The Great Coaches: Leadership & Life

Our Great Coach on this show is Ric Charlesworth.Ric is an Australian sports coach and former politician. He played first-class cricket for Western Australia and international field hockey for Australia winning a silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He also served as a federal member of parliament from 1983 to 1993.He was appointed coach of the Australian Womens Hockey team in 1993 leading them to Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000.He later coached the Australian Men’s Hockey Team leading them to win the World Championship and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.He has also worked in consulting roles with the New Zealand national cricket team, the Australian Institute of Sport, and the Fremantle Football Club.Ric has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1987 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). And just to top it off was awarded the Australian Team Coach of the Year 1994, 1996, 1997,1998,1999,2000.Ric is an icon of coaching in Australia and it was an honor to interview him. There are many, many nuggets of insight that he shares; but it was his thoughts on mining for and managing conflict and homosexuality in female versus male sport that resonated the most.I hope you enjoy it.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is Gary Kirsten.Gary played 101 Test matches and 185 One Day Internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004. He retired as the first ever South African to play in 100 tests, and the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other 9 Test nations.He became the coach of the Indian cricket team in 2008 and led them to win the World Cup 2011, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia in 2009, the first ever test series win in New Zealand and to become the become the top-ranked team in Test matches.In 2011 he was appointed as head coach of South Africa, and led them to also become the #1 ranked test team.He has also coached the Hobart Hurricanes in the Australian Big Bash League and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.Gary is a coach who is deeply authentic, and comfortable expressing both his own vulnerabilities, and heightened expectations.He believes that the quality of his coaching is determined by the effectiveness of his facilitation skills, and so is reflective and philosophical about the techniques needed to reach the athletes he leads.He is that rare breed of person who has been able to reach the pinnacle of his sport as both an athlete and coach, and this lends his story an added layer of credibility, whether it is talking about the deficit of mental skills he experienced as a batsman, or the importance of understanding what the environment requires of you as a leader.Gary is a master coach and human being, and there were many highlights for me in this interview, some of the key ones wereThe story he shares about winning the World Cup with India, and how it was a change in behaviours that helped achieve this result.How as a player he always thrived in an environment where there was deep psychological safety.And, how the best athletes in the world are able to separate the result from their performance, and how this helps them manage their anxiety and expectations.This was a great interview, a real highlight for me, and I hope you enjoy it as much I did.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is Conor O’Shea.Conor was capped 35 times for Ireland and represented them at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups.After his playing career ended, he became Director of Rugby at London Irish and was awarded Zurich Rugby Director of the Season in 2002.He then joined Harlequins as Director of Rugby in 2011 leading them to win the premiership in 2012.Conor then became Head Coach of the Italian National Team in 2016 and had immediate impact leading the team in the first ever win over South Africa. He also led the team to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.He is presently the England Rugby Union's director of performance.Conor is that rare breed of person who has played and coached Rugby at the most elite level, the World Cup, and been able to succeed in off-field leadership positions such as the National Director of the English Institute of Sport. He succeeds through his ability to empathize with people at all levels in the organisation, and communicate with them in a way that engenders action and alignment.He is charismatic, engaging, and believes, in his words, in being all in, on what you are passionate about. This translates into an innovative view of coaching, where he pushes his teams to move beyond the fear of failure, and try and ultimately achieve things they haven’t done before.This was a fun conversation, and some of the key highlights for me were:The need to look beyond your own ego and focus on the contribution you are making to the future success of the team or organisation you are a part of for that brief moment.The importance of a mix of personalities within the team, and this includes the Mavericks; where everyone’s individuality is embraced but their energy is united behind the teams goals.And the way he summarized the team values at Harlequins using the word TRUE, which stood for Tempo, Ruthless, Unpredictable and Enjoyment. And how enjoyment was crucial to fueling their success as a team.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our great coach on this episodes is Peter Giles. Peter is currently the Australian under 19 Baseball Head Coach. A role he has had since 2011. He started playing baseball in 1969, finished in 1994; and began coaching in 1995. He won a championship in 1998 with Sandringham; and then led Essendon in the Victorian State league to 6 successive championships from 2011 to 2018. He has also coached the Australian U17 Baseball Team in 2015 was voted baseball Victoria Coach of the year. In 2020 he launched the Academy of Baseball Excellence that he now heads up. