Tales From the Trail by MatchPlay

In this episode, I welcome Phil Kroft, the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Chicago. At the time of release of this podcast, his team is headed into the third round of the NCAA tournament as they look to defend the national championship. Coach Kroft discusses his thoughts on recruiting and coaching. Summary In this conversation, Phil Kroft, the head coach of the University of Chicago m...

In this episode, Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University and I welcome Coach Justin Kavanaugh. He believes that every coach/athlete relationship starts with trust. With two decades of coaching experience, he's devoted to helping athletes achieve greatness and empowering athletes worldwide. His training reaches the fastest and most successful athletes in sports, and through his platform, he...

Hi and welcome to the Tales From the Trail podcast by MatchPlay, Mindset Monday edition. In these less than ten minute episodes, Eric Manuel, of Expert Mindset Coaching and I will address a different facet of mindset which apply to sport and life. To learn more about Eric’s practice, visit his website at www.expertmindsetcoaching.com Please take an extra minute to rate and review the podcast where...

In this episode, I welcome 3 fantastic guests. Omar Salgado was the first overall pick in the 2011 MLS Superdraft by the Vancouver Whitecaps. Additionally, he played in the youth national team systems of both Mexico and the United States. Towards the end of his professional career, he decided to pursue a career in law and last spring graduated from Northeastern University with his law degree. Alon...

In this episode, US Soccer and Watford FC legend Jay DeMerit joins us for round 2. Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University men’s soccer and Brendan Bourdage of William & Mary men’s soccer discuss with Jay his friendship with Elton John, growing a mentorship practice with his partner Dani Wilson, called RxS (Rise and Shine) Mentorship, and working on systems built off the pillars of Bel...

Mindset Monday is with mindset coach Eric Manuel and we explore different aspects of the mindset of high performers that apply to sport and life. These brief episodes will give you something to consider about your mindset as you start your week. To learn more about Eric’s practice, visit his website at www.expertmindsetcoaching.com

In this episode I’m joined by Mike Singleton, head coach of men’s soccer at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA and former associate head coach of the men’s team at William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA Brendan Bourdage. These guys go fairly deep into their thoughts about their philosophies on coaching student athletes, developing leaders and all around good people.

In this episode, I welcome Michael Zabala, the founder of an innovative company called XO Armor. This company is changing how health care providers can help athletes quickly get back to training and competing post injury. Michael tells the story about how 3D scanning and printing a splint at Auburn University got a star receiver back on the field to deliver outstanding performance despite a hand i...

In this episode I welcome back Emmett Rutkowski, the head coach of men’s soccer at Stetson University. We are joined by two of his old assistant coaches: Jack Roberts, assistant coach of men’s soccer at St. Louis University and Drew Crawford, an assistant coach at Yale University men’s soccer. They bring their unique insights from different experiences and colleges to the podcast. I’m certain you’...

In this episode I welcome two current youth players and two college coaches. Mary Shimko, the head coach of women’s soccer at Brandeis University and Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University have a great conversation with two members of the Richmond Strikers, Jack Cranston, a defensive midfielder on the Boys U19 Elite boys team and Emma Sicat, of the U19 Elite girls team. Both student-athle...

In this episode Matt Lamb, Matt Lawrey, and Tommy DiNuzzo join me. Matt Lamb is the head coach of men’s soccer at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Matt Lawrey is the Youth Academy Director at the MLS club Atlanta United. Returning to the podcast is Tommy DiNuzzo, the head coach of the Hampden-Sydney College men’s soccer program. They bring decades of experience around youth development, colle...

In this episode I welcome physical therapist Dr. Seth Blee, MSPT, DPT, CFMT, CSCS owner of Blee Elite Sports Therapy https://www.bleeelitesportstherapy.com/ in Chantilly, VA near Washington, DC. Dr. Seth Blee has worked with professional athletes in many sports, including baseball, football, soccer, hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and mixed martial arts. He served as the Head Team Physical Therapist...

In this special episode I welcome Rich Diviney, author of the book The Attributes. Rich was inspired to write the book after his twenty years as a Navy SEAL. Commander Rich Diviney was intimately involved in the world-renowned SEAL selection process, which whittles exceptional candidates down to a small cadre of the most elite optimal performers. But Diviney was often surprised by which recruits w...

In this episode Justin Chezem of Christopher Newport University men’s soccer and I welcome Nate Bell, the founder and executive director of Park Slope United and Brooklyn United in Brooklyn, New York. Nate started the club in 2012 and it has risen from a handful of five and six year olds to become the leading soccer program in Brooklyn with over 1400 players. The environment develops players who a...

In this episode I welcome three current players and the head coach from Christopher Newport University women’s soccer team. Madie Vincent, Sarah Smith, and Hanna Heaton all transferred from Division I programs to find a home at CNU. Coach Jamie Gunderson joins his players and they recap their recruiting experiences along with the start of their collegiate careers and ultimately how they ended up a...

In this episode, Eric Manuel of Expert Mindset Coaching https://www.expertmindsetcoaching.com/ joins me to discuss his approach to helping athletes reach their performance potential. Eric’s athletic background led him to his career as a Sports Performance Coach. Eric works with athletes at all levels from high school and college student athletes to professional fighters and everyone in between. I’...

In this episode, Kat Zempolich joins me to discuss her recruiting and college lacrosse career at Duke University. Then we dig into Morgan’s Message®, the organization she helped start to honor and remember her teammate and friend Morgan Rodgers who tragically took her own life in 2019. Morgan’s Message® strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community...

Tony Pacella, head coach of the men’s soccer team at Sewanee University in Tennessee is my guest. Tony is in his 10th year as head coach and we talk about his perspective on recruiting and playing college soccer.

In this episode I welcome Mary Shimko the head women’s coach at Brandeis University and Jamie Gunderson of Christopher Newport University women’s soccer. Mary played and graduated from Brandeis and proudly took over the head coaching role in 2020.

n this episode, I welcome Greg Proctor, high school senior in Maryland who plays for Maryland United. Greg is in the recruiting process and shares his experiences so far.

In this episode, Justin Chezem, men’s soccer coach at Christopher Newport University and I welcome Britta Marmon, Senior Recruiting Coach at Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) and former women’s college assistant coach. Britta discusses the ins and outs of the service offered by the NCSA.

In this episode my guest is Anthony Kjenstad, the president of Firefly Recovery . Firefly is a revolutionary recovery device used by professional & collegiate athletes, Olympians, and weekend warriors. It helps your body to recover faster by increasing blood flow throughout your entire body. Firefly is small and portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The evidence of positive re...

In this episode we welcome Aleksey Korol, the Associate Head Coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Aleksey moved to the US from the Ukraine when he was in high school and went on to play collegiately at Indiana University . He made 3 college cup appearances and guided the Hoosiers to back-to-back national titles as a junior and senior. Korol concluded his collegiate career at Indiana in 199...

In this episode I welcome Brianna Behm, a current senior on the women’s soccer team at the University of South Carolina and Sofie Fox, a graduate transfer student on the women’s soccer team at Northeastern University. Sofie played four years at Georgetown University before transferring for her fifth year. They share their experiences of playing for renowned programs and their recruiting stories. P...

In this episode we welcome Daniel Hulett of the Hulett Brothers . Daniel and his brother David are trick shot manufacturers who started during the pandemic and have grown into internet sensations and are now working full-time on conceiving and producing trick shots. Daniel started as a college student athlete playing soccer at Christopher Newport University . We cover his recruiting story, how his...