The Daily Coach: Sports Leadership Lessons

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of team performance: connectivity. Drawing on insights from Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young and legendary coach Bill Walsh, we explore how personal bonds, shared experiences, and understanding your teammates can transform a group from good to truly great. Join us on September 23rd at 2:30 PM EDT / 11:30 AM PDT for a free live seminar on the Five Lessons the Best Leaders Wish They Learned Sooner, presented by Michael Lombardi. The seminar is limited to the first 400 registrants. Sign up now at https://apply.thedaily.coach/daily-coach-seminar-10-2025/. If you can’t attend live, sign up to receive the full recording afterward.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 https://www.thedaily.coach/subscribe. 

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit and spotlight the incredible journey of Erin Matson — from four-time national champion at North Carolina to Head Coach of the UNC women’s field hockey team at just 24 years old. Her story reminds us that leadership isn’t about age or tenure, but about passion, knowledge, and the ability to elevate others.Join us on September 23rd at 2:30 PM EDT / 11:30 AM PDT for a free live seminar on the Five Lessons the Best Leaders Wish They Learned Sooner, presented by Michael Lombardi. The seminar is limited to the first 400 registrants. Sign up now at https://apply.thedaily.coach/daily-coach-seminar-10-2025/. If you can’t attend live, sign up to receive the full recording afterward.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 https://www.thedaily.coach/subscribe.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the value of having a “truth teller” in your corner — someone who offers perspective, accountability, and honesty without ego.From the story of Bill Campbell’s journey from Columbia University’s football coach to legendary Silicon Valley mentor, to Jeff Van Gundy’s role in supporting Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, we’ll uncover why the best leaders surround themselves with voices that challenge, guide, and sharpen them.Join us on September 23rd at 2:30 PM EDT / 11:30 AM PDT for a free live seminar on the Five Lessons the Best Leaders Wish They’d Learned Sooner, presented by Michael Lombardi. The seminar is limited to the first 400 registrants. Sign up now at https://apply.thedaily.coach/daily-coach-seminar-10-2025/. If you can’t attend live, sign up to receive the full recording afterward.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 https://www.thedaily.coach/subscribe.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the leadership lessons from NHL great T.J. Oshie, who retired in June 2025 after 16 seasons with the Washington Capitals.Oshie’s farewell wasn’t just about championships, highlights, or accolades. It was about one core principle he carried throughout his career — a laminated quote from his youth: “Today I will give all I have, for this moment may never come again.” For Oshie, effort, presence, and heart were the only things fully in his control.These aren’t just lessons for hockey. They’re reminders for all of us as leaders and high performers: to embrace transitions with gratitude, to give our best even on the uninspiring days, and to show up fully — so that when a chapter closes, we leave with clarity and peace, knowing we gave everything we had.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the leadership wisdom of Jenny Levy, head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels Women’s Lacrosse program.From taking over a brand-new team at age 24 to building it into a perennial powerhouse with four national championships, Levy has spent three decades defining what sustained excellence looks like. Her team's undefeated title run during the 2024-25 season was a reminder that while culture fuels connection, it’s the standards you uphold that push people to greatness.Culture is how it feels. Standards are what you enforce. Together, they create the foundation for belonging, accountability, and high performance. And as Levy reminds us, great leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other — it’s about holding both with consistency and care.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit how discipline and joy intersect in leadership — through the story of Hall of Famer and basketball coach Dawn Staley.Long before championships, medals, and national titles, Staley’s leadership was shaped in a North Philadelphia household where her mother Estelle set clear standards. Chores weren’t negotiable, expectations were enforced, and accountability was paired with warmth, beauty, and care. Discipline wasn’t punishment — it was protection. And joy didn’t exist in spite of discipline — it flourished because of it.These aren’t just lessons from Staley’s childhood or basketball career. They are universal truths for leaders and coaches: structure creates safety, clarity builds pride, and true culture is built where high standards meet high support.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the 90–10 Rule — why great leaders don’t need universal approval.Drawing from the insights of Stanford professor Bob Sutton, we break down why it’s natural, and even healthy, for about 10% of people in any organization to be dissatisfied. That dissatisfaction, when channeled well, can spark innovation, challenge the status quo, and prevent complacency.These aren’t just organizational lessons — they’re universal leadership truths: striving for 100% approval can stifle growth, while learning to embrace a healthy level of discontent builds stronger, more adaptive teams. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the tension between chasing ambition and finding contentment.Through the music of Jackson Browne and the writings of Bianca Sparacino, we’re reminded that purpose isn’t handed to us — it’s discovered in the messy, beautiful process of living. Browne’s "The Pretender" captures the weight of adulthood and the sacrifices of chasing dreams, while Sparacino challenges us to heal, to take risks, and to unapologetically believe our ideas and lives deserve space.These aren’t just artistic reflections — they’re universal leadership lessons: to pursue what ignites us, to find joy in the journey, and to reconnect with the people and passions that bring us home to ourselves.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit the leadership lessons of Evy Poumpouras, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has protected some of the world’s most powerful leaders.Drawing from her book "Becoming Bulletproof" and her experiences in high-stakes environments, Poumpouras reminds us that the hardest battle isn’t with the outside world — it’s with ourselves. She challenges us to take ownership of our mindset, discipline, and decisions, and to adopt daily practices that build resilience and clarity.Her three foundational creeds are simple but powerful: speak with conviction, stop chasing external respect, and master the art of silence. These aren’t just lessons for national security — they are universal strategies for leaders, coaches, and high performers striving for personal mastery and lasting impact.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Daily Coach newsletter in audio form, we revisit Olympian Alexi Pappas' powerful framework for chasing big dreams and embracing the tough days along the way.From setting the Greek national record in the 10,000 meters to competing at the Rio Olympics, Alexi’s journey extends far beyond the track. She’s also a writer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose words have inspired millions. And at the heart of her philosophy is what she calls the Rule of Thirds: when you’re chasing something meaningful, one-third of your days will feel great, one-third okay, and one-third downright difficult — and that balance means you’re right where you should be.These aren’t just lessons for athletes. They’re reminders for leaders, coaches, and high performers in any arena: struggle isn’t failure, discomfort isn’t defeat, and the way we respond on the “crappy days” is what truly determines our growth.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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thedaily.coach/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.