The Pure Athlete Podcast

On this episode, we welcome Coach David Cutcliffe, former head football coach at Duke and Ole Miss, and former Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee. Cutcliffe, who coached both Peyton and Eli Manning in college, is often referred to as the Quarterback Whisperer for his ability to develop young QBs. Coach Cutcliffe is one of the most respected people in college football, and thus is still very engaged on staff with the SEC. Parents, players, and especially coaches...you don’t want to miss his thoughts on the current state of CFB, the Manning QB dynasty, and his insights from 40+ years of coaching football and life the right way.

Most parents hope their kids develop strong character, but where does it get prioritized when it comes to pursuing youth sports goals? Pure Athlete lists character as one of the 5 Pillars of a Pure Athlete...why? Jeff, Britt, and Brad dive into this topic on this episode, discussing why character matters both on and off the field or court, how it gets developed, what role that parents and coaches play in this process, and much more.In addition, the guys make a big announcement at the beginning of the show - don't miss it.

We are excited to replay our 2024 episode with one of America’s most admired and respected sports figures, Coach Tony Dungy! Coach Dungy is a Hall of Famer, Super Bowl winner as a player AND coach, two-time coach of the year and best-selling author. This accomplished legend shared his personal story as a young player and as a dad, as well as many stories from his days as an college/pro player and coach, weaving in great insights for parents, coaches, and players. Coach also shares his insights on the importance of character development, as well as the element he believes is most important to keep at the forefront of sports, at every level...hint, it is a key part of the word fundamentals.We're so excited to have a true icon and role model on the show today, so buckle up for the wisdom and encouragement of Coach Tony Dungy!

If you're playing youth sports, you're experiencing winning and losing regularly. Some experience one more than the other, but over the course of time, we all experience both. As parents and coaches, how do we teach young athletes the value of responding properly to both? Do we even model the right responses, or are we also too caught up in the results? On this episode, Jeff, Britt, and Brad discuss why we all want to win, the positive aspects that result, while also talking about the positive aspects of losing (yes, there really are some). They also share their thoughts on the bad responses to both winning and losing, from arrogance to sour attitudes, from kids and parents alike. Finally, we've all seen ugly examples of really poor responses to both winning and losing and the guys call some of these out as a reminder to all of us to seize these opportunities to teach out young athletes to compete to win, to win with grace, and to respond to losing with the right attitude. This episode has something for everyone - don't miss it.

As we head into Thanksgiving week, we are grateful for the wise counsel we received in 2024 from Dr Tim Elmore, sharing his expertise on topics such as how can we help our kids develop grit? How do parents help, or hinder, their kids from reaching their full potential, in sports, or life? What are the keys to developing mental toughness in our kids? Do your kids suffer from FOMU (Fear of Messing Up) and how can you help them overcome it, in sports and life? These are just some of the questions we explore this week as we welcome Dr. Tim Elmore, founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, Inc. and a sought-after expert on parenting and leadership development of Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids. The author of more than 30 books, Dr. Elmore is a sought-after speaker and expert, appearing on numerous news shows, TED, dozens of Fortune 500 companies, and has worked with numerous professional sports teams in the MLB, NBA, and NFL, as well as some of college’s top programs. Parents and coaches don't want to miss this episode.

Excited to replay this inspiring and insightful interview we did in 2023 with 12-yr NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Dan shares his youth sports journey to UConn and the NFL, along with great insights he learned along the way. He also shares his thoughts about what he is currently living our as a sports dad to his four boys.

Trying to wear both the parent hat and the coach hat at the same time can be both a fantastic and perilous experience (yes, both of those are true), and we’ve received many requests to discuss both the positive and challenging factors that come into play. Britt and Brad share their experiences and Jeff talks about his current approach with his kids as a backdrop to the discussion. From there, they talk about the many reasons that parents should consider coaching their kids, even as an assistant and especially at younger ages. They also define "daddy-ball" in terms of what it looks like in youth sports, as well as the impact it has on other families. As the kids get older, the challenges with trying to wear both hats become more difficult to manage, and the guys provide some tips to consider to help parents approach coaching with purpose and wisdom.

Billy Wagner, a 2025 MLB Hall of Fame inductee and former elite closer, shares his journey from a small-town kid to a major league superstar with 422 saves. He opens up about his emotional induction weekend and reflects on his childhood adversity that shaped his path. Now a high school coach, he discusses the importance of balancing parenting with coaching, advocating for multi-sport participation to fight early specialization. He also provides valuable insights into pitching development and encourages patience for young athletes. A must-listen for parents and aspiring players!

Sam Querrey, a former top American tennis player with 10 ATP titles, shares his journey from a multi-sport youth to making the pro tour decision over college. He reflects on the current state of U.S. tennis, discussing the best players poised for grand slam success and his own iconic wins against legends like Djokovic and Nadal. Querrey also delves into his transition to pickleball, broadcasting nerves, and offers advice for young athletes to embrace various sports. His humor and insights make for an engaging conversation.

Some moms are as passionate (or more) about youth sports as dads, and even those who aren’t are often deeply involved because they are passionate about their kids. On this episode, Megan Cannon, a former D1 soccer player, high school coach, mental health counselor, and most importantly, mom of two young athletes and wife to a passionate sports dad, joins us to talk all about moms' roles in youth sports. Going way beyond the role of TEAM MOM, moms often take the lead in maintaining family balance, recognizing emotional needs (not just the physical needs) of young athletes, offsetting some of dad's sports intensity, and yes, some also are great coaches to our kids. This episode will encourage and challenge moms, and there is a lot here for dads to understand and learn from as well.