Athlete Insights

What does it take to build a career in college athletics and eventually work for the Big Ten Conference? In this episode of the Athlete Insights Podcast, I sit down with Jordan Menard, Assistant Director of Digital & Social Media for the Big Ten Conference, to discuss her incredible journey through the sports industry. Jordan shares how she got her start in the Sport Management program and Ath...

What does it take to build a winning football program? More importantly, what does it take to develop young men into leaders? In this episode, I sit down with Coach JR Conkright, Head Football Coach of the Loveland HS Red Wolves (CO), to discuss his remarkable journey from the United States Air Force to leading one of Colorado's respected high school football programs. Coach Conkright shares h...

In this episode of the Athlete Insights Podcast, I sit down with Ayden Vanwinkle, senior football player at Coffee County High School in Manchester, Tennessee, to discuss his journey through high school football and the lessons he's learned along the way. Ayden reflects on his high school career, the importance of film study, leadership, preparation, and what it takes to continue improving as...

In this episode of the Athlete Insights Podcast, I sit down with Mike Famiglietti, Special Teams Coordinator at Minot State University, to discuss his journey through the world of college football. From his playing days as a long snapper at Western Michigan University and Western Illinois University to leading special teams at the collegiate level, Coach Famiglietti shares the experiences, lessons...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, I sit down with Alicia Barnachea, Game Presentation/Operations and Community Relations Manager for the Cincinnati Cyclones, to talk about her journey from Ball State University to building a career in professional sports. Alicia shares her experiences breaking into the sport industry, lessons learned along the way, and what it’s really like working behind the s...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Jacob White, Assistant Linebackers Coach at Northwestern University, to discuss his journey from his early days in football to playing at Ball State University and building his career in college coaching. Coach White shares insights on leadership, player development, recruiting in today’s college football landscape, and how NIL and the transfer...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, I sit down with Josh Shelton, Communications Manager for the Tennessee Golf Association, to dive into the world of sports communications in golf. Josh shares his journey into the industry, what it takes to effectively tell the story of the game, and how communications plays a critical role in growing golf at the amateur level. We also discuss the day-to-day res...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Kaylan Makan, former Tennessee Basketball player, alongside guest host Dave Patel. Kaylan shares his journey from his early beginnings to competing at the Division I level with Tennessee Basketball. We also dive into his experience as an Indian-American athlete in college sports, the challenges he faced, and how his identity shaped his path. Th...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we dive into The Teleri Hughes Story: From Farragut to Teleri Athletics. Former Tennessee Lady Vol golfer Teleri Hughes shares her journey from youth golf and Farragut High School to competing at the collegiate level for Tennessee. She opens up about the transition out of competitive golf and how that experience inspired her to launch Teleri Athletics, a women’...

Former Morehead State linebacker Caden Absher joins Athlete Insights for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about life inside the college football transfer portal. In this episode, Caden breaks down his high school recruiting journey, what it was really like playing at Morehead State, how NIL opportunities work at the mid-major level, and what athletes actually experience when they enter th...

In this powerful episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Felicia Teeter, Head Women’s Flag Football Coach and Running Backs Coach at Bethel College (Newton, KS), to explore her incredible journey from serving in the U.S. Army to leading athletes on the football field. Coach Teeter opens up about how military leadership, discipline, accountability, and resilience shaped her coaching philosoph...

Join me on this episode of Athlete Insights as I sit down with Lee Sponseller, hitting coach at Trevecca Nazarene University and former standout at Ohio Dominican University and Coastal Carolina. Lee shares his full baseball journey — from his early days at Mason High School (Ohio) to becoming one of the most respected hitters and now a rising college coach. We dive deep into his playing career, h...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Shawn Sullivan, Executive Director of Running USA, to explore his incredible career journey through the world of sports. From his early days as a Sports Information Director at UIC, to leading marketing and fan engagement at Ball State, to his time with the Horizon League, Shawn shares valuable insights on the evolution of college athletics and...

Brazoswood High School Head Football Coach Eric Luster joins Athlete Insights to talk about the power of mentorship, motivation, and mindset in shaping both players and people. Coach Luster opens up about his journey into coaching, the lessons he’s learned leading young athletes, and how he builds a culture rooted in accountability, respect, and personal growth. This episode goes beyond the game —...

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Kasper, Senior Associate Commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, for an in-depth conversation about his incredible 21-year journey in college athletics. Starting out as a journalist with the Missoulian, Jon transitioned into sports media relations before rising through the ranks of the Big Sky Conference. He shares powerful insights into:✅ How his early days...

In this episode, Dr. Josh Greer joins Athlete Insights to share his journey from sports journalism to academia, and how his passion for helping young athletes led him to create NILvana Sports. We dive into the evolving world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), the future of sports media, and his mission to mentor the next generation of athletes and leaders. We talked about: The founding of NILvana...

What’s it really like to play college golf with your best friend? In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with two teammates from the Ferrum College golf team to talk about their journey from high school to college competition—and everything in between. We cover:⛳ How they became teammates and close friends🏌‍♂️ The grind of college golf season📚 Balancing academics, practice, and tournam...

From sprinting down the track at the University of Michigan to launching a nonprofit that’s changing lives, Yasmine Mansi’s story is one of purpose, passion, and global impact. In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Yasmine to discuss her athletic journey, the inspiration behind The Sun Bundle, and how she’s using sports equipment donations to provide opportunities for athletes in l...

Join me on this episode of Athlete Insights as we sit down with professional golfer Ali Khan, a former Ball State golf standout who's now chasing his dream through Q-School. Ali opens up about his transition from college golf to the pro ranks, the mental and physical grind of competing at the next level, and what it truly takes to pursue a professional golf career. In this episode, you’ll hear:- H...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we talk with Nile Max-George, a standout high school golfer who’s about to begin his collegiate golf journey at Ferrum College. From his early days learning the game through programs like The First Tee to developing into a competitive high school athlete, Nile’s story is one of persistence, passion, and progress. He opens up about the challenges and triumphs he...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Dr. Natalie Bunch, Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati, to explore her inspiring journey from working in sport communications as an intern and GA to becoming a published sport scholar. Dr. Bunch reflects on her undergraduate experience at the University of Georgia, her graduate studies and PhD work at Georgia State, and her rese...

On this episode of Athlete Insights, we talk with Dennis Driscoll, Associate AD for Brand Advancement at FAMU. Dennis walks us through his career journey—from his early dream of teaching PE to becoming a respected voice in sports media and branding. With wisdom gained from every job along the way, he shares his goal of becoming an Athletic Director and gives a powerful message to the next generati...

Indiana State Defensive Coordinator David Elson joins Athlete Insights for an in-depth conversation about his coaching journey, defensive philosophy, and the evolving landscape of college football. From his roots in Indianapolis to now his current role leading the Sycamores’ defense in Terre Haute, Whether you're a coach, player, or passionate football fan, this episode is packed with knowledg...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Coach Kevin Lynch, Butler University Football’s Offensive Coordinator, to discuss his lifelong journey in football. Growing up in an Indiana football family with his father as a coach, Kevin has spent his entire life immersed in the game.🏈 Topics Covered:✅ His early memories of football and the influence of his father✅ Coaching journey and p...

In this episode of Athlete Insights, i sit down with Jackson Hoops, current Graduate Assistant and Assistant Offensive Line Coach at Emporia State University. Jackson shares his journey from playing offensive line at Chadron State to transferring and continuing his career at the University of Northern Colorado. He opens up about his experiences as a player, the transition into coaching, and his ph...