Alignment in Action: Trust, Authenticity, and the Work | Christian Dukes & Wes Fleming, CB & Safeties, Central Michigan

In Episode 2 of The Central Michigan Football Staff: Alignment in Action, the focus shifts from the head coach’s vision to how alignment shows up in the staff’s day-to-day work. Recorded during Central Michigan’s first season under new leadership, the episode features conversations with safeties coach Wes Fleming and corners and nickels coach Christian Dukes.

Fleming brings a shared history with the head coach, offering insight into how trust, standards, and collaboration are built over time. Dukes joins the staff without that prior connection, providing a clear look at how alignment holds when someone new enters the building. Across both conversations, common themes emerge—not through identical language, but through consistent behavior: honesty with players, genuine relationships, clear standards, and doing the right thing without needing oversight.

The episode shows how trust and authenticity move from ideas to action, revealing what alignment looks like when belief turns into behavior and culture is reflected in the daily work.

This Alignment in Action episode is paired with the Alignment in Action AI Companion, a behavior-based evaluation and planning tool built directly from these conversations to help coaches assess alignment, ownership, and decision-making when responsibility moves beyond the head coach. For staffs looking to ensure standards hold under pressure and function without constant oversight, this series provides a clear lens and practical application.

⁠Alignment in Action AI Companion⁠

Topics:

• Alignment as behavior, not slogans or titles

• Wes Fleming on shared history and why trust is expected

• How standards show up in daily work and collaboration

• Authentic relationships across position rooms and sides of the ball

• Alignment tested when a new coach enters the building

• Christian Dukes on evaluating fit and building trust without history

• Teaching standards through honesty, effort, and communication

• Alignment measured by consistent action, not identical language

Connect on X:

Wes Fleming: @Fleming_Coach

Christian Dukes: @CoachDukes_

Keith Grabowski: ⁠@CoachKGrabowski⁠

Episode 3 continues the series by examining how alignment holds under increased pressure and expanded responsibility across the staff.

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