The Truth Sideline Podcast

Episode 11: Homegrown Coach

Episode 11 of The Truth Sideline Podcast welcomes Fordham Prep varsity basketball coach Brian Downey, a two-time CHSAA Division A Champion and the 2024 Coach of the Year. Brian reflects on his career at Fordham Prep, which began in 2014 and continues strong today. As an alumnus of both Fordham Prep and Fordham University, Brian has grown immensely as a local, homegrown coach while trusting the guidance of many great coaches who have come before him in New York City. At Fordham, he has implemented own unqiue style, helping develop young men who enjoy staying around the program past graduation. Pete and Mike learned a lot from Brian on how to nagivate the parent-coach dynamic, his support for multi-sport athletes, and how a long career in the FDNY has taught him values he still lives by today. We are grateful for Brian’s support and enthusiam for our show.

Episode 10: Realizing Success On and Off The Field

Former NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle Malik Jackson joins The Truth Sideline to discuss his successful 10-year NFL career, which included winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos at Levi Stadium, the site of this year’s Super Bowl. Malik also shares his upbringing in Southern California, where he fell in love with football at an early age and eventually developed into a college player at University of Tennessee. With his days on the grid iron now behind him, Malik has focused his talents on running The Care League, a concierge care platform developed to assist former athletes in all facets of life. Malik stays busy growing the brand, and attended this year’s Super Bowl to network and catch up with some of his old NFL friends during the SB fesitivities. It’s safe to say Malik is a role model for all young athletes who aspire to have success on and off the field. Mike and Pete are honored to welcome Malik to the pod.  To learn more about The Care League, visit thecareleague.org [http://thecareleague.org] and follow them on Instagram @thecareleague.

Episode 8: Grassroots Coaching & Roster Construction

Mike and Pete sit down with Coach Carmen Maciariello to discuss the latest trends in roster building and how he would approach the current landscape. A late bloomer, Carm discusses trading soccer for basketball which eventually materialized into a D1 hoops career. Carm also gives a glimpse of what a youth coach should be focusing on to optimize team building and culture, which are core objectives of The Truth Sideline Podcast. You won’t want to miss this special conversation with a former D1 head coach!

Episode 7: New Year, New Goals

Mike Jarvis and Pete Janny return in 2026 with Episode 7 of The Truth Sideline Podcast. They talk burnout among youth athletes and some of their observations of the college basketball season.

Episode 6: The Making of a National Champion and Softball on Grassroots Level

Former U of Arizona softball star Sam Banister joins the pod to discuss her experiences coaching youth softball, dealing with problematic parents, and becoming a two-time national champion at Arizona. Plus, Sam gives her view on the future of youth softball.