Better Coaching with Luke Gromer
Luke Gromer | RYG Athletics
The Better Coaching Podcast connects coaches with ideas and strategies they can implement to grow as a coach and a leader so they can develop better teams, better players, and better people.
Host Luke Gromer sits down with some of the world's best coaches, leaders, and experts to uncover the strategies coaches need to go from good to great. Topics include leadership, practice design, mental performance, culture, teaching, communication, and more!
Whether you're coaching youth sports or leading a pro team, you’ll leave every episode with actionable tools to coach and lead better.
Host Luke Gromer sits down with some of the world's best coaches, leaders, and experts to uncover the strategies coaches need to go from good to great. Topics include leadership, practice design, mental performance, culture, teaching, communication, and more!
Whether you're coaching youth sports or leading a pro team, you’ll leave every episode with actionable tools to coach and lead better.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 12, 2026 • 53min
126. Becoming a Head Coach, Building Culture, & Team Rituals with Napoleon Sykes
In this conversation, Napoleon Sykes joins Luke Gromer to share his extensive coaching journey, discussing the challenges and triumphs of becoming a head coach after 15 years of experience. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong program culture, effective communication with stakeholders, and the value of vulnerability in fostering connections among players. Sykes also highlights the significance of defining success beyond just winning games, focusing on the impact coaches can have on their players' lives.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Better Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES, NEWSLETTER, & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes, subscribe to our newsletter, or join the community!📝 Free Podcast Notes: https://www.skool.com/bettercoaching/classroom/bb03d4a3?md=d68c2f18a9da40dca1c5ce1178764baa🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching📧 Free Newsletter: BetterCoachingHub.com/subscribe—GUEST INFONapoleon Sykes just finished up his fifth season at the Lawrenceville School in NJ, capping his 20th season in the coaching profession. He has coached at the youth, high school, collegiate and professional levels, and has built a reputation as a strong recruiter, x's and o's coach, and a culture builder.Connect with Guest:Guest Links: X | LinkedIn —CONTACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Better Coaching Podcast00:27 Coach Napoleon Sykes: A Journey Through Coaching00:55 Key Themes in Coaching: Culture, Staff, and Leadership01:12 Coaching Journey and Background05:57 Becoming a Head Coach13:37 Building a Coaching Staff and Culture20:14 Establishing Values and Communication26:16 Reinforcing Culture Through Rituals and Awards27:45 The Importance of Number Upgrades30:34 Creating a Supportive Environment for Growth33:09 Fostering Vulnerability in Young Men40:34 The Power of Sharing Personal Stories42:10 Defining Success Beyond Wins47:52 Building Lasting Relationships with PlayersTakeawaysCoaching is about building relationships and impacting lives.Patience is essential in the journey to becoming a head coach.Creating a clear vision and purpose is crucial for program success.Vulnerability fosters deeper connections among team members.Establishing simple rules can guide behavior and culture.Rituals and awards reinforce the values of the program.Communication with stakeholders is key to program alignment.Success should be defined by the impact on players' lives, not just wins.Coaches must be intentional about creating safe spaces for vulnerability.Building a strong coaching staff is vital for program development.
Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 9min
125. The 4 C's of Coaching and the 4 Pillars of Sustainable Winning with Zach Brandon of Threshold Performance Coaching
Zach Brandon of Threshold Performance Coaching joins Luke Gromer on The Better Coaching Podcast to discuss sideways vs backwards comparison, the 4 C's for high achieving leaders and coaches, and the four factors needed to foster a winning and sustainable environment for the people you coach and lead.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Better Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES, NEWSLETTER, & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes, subscribe to our newsletter, or join the community!📝 Free Podcast Notes: https://www.skool.com/bettercoaching/classroom/bb03d4a3?md=d68c2f18a9da40dca1c5ce1178764baa🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching📧 Free Newsletter: BetterCoachingHub.com/subscribe—GUEST INFOZach Brandon is the founder of Threshold Performance Coaching, where he partners with coaches, teams, and executives to strengthen mindset, leadership, and performance from the inside out. His work focuses on helping coaches build systems and leadership skills that sustain both professional excellence and personal well-being.For seven years, Zach served as Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He continues to serve the organization as a Leadership Performance Consultant, supporting staff development and leadership growth initiatives.Before his time in Major League Baseball, Zach was a Mental Conditioning Coach at IMG Academy (FL), consulting with athletes in baseball, basketball, tennis, and track & field—including Olympic competitors. He is also listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) Mental Performance Registry.A former college athlete, Zach holds dual master’s degrees in Kinesiology (Cal State Fullerton) and Organizational Leadership (Arizona State), along with certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.Connect with Guest:Guest Links: X | LinkedIn | Newsletter | Podcast—CONTACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.comChapters00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Mental Performance02:48 The Importance of Winning and Living Well06:06 Navigating Comparison in Coaching08:58 Understanding the Sideways vs. Backwards Comparison11:58 The Challenges Coaches Face Today15:07 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach Support18:05 The Role of Sherpas in Coaching20:48 Defining Personal Scoreboards for Coaches23:54 The Four Cs of Coaching: Clarity, Capacity, Consistency, Courage35:08 The Four C's of Leadership37:52 Courage in Coaching39:45 The Importance of Being a Learner43:45 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs46:59 Creating a Winning Environment52:05 Simplifying Systems for Success56:03 Intentionality in Coaching58:51 Rapid Fire Insights
Jan 1, 2026 • 4min
Welcome to The Better Coaching Podcast
RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Better Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.comFREE RESOURCES & COMMUNITY📧 Newsletter: BetterCoachingHub.com📝 Podcast Notes: https://skool.com/bettercoaching🫱🏻🫲🏽 Community: https://skool.com/bettercoachingCONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Dec 29, 2025 • 60min
124. How to Build a Better Learning Environment with Trevor Ragan of The Learner Lab
Trevor Regan of the Learner Lab joins Luke Gromer to discuss how coaches and leader can build better learning environments. They dive into learning as a skill, the surprising findings of Project Aristotle, what psychological safety is and how to build it, and the connection between action and safety.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES, NEWSLETTER, & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes, subscribe to our newsletter, or join the community!📝 Free Podcast Notes: https://www.skool.com/bettercoaching/classroom/bb03d4a3?md=d68c2f18a9da40dca1c5ce1178764baa🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching📧 Free Newsletter: BetterCoachingHub.com/subscribe—GUEST INFOTrevor is the founder of The Learner Lab – an educational website designed to unpack and share the science of learning and development.He spends his time with thought leaders and researchers from the worlds of psychology and developmental science, consumes their research, connects the dots, and shares it with anyone that will listen.He’s worked with professional, college, and olympic sports teams, Fortune 50 companies, prisons, and in hundreds of schools across the country. These workshops are designed to help people understand and apply important principles of development, in order to become better, more resilient learners.Connect with Trevor Ragan:Website: https://thelearnerlab.com/trevor-ragan/—CONTACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Dec 22, 2025 • 1h 11min
123. Healthy Coaching, Handling Emotion, and Teaching Teamwork with Head Coach Mike Schall of UNC Volleyball (replay)
Mike Schall, Head Women's Volleyball Coach at the University of North Carolina, joins Luke Gromer to discuss how coaches can coach and lead well while maintaining their own well-being and personal boundaries.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!📝 Podcast Notes: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 450 coaches!🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFOMike Schall is the Head Coach for the University of North Carolina's Women's Volleyball Team. He's been coaching volleyball for over 30 years from the youth through collegiate levels.Connect with Coach Schall:Guest’s Social Links: X —CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 19min
