

The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons
The Daily Coach
Founded in 2019 by Michael Lombardi, a three-time Super Bowl-winning NFL executive and UNC Football’s General Manager, and George Raveling, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, The Daily Coach was born from a fundamental belief: the most important person we will ever lead is ourselves, and that everyone deserves to have a great coach.
The Daily Coach stands as the singular newsletter and community of its kind globally, seamlessly intertwining impactful stories, strategies, and inspiration from both the arenas of sports and business to empower leaders at every level.
The Daily Coach stands as the singular newsletter and community of its kind globally, seamlessly intertwining impactful stories, strategies, and inspiration from both the arenas of sports and business to empower leaders at every level.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 14, 2026 • 6min
Reclaiming Hope: The Gift That Holds Us Up
This episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons revisits what hope really means, not as wishful thinking, but as a steady confidence in who we are and what we can face. It explores the difference between hoping for outcomes and holding hope as a way of being. Leaders have a unique opportunity to model this kind of hope through their actions, especially in seasons of uncertainty. Hope is not something we wait for. It is something we choose to carry.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 13, 2026 • 4min
Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Quiet Leadership
Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge do not lead with speeches or spotlight moments. They lead through presence, consistency, and the way they treat everyone around them. This episode explores how true leadership is often quiet, built through daily habits and small acts of respect. Sometimes the strongest message is not what you say, but how you show up.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 12, 2026 • 4min
Pavlov’s Dog at Camp Randall
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit how Dan Lanning used the science of conditioning and a famous Wisconsin tradition to reframe pressure into performance. By teaching his team to associate a potential distraction with focus and intensity, he turned an obstacle into an advantage. The story explores how leaders can train their own responses to stress, noise, and uncertainty. What stands in the way does not have to stop us. It can become the way forward.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 8, 2026 • 3min
Mount Everest and 'Reflected Glory'
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit a defining moment high on Mount Everest, when Dr. Ken Kamler faced a critical decision after losing visibility and nearing the summit. With months of preparation behind him and enormous pressure ahead, he had to wrestle with why he wanted to continue and who he was really doing it for. The story explores the concept of reflected glory and how easily outside expectations can influence our choices. It’s a reminder that the hardest leadership decisions often happen in silence, long before anyone else sees the outcome.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 7, 2026 • 3min
The Navy SEAL Munchkin Crew
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit Admiral William McRaven’s story of the Navy SEAL “Munchkin Crew,” a group that consistently outperformed larger and stronger competitors. Their edge was not size or resources, but effort, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. The lesson is clear for leaders operating with fewer advantages. You may not control the conditions, but you always control your mindset, preparation, and resolve.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 6, 2026 • 3min
Mack Brown: Celebrating the Wins Along the Way
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit a moment that reveals why perspective matters as much as performance. At 71, Mack Brown dances in a locker room after a narrow road win at Appalachian State, not out of complacency, but out of wisdom earned through championships, disappointments, and hard exits. The lesson is simple and often missed. Leadership demands high standards, but it also requires the courage to enjoy the rare moments when things go right. When leaders take time to celebrate meaningful wins, they create memories that last longer than the scoreboard and remind their teams that excellence and joy can coexist.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Jan 5, 2026 • 4min
What Great Leaders Understand About People
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the leadership principles behind one of the most enduring dynasties in sports history, the New Zealand All Blacks. Former head coach Sir Steve Hansen reveals that sustained excellence is not built on tactics alone, but on trust, care, and truly knowing your people. His message challenges leaders to create environments where vulnerability is allowed and struggle can be named without fear. This episode is a reminder that resilient cultures are built by leaders who give people permission to be human first, and high performing second.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Dec 31, 2025 • 5min
AJ Brown and the Strength to Speak
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the powerful example set by AJ Brown and his willingness to speak openly about mental health, adversity, and resilience. Brown’s honesty challenges the false belief that strength requires silence and reminds leaders that care is a responsibility, not a weakness. His story reframes leadership as the work of creating environments where people feel safe to be human and supported enough to ask for help. When life becomes heavy and uncertain, this episode asks a simple but urgent question: will you retreat, or will you find a way.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Dec 30, 2025 • 4min
Sandra Oh: The Courage to Sit With Discomfort
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the courage it takes to sit with discomfort rather than outrun it. Drawing on Sandra Oh’s reflections after a decade on Grey’s Anatomy, the episode explores how sustained success can coexist with deep internal strain and why growth often begins when resistance stops. It challenges leaders to reconsider the instinct to power through and instead recognize discomfort as a powerful teacher. The lesson is clear: resilience is built not by avoiding hard moments, but by meeting them with honesty, self compassion, and patience. Kindness, especially toward ourselves, becomes the foundation for lasting strength and meaningful leadership.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe

Dec 29, 2025 • 3min
Don't Be Old School
In this episode of The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons, we revisit the idea of being old school and why clinging to it can quietly limit leadership effectiveness. Using examples from sports and decision making, the episode challenges the belief that experience should outweigh new information. It explores how leaders who dismiss data, feedback, or evolving tools often confuse conviction with closed mindedness. The best leaders gather all available information, remain adaptable, and stay curious even when the moment feels uncertain. Growth begins when leaders keep their minds open and their standards high.The Daily Coach's first hardcover and kindle book is here. “Hiring” is a collection of The Daily Coach’s best stories on the topic. This book is not a hiring formula, but a practical reference for coaches and leaders involved in team building. Secure your copy of Hiring today.Not yet subscribed to The Daily Coach newsletter? Join thousands of leaders who receive The Daily Coach every day–for free. Sign up today at thedaily.coach/subscribe


