Coaches' Book Club

Episode 16: Kevin McGiven, Utah Offensive Coordinator

In this episode, we get to know University of Utah football's new offensive coordinator - Kevin McGiven. We talk about his path to coaching college football, his unique interview for the Utah job, and how his ‘why’ for coaching helps him stay true to his values in what is an increasingly transactional business. We discuss this month’s book - Ego is the Enemy - and last month’s book - The Untethered Soul - and why the concepts of those books help him be a better teacher, leader and person.

Episode 15 - Don’t call me coach

In this episode, we get to know Utah’s new football general manager - Joe D’Orazio. A former center, Joe talks about how he was hired to work with the offensive line under Norm Chow, only to have former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham tell him he’d be working with then defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake. But what felt like a mistake turned out to be a life-changing opportunity. We discuss what he’s learned coaching college football, and why he is undaunted by the ever-changing landscape, including the transfer portal and NIL money. He talks about his mentors, like NFL coach Andy Reid, and why he and Morgan Scalley remained close friends through the years. He explains his love of statistics, analytics and why he says, “The plays don’t matter.” He also says he doesn’t want to be called coach because coaching is what he does, not who he is. This is a fascinating conversation with a man who could reshape football at the U.

Episode 14 - Morgan Scalley - Ego is the Enemy

University of Utah head football coach Morgan Scalley knows joins the podcast to discuss why he chose Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. Morgan talks about growing up playing sports in a competitive family, how he ended up playing for Utah, and why switching to defense change how he felt about being a member of the team. He also talks about the three coaches he played for or worked with - Ron McBride, Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham. All three coaching legends taught him something different, and he carries pieces of their legacy with him as he begins his first fill season as Utah’s head football coach. The discussion includes some of Utah football’s pivotal moments - and one of his toughest challenges - on and off the field. Read Ego is the Enemy with us, and join our discussions each week.         He also discusses growing up playing sports in a competitive family, serving an LDS mission, how he was recruited to play football for the University of Utah, and  discusses growing up playing sports in a competitive family, being recruited to the

Episode 13 - Lessons on Untethered Soul

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni returns to discuss how the principles of Untethered Soul by Michael Singer helped him adjust to disappointment, manage anxiety, and live without fear. The book offers ways to let go of control and gain peace, while reminding us that we are not our thoughts or our feelings. He said being able to step back from his own emotions has helped me understand how to use soccer to teach his players to be the kind of people they want to be - on and off the field. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about a fascinating book.

Episode 12: DeAndre Yedlin - Mindfulness and Children’s books

Real Salt Lake right back DeAndre Yedlin talks about how he went from having his soccer dreams come true to rock bottom - and how it was books that showed him how to succeed, no matter what happened around him. The 32-year-old soccer player discusses being raised by his grandparents in Seattle, Washington, the humbling realities of playing in the Premier League, and how fatherhood became the role that defines his life. Reading helped him change his life, and it made him decide to write a series of children’s books aimed at explaining mindfulness to youngsters. You can find his books at his website: themindfulnessexpedition.com [http://themindfulnessexpedition.com/]