Way of Champions Podcast

#469 "The best form of coach education is coach retention" wth Dr. Vince Minjares, Aspen Institute Sport and Society Program Manager and Coach Developer

Feb 19, 2026
Dr. Vince Minjares, Program Manager at the Aspen Institute who leads coach development and Project Play initiatives, shares his coaching journey and academic roots. He discusses building tiered coach pathways, practical apprenticeship and mentoring models, the Million Coaches Challenge, and why keeping coaches long-term is the most powerful form of coach education.
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INSIGHT

Retention Is The Best Coach Education

  • Coach retention is the most powerful form of coach education because returning coaches build on prior learning year-to-year.
  • Keeping coaches engaged creates natural progression from basics to advanced practice without front-loading training.
ANECDOTE

From Backyard Academy To PhD

  • Vincent Minjares describes running a backyard basketball academy and returning to grad school to study coaching pedagogy.
  • His New Zealand Ph.D. work shaped a coaching philosophy focused on learning through play and small-sided games.
INSIGHT

Small Countries Prioritize Development

  • Smaller countries like New Zealand invest in coach development to retain and efficiently develop every athlete.
  • That necessity creates systemic coaching pathways focused on development rather than selection.
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