Coaching Culture

This second part of the conversation with former Division I coach and Executive Leadership Coach Angel Elderkin delves into the specific challenges coaches face in their leadership roles, how to translate values into action, and the profound lessons learned from her mentor, Pat Summitt. Angel shares her current focus on helping coaches navigate "wartime" performance and why she chose to leave college athletics to embark on her own "inner work."Schedule a free discovery call with Angel 👉https://calendar.app.google/fFSKUFN8W...Angel's Substack 👉 https://substack.com/@angelelderkinJoin TOC Coach Community for FREE! 👉 https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutGet the notes to this episode 👉 https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter

This episode features a conversation with Angel Elderkin, a former Division I women's basketball coach who has transitioned into the executive coaching space. She shares profound reflections from her 24-year career in college athletics, emphasizing that the platform of sport was secondary to the relationships and people she was grateful for.The discussion centers on the shift from a coach-driven agenda to fostering athlete ownership, the challenges of external validation, and the critical role of self-awareness and self-compassion in effective leadership.Schedule a free discovery call with Angel 👉https://calendar.app.google/fFSKUFN8WteA5esD6Angel's Substack 👉 https://substack.com/@angelelderkinJoin TOC Coach Community for FREE! 👉 https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutGet the notes to this episode 👉 https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter

This episode, featuring hosts J.P. Nerbun, Nate Sanderson, and Betsy Buttrick, tackles the significant challenge of leading other adults in a coaching context, whether as a head coach, athletic director, or club administrator.The conversation begins with an anecdote about Washington Commanders' Head Coach Dan Quinn, who started his tenure by having every staff member, including himself, deliver a personal PowerPoint presentation about their life to build a strong "coach culture". The hosts discuss the common barriers that prevent leaders from effectively leading their adult staff, such as fear of conflict, the limited pool of willing coaches (volunteers), and the assumption that adults "should know better".A central theme is the difficulty of holding coaches accountable to a set standard, an issue that often stems from the leader's own discomfort with confrontation (conflict aversion) and a lack of established processes for staff development and accountability. The discussion shifts from the mindset of being a "manager" with power over others to being a "leader" who works with their staff to co-create and uphold a shared culture. The episode concludes with practical advice and tools for leaders to intentionally lead their staff, emphasizing that coaches, like athletes, want to be led and supported.Sign up for the weekly newsletter https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter.Join TOC Coach for FREE! https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutLink to schedule a call for the free Coaching Culture Audit and to inquire about group pricing for TOC Coach. https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/toccoachdiscoveryBetsy Buttrick: https://betsybutterick.com/Previous Relevant Episodes (Links): Links to episodes which also discuss leading coaches and building culture.370: Onboarding Coaches https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ARjMZN3Ru88rCjmmhVZwm?si=ccc5riIlSUyliKoYZtG3qQ 185: Creating Staff Alignment https://open.spotify.com/episode/48zsWR7DD5L1kbd6SPy3ph?si=0bWQoOH0Q5agKGZwEROz1A84: Getting the Most out of your Coaches https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JVZN3005xmE6KE2QQvh5M?si=mUhi25rTSj2UM1GXFVw56g 

Part 2 of the conversation with Shane Sowden, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Briarcrest College, focuses on his commitment to deep, transformational relationships with his athletes, moving beyond a purely transactional coaching style. He discusses the importance of caring candor and brutal honesty with his players, even when it's difficult.A major theme is the value of investing time in players off the court to build genuine connections, which he finds improves performance on the court as a high "return on investment". This includes one-on-ones, asking non-basketball questions, sharing his own story as a college athlete, and creating unique team environments.Finally, Sowden reflects on the advice he'd give his younger self, emphasizing that a coach's worth doesn't come from the scoreboard. True success is measured by the impact on a player's life at ages 35, 40, and 45—living out the program's values as a spouse, parent, and community leader.Join TOC COACH: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutSubscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter

Coach Shane Sowden reflects on his team's amazing season and shares that the most significant part wasn't the "storybook ending," but the individual stories of self-sacrifice and putting the team first that created the foundation for success. He contrasts his sense of fulfillment and meaning with the "emptiness" often felt after reaching the pinnacle of achievement.The core of the discussion centers on a pivotal turning point two and a half years prior, during a difficult season, where Sowden realized he needed to be his authentic self as a coach. Sowden also shares how embracing vulnerability and a collaborative approach—including asking players for their input on strategy and their perception of him at his best (which was when he was confident) —helped him connect with his team and fostered an environment of trust. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of self-leadership and consistency in modeling values for players, especially during difficult times.Join TOC COACH: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutSubscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter