🧪 Coaching Like a Scientist: How Observation & Values Led to a State Title

What does it mean to "coach like a scientist"? In Part 2 of our conversation with first-year varsity head coach and podcast editor Mckenzie Ridgely, we explore the evolution of leadership that goes far beyond personality.

Mckenzie reflects on her journey from thinking leadership meant being the "loudest and meanest" to realizing that her best self involves observing how her players respond and shifting her methods to meet them where they are. We dive deep into the "Team Manifesto"—how co-created values became the ultimate tool for accountability during a high-stakes championship run.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Evolving the "Best Self": Why coaching based on personality alone is a trap, and how to adapt your energy to get the best out of others.

• The "Scientist" Approach: Learning to treat every practice and game as an experiment, using player feedback (verbal and behavioral) to guide your next move.

• Values as a Tool, Not Just a Poster: The critical moment Mckenzie used team values to turn around a failing scrimmage and set the tone for the season.

• The TOC Safety Net: The power of a non-judgmental community for testing new systems and finding support in the "mind games" of leadership.

• The Story of the Season: Implementing team journaling to help players reflect on their growth and the memories that led to a State Championship.

Key Resources Mentioned:

• Annie Duke on Decision-Making (Podcast Episode)

• Jennifer Garvey Berger on Mind Traps (Podcast Series)

• The TOC Journal

Connect with us:Join the FREE TOC Coach Community to access the same tools Mckenzie used to lead her team to a state title.

👉 Visit to https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about learn more!

#CoachingCulture #Leadership #TeamCulture #StateChampions #FieldHockey #GrowthMindset #CoachLife #TOCcommunity

McKenzie Ridgely joins the hosts to discuss her successful first season as a varsity head coach, focusing on the implementation of culture systems and resources from TOC (The Coaches' Community). She highlights the importance of "working on the front end"—establishing clear expectations, systems, and communication with players and parents before the season starts. Key topics covered include the structure and impact of her initial parent meeting, the process for selecting captains and forming a leadership council, using player development plans, and strategies for communicating playing time decisions and handling late-season pressure.

Get your copy of the TOC Leadership Journal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/94...Join us on the 2026 TOC Leadership Retreat! https://www.thriveoncoaching.ie/retreatsSubscribe to the TOC Newsletter: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox

As we close out the year, JP, Nate, and Betsy dive deep into the internal "operating system" of leadership. While many leaders focus on external strategy, this episode explores the internal beliefs and thought habits that often hold us back from our next level of growth. The team discusses how to shift from acting out of old patterns to acting out of conscious choice, offering practical tools for grounding yourself in high-pressure moments. To wrap up the year, the hosts also share their favorite books, shows, and movies of 2025, ranging from leadership deep-dives to high-octane racing dramas.Get your copy of the TOC Leadership Journal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/947M5Z4J7SCQNJoin us on the 2026 TOC Leadership Retreat! https://www.thriveoncoaching.ie/retreatsSubscribe to the TOC Newsletter: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox

Are you stuck in a cycle of "push, push, push" but feeling like you’re hitting a ceiling in your growth? Often, the barriers to our progress aren't our external habits, but the deep-seated belief systems and thought habits that drive our every move.

In this episode, JP Nerbun, Nate Sanderson, and Betsy Butterick pull back the curtain on the "Operating Systems" of successful leaders. They dive deep into the five most common limiting beliefs that keep coaches and leaders stuck—from the trap of tying self-worth to productivity to the paralyzing need for certainty before taking action.

Whether you are a veteran coach or an emerging leader, this conversation will challenge you to stop merely "doing" and start examining the mindsets that define your success.

Get your copy of the TOC Leadership Journal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/947M5Z4J7SCQN

Subscribe to the TOC Newsletter: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox

This second part of the conversation with former Division I coach and Executive Leadership Coach Angel Elderkin delves into the specific challenges coaches face in their leadership roles, how to translate values into action, and the profound lessons learned from her mentor, Pat Summitt. Angel shares her current focus on helping coaches navigate "wartime" performance and why she chose to leave college athletics to embark on her own "inner work."

Schedule a free discovery call with Angel 👉https://calendar.app.google/fFSKUFN8W...Angel's Substack 👉 https://substack.com/@angelelderkinJoin TOC Coach Community for FREE! 👉 https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutGet the notes to this episode 👉 https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter

This episode features a conversation with Angel Elderkin, a former Division I women's basketball coach who has transitioned into the executive coaching space. She shares profound reflections from her 24-year career in college athletics, emphasizing that the platform of sport was secondary to the relationships and people she was grateful for.

The discussion centers on the shift from a coach-driven agenda to fostering athlete ownership, the challenges of external validation, and the critical role of self-awareness and self-compassion in effective leadership.

Schedule a free discovery call with Angel 👉https://calendar.app.google/fFSKUFN8WteA5esD6

Angel's Substack 👉 https://substack.com/@angelelderkin

Join TOC Coach Community for FREE! 👉 https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about

Get the notes to this episode 👉 https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter

This episode, featuring hosts J.P. Nerbun, Nate Sanderson, and Betsy Buttrick, tackles the significant challenge of leading other adults in a coaching context, whether as a head coach, athletic director, or club administrator.

The conversation begins with an anecdote about Washington Commanders' Head Coach Dan Quinn, who started his tenure by having every staff member, including himself, deliver a personal PowerPoint presentation about their life to build a strong "coach culture". The hosts discuss the common barriers that prevent leaders from effectively leading their adult staff, such as fear of conflict, the limited pool of willing coaches (volunteers), and the assumption that adults "should know better".

A central theme is the difficulty of holding coaches accountable to a set standard, an issue that often stems from the leader's own discomfort with confrontation (conflict aversion) and a lack of established processes for staff development and accountability. The discussion shifts from the mindset of being a "manager" with power over others to being a "leader" who works with their staff to co-create and uphold a shared culture. The episode concludes with practical advice and tools for leaders to intentionally lead their staff, emphasizing that coaches, like athletes, want to be led and supported.

• Sign up for the weekly newsletter https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter.

• Join TOC Coach for FREE! https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about

• Link to schedule a call for the free Coaching Culture Audit and to inquire about group pricing for TOC Coach. https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/toccoachdiscovery

Betsy Buttrick: https://betsybutterick.com/

Previous Relevant Episodes (Links): Links to episodes which also discuss leading coaches and building culture.

370: Onboarding Coaches https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ARjMZN3Ru88rCjmmhVZwm?si=ccc5riIlSUyliKoYZtG3qQ

185: Creating Staff Alignment https://open.spotify.com/episode/48zsWR7DD5L1kbd6SPy3ph?si=0bWQoOH0Q5agKGZwEROz1A

84: Getting the Most out of your Coaches https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JVZN3005xmE6KE2QQvh5M?si=mUhi25rTSj2UM1GXFVw56g

Part 2 of the conversation with Shane Sowden, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Briarcrest College, focuses on his commitment to deep, transformational relationships with his athletes, moving beyond a purely transactional coaching style. He discusses the importance of caring candor and brutal honesty with his players, even when it's difficult.A major theme is the value of investing time in players off the court to build genuine connections, which he finds improves performance on the court as a high "return on investment". This includes one-on-ones, asking non-basketball questions, sharing his own story as a college athlete, and creating unique team environments.Finally, Sowden reflects on the advice he'd give his younger self, emphasizing that a coach's worth doesn't come from the scoreboard. True success is measured by the impact on a player's life at ages 35, 40, and 45—living out the program's values as a spouse, parent, and community leader.Join TOC COACH: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutSubscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.tocculture.com/newsletter