Coach & Counselor

What does it take to build a better baseball player? On this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Connor Reynolds dives into the changing world of baseball development and how athletes can train with more purpose. From his experience at Driveline to his work developing hitters today, Connor breaks down how technology, data, strength, consistency, and the right environment can help players unders...

What does it really take to become the best version of yourself as an athlete? In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , former MLB outfielder and Colorado Rockies first-round draft pick Choo Freeman shares the lessons that shaped his journey from a multi-sport high school standout to the Major Leagues and now influence the way he develops young athletes as a coach. Choo dives into the import...

On this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Tony sits down with Jason Hirsh , former Major League pitcher, coach, and founder of FAST Performance. Jason went from Division III baseball at California Lutheran University to becoming a second-round draft pick of the Houston Astros and eventually reaching the Major Leagues with the Astros and Colorado Rockies, including being part of Colorado’s 200...

Former Colorado Mesa University rugby player Simon Cespedes is taking everything the game has taught him and using it to build what comes next. In this episode, Simon sits down with Tony Gilio to talk about his journey through sports, finding his place in rugby, competing at Colorado Mesa University, and beginning a new chapter as a performance coach in the Grand Valley. Simon shares how his exper...

The future of college baseball is changing, and the impact will be felt by every player, parent, coach, and recruiter. In this episode of The Coach & Counselor Podcast , host Tony Gilio sits down with former professional baseball player and Bottom of the Ninth Consulting founder Byron Embry to break down the NCAA's new 5 Years to Play 5 eligibility rule and what it means for the future of...

What comes after winning a national championship? For Kevin Blaskowski, it meant helping shape the future of softball. After more than 800 collegiate victories , an NCAA Division II National Championship , and decades of building championship programs, Kevin now focuses on developing the next generation of athletes through American Freedom and Coach B Softball Academy. In this episode of The Coach...

The MLB Draft is changing, and so is the path to professional baseball. On this episode of The Coach & Counselor , host Tony Gilio is joined by former MLB player and scout Greg Golson and baseball analyst Matt Pajak for an in-depth conversation on the biggest storylines from this year's MLB Draft. Together, they break down how NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping player development, w...

What happens when the reality of high school athletics collides with the expectations created by social media, recruiting hype, and college sports? In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , host Tony Gilio sits down with Jeremy Eubank , Athletic & Activities Director at Prince Edward County High School and incoming VIAAA President-Elect, for a candid conversation about leadership, recruit...

Youth sports have never been more competitive. Athletes are specializing earlier, playing more games, training year-round, and facing more pressure than ever before. But is all of that actually helping them develop, or is it leading to burnout? In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, former Division I and professional baseball player Kyle Attl shares his perspective on athlete development, c...

What separates good athletes from great ones? According to Deshawn Woods, it's not talent. It's the willingness to embrace the work that happens long before anyone notices the result. In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Tony Gilio sits down with basketball coach, league commissioner, founder, and NIL advocate Deshawn Woods to discuss his journey from playing college basketball a...

Sports are about more than wins, losses, and championships; they're one of the greatest classrooms for life. In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Tony Gilio sits down with Russ Romano, founder of D1 Mindset Coach, former Division I pitcher, and certified mental performance coach, to discuss what it truly means to develop competitors, not just athletes. Russ shares the mental performa...

Youth sports were supposed to teach teamwork, confidence, discipline, and resilience. So why are more kids burning out, quitting early, and getting priced out of the games they love? In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , we sit down with Jonathan Carone, founder of Healthy Sports Parents, to unpack the growing problems inside modern youth sports culture. From the disappearance of rec leag...

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor Podcast , we sit down with Axie Estrada, author, mentor, coach, and founder of Legendary Built, for a powerful conversation about what truly builds great athletes beyond the game itself. With more than 14 years of coaching experience and over 300 athletes mentored, Axie shares her perspective on mindset, resilience, leadership, overcoming adversity, and...

Olympian and former professional baseball player Jonathan De Marte shares the side of the athlete journey most people never see, from multiple arm surgeries and independent baseball to signing with the Chicago Cubs and competing in the Olympics for Team Israel. In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Jonathan opens up about resilience, identity, athlete development, parenting in sports, inj...

Aron Villegas, Director of Coaching at Rodeo Soccer Club, has built his career developing players from the ground up, working his way from grassroots coaching to leading at the academy level in youth soccer. In this episode, he breaks down what coaching actually demands beyond drills and tactics. From communication and ownership to building trust with players and parents, Aron shares the principle...

What actually separates athletes today? In this episode of Coach & Counselor , Blaise Threatt, NBA G League player and former Division I athlete, shares the mindset behind his journey from no offers to the professional level. This conversation explores what it really means to be coachable, adaptable, and ready when things don’t go your way. Blaise breaks down how to handle feedback, find your...

Most athletes are told there’s a “right way” to make it play year-round, get exposure, and commit early. But what if that path is actually holding them back? In this episode of Coach & Counselor , we sit down with Trey Woosley, a former professional baseball player, Division I athlete, and current athletic director and high school coach in Colorado, to break down what the journey really looks...

This week on Coach & Counselor , we’re joined by Sheri Riley—founder of Exponential Living, peak performance coach, and trusted advisor to elite athletes, executives, and global organizations. After achieving her dream career in the music industry, Sheri found herself successful—but unfulfilled. That turning point led her to uncover a powerful truth: success without personal development isn’t...

Coach Coop (Cooper Neimand), a former college basketball coach turned performance coach, has spent his career inside high-level programs—experiencing firsthand the pressure, expectations, and demands that come with winning. After coaching at elite high schools and the collegiate level, including multiple championship runs and NCAA tournament appearances, Cooper saw a gap in the game—there was supp...

Ashlie Rowley, former University of Florida catcher and team captain, has spent more than 20 years developing athletes across every level of the game—from youth softball to collegiate competition and beyond. After her playing career, she went on to coach at the University of Tennessee, contributing to a Women’s College World Series run and earning recognition as part of an SEC and regional coachin...

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor , we’re joined by Camryn Cottrell, head coach of Blackfoot High School girls soccer in Idaho, AYSO coach and administrator, and a mentor working across multiple levels of the game. Camryn began coaching at just 13 years old, and after a knee injury ended her playing career, she found her purpose in helping athletes grow from the sidelines. Her approach...

Tim Jones, owner of Clubhouse Pittsburgh and coach with the Rawlings Tigers Pittsburgh sector, brings more than 20 years of experience developing hitters—from youth baseball to the professional level. Over the course of his career, he has helped more than 60 athletes reach the college ranks and guided players on to professional baseball. But for Tim, great coaching goes far beyond mechanics. In th...

Mike Ryan has spent 29 years coaching baseball, including 26 years at Loganville High School in Georgia, where he has led the program to eight state championships and three runner-up finishes. But for Mike, the real legacy of a coach isn’t measured in trophies. In this episode of The Coach & The Counselor , Mike shares what it truly means to be a player’s coach—someone who builds lasting relat...

In this episode of Coach & Counselors , we sit down with Rich Austin — former Minnesota State Mankato standout, 13-year professional baseball player, Team USA representative, and Frontier League Hall of Fame inductee. Rich takes us through his journey from collegiate athlete to the professional ranks, including signing with the Kansas City Royals and competing at the highest levels of the game...

Todd Friedman has lived nearly every chapter of the game: All-State shortstop, Cape Cod League competitor, state championship coach, financial services professional, and now Head of Sales at WIN Reality in the sports technology space. In this episode, we go inside the modern baseball machine, the world of travel ball, recruiting pressure, data-driven training, and the reality that families don’t a...