EPISODE · Apr 27, 2023 · 54 MIN
JOE BATTISTA | Dream big, keep it real, and make a plan
from Let Them Lead · host John U Bacon, Joe Battista
Joe Battista led Penn State hockey to 6 ACHA national titles, then helped Penn State build an $88 million arena and join Big Ten hockey. A master of leadership and teamwork, his book Pragmatic Passion shows you how to “Dream big, keep it real, and make a plan.” I met Joe Battista at Culver Academies (Indiana) in the fall of 1986, when we were both assistant hockey coaches for the legendary Al Clark. Over lunch one day I asked him what he wanted to do after Culver. He said, “Go back to Penn State, become the head hockey coach, win some national titles, go varsity, and build a new rink.”This dream was crazy, since the Penn State hockey position hadn’t even opened up. Yet, on October 11, 2013 – 27 years after that conversation – I watched from the glass as Battista, who had won six ACHA national titles as Penn State’s head hockey coach, walked onto the ice at Penn State’s brand new Pegula Arena, and dropped the puck for the ceremonial first faceoff before Penn State’s varsity team played its first game in the Big Ten. It was hard not to get choked up, because I was watching a friend achieve every crazy dream he’d told me about 27 years earlier.Battista has funneled the wisdom he’s gained about leadership, teamwork, and simply getting hard things done into a book, “Pragmatic Passion: 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal and Professional Success,” and a robust speaking career.We talk about all of that and more in today’s podcast. For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:http://www.letthemleadbybacon.comhttp://www.johnubacon.comYou can connect with John via these platforms:https://www.facebook.com/johnubaconhttps://twitter.com/Johnubacon About our Host:For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website:http://www.letthemleadbybacon.comhttp://www.johnubacon.comYou can connect with John via these platforms:https://www.facebook.com/johnubaconhttps://twitter.com/Johnubacon
What this episode covers
Joe Battista led Penn State hockey to 6 ACHA national titles, then helped Penn State build an $88 million arena and join Big Ten hockey. A master of leadership and teamwork, his book Pragmatic Passion shows you how to “Dream big, keep it real, and make a plan.” I met Joe Battista at Culver Academies (Indiana) in the fall of 1986, when we were both assistant hockey coaches for the legendary Al Clark. Over lunch one day I asked him what he wanted to do after Culver. He said, “Go back to Penn State, become the head hockey coach, win some national titles, go varsity, and build a new rink.” This dream was crazy, since the Penn State hockey position hadn’t even opened up. Yet, on October 11, 2013 – 27 years after that conversation – I watched from the glass as Battista, who had won six ACHA national titles as Penn State’s head hockey coach, walked onto the ice at Penn State’s brand new Pegula Arena, and dropped the puck for the ceremonial first faceoff before Penn State’s varsity team played its first game in the Big Ten. It was hard not to get choked up, because I was watching a friend achieve every crazy dream he’d told me about 27 years earlier. Battista has funneled the wisdom he’s gained about leadership, teamwork, and simply getting hard things done into a book, “Pragmatic Passion: 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal and Professional Success,” and a robust speaking career. We talk about all of that and more in today’s podcast. For info about the book or this podcast please visit our website: http://www.letthemleadbybacon.com http://www.johnubacon.com You can connect with John via these platforms: https://www.facebook.com/johnubacon https://twitter.com/Johnubacon
NOW PLAYING
JOE BATTISTA | Dream big, keep it real, and make a plan
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m