Coach Jeff Choate is one of the most respected minds in college football — known for his passion, authenticity, and leadership on and off the field. With a coaching journey that spans powerhouse programs like Florida, Washington, Boise State, Texas, and now as head coach at Nevada, he’s helped shape championship-level culture at every stop. In this conversation, Coach Choate pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to build trust, demand excellence, and develop high-character athletes in today’s complex coaching landscape. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or leader — this episode is a masterclass in coaching beyond the scoreboard.

Journal Reflection Questions

1. How can you simplify your communication and teaching approach?
Reflect on areas where you might be overcomplicating concepts for your team. Jeff emphasized that the average attention span of young people is 7-15 seconds, and coaches often make things more complex than necessary. Consider how you can break down your most important messages into simpler, more digestible pieces.

2. What does authenticity look like in your leadership, and where might you be holding back from being vulnerable?

3. How do you balance maintaining high standards with showing compassion during difficult conversations?**
Jeff discussed the challenge of having tough conversations, including firing people, while still being compassionate. Reflect on your approach to difficult conversations - how do you "rip the band-aid off" while still considering the individual's needs and the greater good of the organization?

4. What personal mission statement guides your coaching, and how does it show up in your daily interactions?

5. How are you developing the whole person, not just the athlete or performer?
Jeff outlined his four-part development approach: tactical, technical, physical, and psychological. The psychological piece - helping young people establish values that become their life compass - was his primary responsibility. Reflect on how you're contributing to character development and preparing your people for life beyond their current role.

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Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

Download my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40books

Subscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantage

Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Coach Tom Ryan is the head wrestling coach at The Ohio State University, where he led the Buckeyes to their first-ever NCAA team championship in 2015 and has consistently kept the program among the nation's elite. A two-time NCAA Coach of the Year and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, Ryan has coached dozens of All-Americans and Olympians while building a culture rooted in toughness, character, and purpose. He’s also the author of Chosen Suffering, a powerful book that explores faith, leadership, and finding meaning through adversity. His leadership and resilience—shaped in part by personal tragedy—have made him one of the most respected voices in collegiate athletics for the past 30 years.

Journaling Reflection Questions

1. How do you currently choose to suffer in your own life, and what message does this send to those you lead?

2. When you experience setbacks or losses, what stories do you tell yourself, and how do these narratives either empower or limit your leadership?

3. What does your current ratio of positive to corrective feedback look like, and how might adjusting this balance strengthen your relationships with those you coach?

4. How do you help the people you lead separate their identity from their performance, especially during challenging times?

5. In what ways do you invest in relationships that extend beyond the immediate goals or outcomes of your program?

Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclass

Download my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40books

Subscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantage

Purchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9Ud

Follow me on Instagram: @deejayhillier

Connect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com