Coach & Counselor

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...

For Coach Aaron Graves, winning starts long before the scoreboard. A 12-year coaching veteran across travel, college, and high school baseball, including a remarkable 97–5 stretch at Riverdale Baptist High School, Aaron has built a reputation for developing not just talent, but toughness. But his perspective on resilience didn’t start in the dugout. As a young athlete, Aaron battled cancer — a fig...

Coaching has always been about more than wins and losses; it’s about influence, development, and the impact we have on people long after the game is over. In this episode of the Coach & Counselor Podcast , Phil O’Grady joins us for a meaningful conversation on leadership, mentorship, and player development in today’s baseball landscape. We explore what great coaching looks like right now, how...

What does the real player pathway actually look like, from high school potential to college opportunity to professional baseball? This week, we’re joined by Will Craig , former first-round MLB Draft pick and current Duke Baseball recruiting coordinator , for a wide-ranging conversation on recruiting, development, and the realities of the game at the highest levels. Will shares insight from every s...

In this episode, former professional baseball player and coach Greg Golson shares what it truly takes to succeed in baseball — from navigating the pro baseball grind to developing players at the youth and high school levels. Greg offers honest insight into baseball coaching, player development, and the mindset needed to grow athletes both on and off the field. This conversation is especially valua...

In this episode of Coach & Counselor , we sit down with Eric Dillinger to discuss what it truly means to be a responsible coach in today’s youth sports landscape. With over 15 years of coaching experience from youth baseball through the college level, Eric brings a deep understanding of athlete development, leadership, and team culture. He has coached nationally with organizations such as the...

In this episode of Coach & Counselor , we’re joined by Jeff Quillin to talk about the long game of youth sports — especially baseball — and the lessons that last far beyond the scoreboard. Jeff shares his perspective on athlete development, pressure in youth sports, and the role parents and coaches play in shaping confidence, resilience, and enjoyment of the game. We discuss how recruiting fit...

Sports are always teaching — even when we don’t realize it. In this episode of Coach & Counselor , we’re joined by Gary Russo , a former Miami (OH) baseball standout who now works in athlete development, contract negotiation, and marketing at the Bledsoe Agency . Gary reflects on the quiet lessons sports instill over time — shaping identity, resilience, leadership, and perspective long after t...