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is American women's basketball coach Brenda FreseWhile injured as a player at the University of Arizona, Brenda volunteered as an assistant coach at Pima Community College. After graduation in 1994 she started as an assistant coach at Kent State.In 1999 she was appointed into her first Head Coach role at Ball state and then in 2002 to the University of Maryland. Her success with Maryland places her in the elite levels of women’s basketball, the highlights of which are:· 2006 NCAA Championship· the 2009 and 2012 ACC Championships· Big Ten champions in 2015· 4x Big Ten Coach of the Year (2002, 2015, 2019, 2021); National Coach of the year awards in 2021, 2013 and 2002· And a winning % of 78 at the end of the 2021 season.Brenda is the type of calm, spirited leader who can see a clear path forward when the anxiety within the team is at its apex.She is able to regulate her emotions, and response in such a way that it matches the moment and helps to build self-belief in others. She demands a lot from her athlete and support team, but you have the impression that she also gives more than she gets.There were many key parts of this interview but some of the key points that stayed with me afterwards were:Her view that great coaches are able to connect with people in a way that makes the person feel like they are worth a million dollars.Her view that women in leadership positions need to move beyond being grateful and lead the change they want to see.Her focus on positivity and bringing confident energy into practices and game day; as she this enables you to produce the best performance that you are capable of.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this show is Philip Sutcliffe Sr.Philip is a former boxer, who represented Ireland at 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games. He is the winner of four national titles in Ireland, as well as bronze medals in two successive European Amateur Boxing Championships.In 1992, he and 2 friends; Paddy Wheelan and Gary Griffin took over the derelict Crumlin Boxing Club. Today that club has produced over 30 champions at local, national and Olympic level; and is notable as the club where Conor McGregor trained through his teenage years.Philip is a coach with a strong vocation to improve the lives of people through teaching them about discipline, self respect and belief through the sport of boxing.He believes in learning every day in the pursuit of trying to be better and in the merits of trying, of keeping on despite setbacks, so that you develop and grow. And in this conversation he talks about boxers who have risen to champion level through employing this approach to life.Philip is the type of coach who raises your expectations and then holds that line and encourages you toward it.Some of the other key highlights are:The role that self-belief plays in helping the fighter as they walk to the ring for their fight and the big difference a coach can make on that walk.The importance of physical and mental toughness in order to be able to move up the grades in boxing, and how he goes about developing strength in these areas for his fighters.And The stories he shares about 3 of the greats that he has helped train, Katie Taylor the two-time world champion and the current undisputed lightweight champion, world champion Michael Conlan and Ultimate Fighting Championship Connor Mcgregor.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is the Australian cricket coach Justin Langer.Justin represented Australia in 105 Tests, and in 2009 surpassed Sir Donald Bradman for the most runs scored at first-class level by an Australian.He retired in 2009 and transitioned into coaching, first as the Australian team batting coach, before becoming the head coach of Western Australia in 2012. over the next 6 years he led the team to victory in the One-Day Cup in 2015, and back to back Big Bash victories in 2014 and 2015.In 2018 he was appointed Coach of the Australian Mens team and led the team to an Ashes victory in 2019, their first on English soil since 2001Justin is an authentic leader, and believes that great team cultures have an environment where people are allowed to be themselves.He blends physicality and spirituality in his approach to life, and brings both into his coaching philosophy. And is driven by the desire to not only lead a successful cricket team but also to make Australians proud of the team.He is also a coach with a strong set of ethical principles, but also as a father of 4, he understands that you can’t treat all your children the same, and so sometimes you have to be flexible to connect with an individual and help them realise their potential.Some of the key parts of this interview that resonated with me were:The role that mentors have played in his life, and the stories he shares about the times these people have given him advice that has changed his mindset and behaviours.How he describes the values of the Australian cricket team honesty, professionalism, humility, learning, and mate ship. And how it’s the last one, mateship that glues the team together.And How great leaders are clear on the path the team is going to take , and how ongoing honest conversations ensure that the team continues to stay true to this path.This interview left me inspired and self reflective and I hope you get as much out of it as I did.