Sport Coach Education

Wes Yourth: 20 Years of Athletic Leadership at Pacific | Ep 14

In this episode, Liz talks with Wes Yourth, Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at the University of the Pacific. Wes shares his unconventional journey from collegiate baseball player to coach to Division I athletics administrator, reflecting on the mentors, setbacks, and leadership experiences that shaped his philosophy of coaching and athlete development. The conversation explores coach education, emotional intelligence, leadership development, hiring and mentoring coaches, collegiate athletics culture, captainship, and the growing commercialization of NCAA sport. Wes also discusses his belief that great coaches must first be great educators, and outlines his vision for a more connected “sport ecosystem” linking youth sports, higher education, and athlete development. This episode offers valuable insight for coaches, athletic administrators, coach educators, and anyone interested in the human side of sport leadership.

Michelle Davidson: A Life in the Water | Ep 13

In Episode 13, Liz talks with Michelle Davidson, a longtime swim coach, lifeguard, teacher, and mentor whose life in the water stretches from the Jersey Shore to the English Channel. Michelle shares her background as a scholarship swimmer, longtime lifeguard, and coach who has spent decades teaching, training, and competing across swimming and lifesaving. She reflects on the difference between teaching swim lessons and truly coaching, how science and experience shaped her approach to stroke technique, and why coach learning does not come from certification alone. The conversation also explores open-water swimming, the Gertrude Ederle swim, Australian lifeguarding, Monmouth County lifeguard competition, rookie training, and the sport of lifesaving. Along the way, Michelle makes a strong case for the value of experience, mentoring, and judgment in coach development.

Stephanie Beritsky: Mountain Bike Coach Development | Ep 12

In Episode 12, Liz talks mountain bike coaching with Stephanie Beritsky, a certified mountain bike instructor, NICA coach, and former REI instructor, to compare three common training pathways: PMBIA, BICP, and NICA’s in-house coach training. They unpack the real differences in how each system prepares instructors/coaches, especially the tradeoff between classroom/testing vs. on-trail learning, and why teaching skills in a grassy field doesn’t always translate to confident trail riding. You’ll also hear a practical deep-dive on what’s missing from many coach trainings: learning how to notice errors in real time and correct them effectively, plus how attention, fear, and muscle memory shape what young riders can actually apply on the bike.

Marshall Milbrath: Happy, Healthy, Improving | Ep 11

In Episode 11, Liz talks with Marshall Milbrath—former cross country coach, teacher, exercise physiology grad, and PhD-trained coach educator—about what actually drives athlete improvement and coach development. Marshall shares how he chased every learning opportunity he could find (including USA Track & Field coach education), why buy-in and consistency often beat the “perfect plan,” and his simple coaching litmus test: athletes should be happy, healthy, and improving. They also dig into coaching semantics (effective vs. expert), how to prepare athletes for their next coach, what it looks like to assess real coaching behaviors (not just buzzwords like “athlete-centered”), and why coach education works best when it’s practical, structured, and built around reflection and feedback

Peter McGahey: The Magic of Coaching Happens in the Gap | Ep 10

In Episode 10, Liz talks with Dr. Peter McGahey (West Virginia University and U.S. Soccer coach development) for a big-picture conversation on learning, growth, and what makes coaching truly transformative. Peter breaks down the U.S. Soccer licensing pathway, what it means to develop coach educators (not just coaches), and why the next frontier is learning science, communication, and relationships that can’t be replaced by technology. They also challenge the myth that great coaches and athletes are simply “naturals,” explore why willingness to learn matters more than perceived deficits, and unpack Peter’s unforgettable idea that “the magic of coaching happens in the gap” between where you are and where you want to be.