, the role of pressure as a privilege, and why the best athletes share two traits: A love for the game and the confidence to be coached. We also dive into his mental-game frameworks and how he helps players manage their mindsets during tournaments.
Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[7:13] — The Legacy of the Program
[11:52] — Establishing the Standards for New Players
[15:46] — Eliminating Selfishness and Arrogance
[25:33] — Leadership Lessons Early in His Coaching Career
[27:44] — How More Patience Has Helped His Communication
[32:33] — Making Difficult Decisions as a Leader
[42:47] — Helping Players Mentally During Tournaments
[48:00] — Coaching Matt Wolff in the 2018 National Championship
[54:32] — Two Common Traits of the Elite Players
[1:02:52] — Reframing Pressure
[1:08:14] — E + R = O
More Resources from Zach:
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