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is Norma Plummer.Norma played Netball for Australia and was part of the 1975 team that won the World Netball Championships. In 1996 she coached the Melbourne Pumas to win the inaugural Super League Grand Final and Victorian Open Championship.In 2003 she was appointed coach of the Australian Team, leading them to 67 victories from 89 Tests, including the 2007 and 2011 the Netball World Championship.In 2015 she took on the job as Head Coach of South Africa and retired in 2019 having taken them from a world ranking of 8th to 4th.In 2013 Norma was s awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to the sport of Netball.Norma is iconic coach whose influence has spread far beyond the sport of netball. She is unflinchingly honest, and passionate in her belief of treating all athletes fairly and equally.Her coaching career has spanned 6 decades and representative teams from 4 countries, and from this experience she is able to distill deep truths on human effort and collaboration which are still fresh and relevant today.We spoke while Norma was in lockdown in her home in Australia, and she was frustrated by this as she wanted to be courtside in NZ watching Jess Thrilby, the coach of the England team, who she mentors take on the silver ferns. However this trapped energy provided the impetus for a great conversation, so of the highlights of which were:The importance of bringing your own personality and style as a coach, but also understanding the history of the team so that you can identify the right change that is needed. And how this change might only just be one thing, but if it’s the right thing it can make a big difference.The importance of training under pressure so that it improves your decision making in the game.And The positive impact you can have on the team as a coach, if you are able to manage your emotions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is  Sir Gordon Tietjens.Gordon is the former coach of the New Zealand men's national team in rugby sevens; the All Blacks Sevens.He started coaching the team in 1994 and had immediate success winning the Hong Kong 7’s.He then went on to win the 7’s world series on a record 12 times. Along the way the team also won the world cup in 2001 and 2013, and 4 Commonwealth Games gold medals.He stepped down as the coach in 2016 and took on the head coach of Somoa.He has been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame and in 2013 was knighted for his services to Rugby.Gordon is a coach with a life-long commitment to the service of people development. As the coach of the All Black 7’s for 22 years, he helped 47 of his players go on to represent New Zealand Rugby Union. And on that list are some of the all time greats like Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen.He is fiercely determined and fired by a deep sense confidence that comes from the effort that goes into the preparation and planning of his teams.He also believes in the importance of nutrition, and intense training regimes that are intended to be tougher than anything they would face in an actual match as this prepares the athletes for better decision making when they are in the heat of battle on the field.After interviewing Sir Gordon, I can see why New Zealand is considered one of the most proud sporting nation on the planet.In this discussion some of the key highlights for me were:How he helps people build self-belief by encouraging them to express themselves as individuals and not be afraid of making mistakes.His views on mental toughness and the traffic light system he uses to classify players.The terrific story he shares about Roger Federer crying to illustrate his point that losing although painful, does not necessarily mean failure when you've given it your all.And How the onus is on the coach to select the right people who believe in the teams culture. And the importance of character and coachability in selecting these team members.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Great Coach on this episode is Rodney Eade.Rodney is a four time premiership player in the Australian Football League.After retiring he started his coaching apprenticeship, and within 5 years was elevated into his first head coach role at the Sydney Swans, taking over from the legendary Ron Barassi in 1996In his first year he took the time to the Grand Final, only for them to lose to the Kangaroos; as a result he was awarded as the AFL Coach of the year in. He went on to take the team into the finals for 4 of the next 5 years.In 2005 he was appointed Head Coach of the Western Bulldogs, and in 2006 the team played finals for the first time in 6 years.In 2011 he was appointed Football and Coaching Strategist by the Collingwood Football Club, replacing the iconic coach Mick Malthouse.And in 2014 was appointed Gold Coast Suns coach.He has coached 377 AFL games, and owns the record of the longest serving coach without a premiership.Rodney Eade has played for some of the most iconic coaches that the game of Australian Football has ever produced. He has also coached players who have gone on to lead their own teams to Premierships.As a leader, he strives to find the balance between challenge and care, in order to, in his words, get the best our of the individual. He is self-reflective and mindful of some of the things he could have done better as a coach. But he is also firm in his belief, that change comes through hard work and an open and curious mind where the individual takes ownership of their own learning and problem solving.Rodney is a great example of perseverance, and some of the key parts of this interview that connected with me were:The importance of innovation and change to team performance, and how the leader needs to create the mindset within the group for this to happen.How culture is displayed through the teams habits, which are in turn formed by the values that the team sets themselves. And where culture is self-regulating it is much more effective as it works against negativity.And how Great coaches have a consistency of message; are honest, have integrity and are not afraid to make hard decisions.If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.