Building Champions On and Off the Field: The Rebecca Gunn Coaching Journey

In this powerful episode of Fanatical DreamHer, April Kemp sits down with 2024 NAIA National Champion and SCAD Women's Soccer Head Coach, Rebecca Gunn. A lifelong athlete and passionate leader, Rebecca shares how her coaching journey began, the culture she built from the ground up at SCAD, and how she inspires high-performing student-athletes with values of accountability, grit, and heart. From balancing family life with a demanding coaching schedule to empowering young women through self-talk and sport, Rebecca's story is packed with wisdom for athletes, moms, coaches, and every woman chasing a big dream. Key Discussion Points: [02:06] Discovering her coaching path after college through mentorship and timing [03:43] Reflecting on nearly two decades at SCAD and key milestones [05:09] How culture, recruiting, and leadership development led to the 2024 National Championship [06:53] Passion for soccer and how it fuels her daily work and mindset [09:20] How coaching shaped her life and helped her grow through evolving generations [11:27] Learning to lead from the sidelines and the power of training over tactics [13:33] Teaching high-performance standards and accountability through team culture [15:11] Navigating obstacles: job instability, early season losses, and perspective resets [17:22] The self-talk that fuels her on hard days—and the same tools she teaches her team [19:48] The emotional moment of pride before the national championship match [21:55] Family support: husband, daughters, and parents who believed in her [24:29] The constant grind of recruiting and finding the right team fit [27:19] Why girls in sports go on to lead—and how coaches help shape confidence [29:43] Favorite quote: "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may realize they were big things." [31:37] Why we need more female coaches—and her call to action for future leaders [34:26] Final advice to girls: "Dream it. Do it. Try again. Keep going." Notable Quotes: "Enjoy the little things—for one day you may look back and realize they were big things." "We need more women coaching. Be a mentor, build the culture, and make the impact." "If you're going to coach soccer, you better have a passion for it." "You have to be willing to put yourself out there. It's hard, but that's how you grow." "Team comes first. Always." Takeaways: Culture change begins with strong leadership and clear expectations Confidence can be coached—but it starts with self-talk and visualization Family support makes dream-chasing sustainable, especially for working moms Sport is a launchpad for lifelong leadership and emotional resilience Coaching is about building people, not just winning games Connect with Guest: • Website: SCAD Women's Soccer • Instagram: @scadwomenssoccer • Email: [email protected] Connect with Us: • Follow April Kemp on Instagram: @fanaticaldreamher • Stay updated: https://www.fanaticaldreamher.com/ • Email April: [email protected] Join the DreamHer Community: Subscribe, share, and leave us a review if this episode inspired you. Don't forget to tag your favorite takeaways using #FanaticalDreamHer—and always remember, the world makes way for the dreamer.