122. A Development System to Take Your Team to the Next Level with Mark Bennett of PDS Coaching
ABOUT THE EPISODEMark Bennett of PDS Coaching joins Luke Gromer to discuss how the Performance Development System can help coaching improve performance and build a better culture.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!📝 Podcast Notes: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 400 coaches!🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFOMark works as a consultant, trainer, mentor & coach to various corporations, professional & national sport organizations, teams & Universities around the world, as well as Schools & community sports to help transform the leadership capabilities of every manager, coach & teacher that he comes in contact with. Put simply, Mark makes people better “influencers”.Over the last 3 decades Mark has worked with over 30 sports at all levels & age groups; from grassroots to professional & International teams. He has also supported national sports organizations & global businesses to embed robust cultures that improve wellness, productivity & performance.Connect with Mark Bennett:Guest’s Website: http://pdscoaching.com Guest’s Email: mark.bennett@pdscoach.com Guest’s Social Links: X | LinkedIn —CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Dec 8, 2025 • 54min
121. Coaching Better Every Season with Dr. Wade Gilbert (replay)
ABOUT THE EPISODEDr. Wade Gilbert joins Luke Gromer to discuss his book, Coaching Better Ever Season. The conversation focuses on the 4 E's of coaching, goal setting, and effective in-game coaching.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!📝 Podcast Notes: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 400 coaches!🫱🏻🫲🏽 Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFODr. Wade Gilbert is an internationally renowned coaching consultant and award-winning professor, author of the highly acclaimed book Coaching Better Every Season and Editor Emeritus of the International Sport Coaching Journal.In addition to serving as consultant to many college and high school coaches, Gilbert is a long-time advisor to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Coach Education Department, is the lead author of the USOPC Quality Coaching Framework, and primary coach education consultant for USA Football. Dr. Gilbert has counseled coaches and sport organizations around the world spanning all competitive levels and in every sport imaginable including world leading teams such as Hockey Canada, England Rugby, US Soccer, USA Water Polo, US Ski & Snowboard, and Cricket Australia. Connect with Dr. Gilbert:@WadeWGilbertEmail: wgilbert@csufresno.eduBuy Coaching Better Every Season on Amazon—CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 6min
120. Creating Culture and Maximizing Performance and Impact with Alan Keane of MVMT Sports (replay)
Alan Keane of MVMT Sports joins Luke Gromer to discuss how coaches can build culture and maximize performance and impact in their coaching.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!📝 Podcast Notes: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 200 coaches!Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFOLearn more about Alan Keane or connect with him at the links below:Website: https://mvmtsports.com/Linked-in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-keane-00b40221/X: @CoachKeane14 —CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Nov 24, 2025 • 52min
119. How to Build a Player-Led Team and The Secret Part of Leadership No One Talks About with Adam Bradley of Lead ‘Em Up
Adam Bradley of Lead 'Em Up joins Luke Gromer to discuss how coaches can build player-led teams and the secret part of leadership that people don't teach or talk about. —RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.Director interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8RYG Website: https://rygathletics.com—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!Note: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 200 coaches!Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFOLearn more about Adam Bradley or connect with him at the links below:Website: LeadEmUp.comTwitter: @abradley5 - @Lead_Em_Up—CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 2min
118. InSideOut Coaching and Transformational Leadership with Joe Ehrmann (replay)
ABOUT THE EPISODEJoe Ehrmann, author of InSideOut Coaching and president of the InSideOut Initiative joins Luke Gromer on The Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast to discuss transformational coaching and leadership.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Cutting Edge Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you’re interested in becoming one of our camp directors, fill out the form below.RYG Website: https://rygathletics.comDirector interest form: https://forms.gle/Bo4otGjRjDkju1xp8—FREE PODCAST NOTES & COACHES COMMUNITYClick the link below to download the show notes from every episode of the podcast!Note: CuttingEdgeCoach.comJoin our free community of more than 125 coaches!Better Coaching Community: https://skool.com/bettercoaching—GUEST INFOLearn more about Joe Ehrmann or connect with him at the links below:Books: InSideOut Coaching - Season of LifeWebsite: insideoutinitiative.orgEmail: joe@insideoutinitiative.orgTwitter: @JoeEhrmann76—CONACT USYou can reach out directly to Luke via email at luke@rygathletics.com
