Sport Coach Education

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.

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.

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

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.

In Episode 9, Liz talks with Gregory Rubendall—a lifelong soccer coach, former physical education teacher, and soccer coach educator—about what it really means to build better learning environments in the sport. They dig into how coaches can create sessions that keep players engaged, how communication and culture shape development, and why coach education has to be practical (especially for volunteer coaches). Greg also shares what he looks for when mentoring other coaches and how community- and school-based programs can help make sport more accessible.

In this conversation, Kyla Lupo, a USA Triathlon Level 2 coach, about how she’s built a truly welcoming team (www.gobig.life) for beginners—and for athletes who often don’t feel safe or seen in traditional endurance spaces. We talk community-first coaching (including a race-day “tailgate” vibe), body acceptance, coaching trans and para athletes, and why mental health and reflective practice belong in every coach’s toolkit.

In episode seven, Liz sits down with Eric “Doc” Brand—her middle school teacher from the 1990s—who has spent 37 years in public education and about 40 years coaching athletes across sports. Eric shares how his coaching has evolved into a more intentional, player-centered approach: starting practice with quotes and intentions, experimenting with a constraint-led approach, and asking athletes to name what they’re seeing instead of just being told. They also get into the real-world stuff that makes or breaks teams—parents “putting holes in the boat,” the dreaded car ride home, keeping sport fun (yes, ice cream after a tough loss), why so much “coach education” turns into risk management, and a fascinating look at how USA Soccer’s licensing system evaluates coaches.

In episode 6, Liz catches up with longtime friend and former Reebok NYC colleague Rick Prince, founder of United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA). Rick shares his journey from junior national team cyclist and collegiate runner to personal trainer, corporate fitness director, and ultimately creator of a science-based education company for endurance coaches. Together they dig into how UESCA brings in top global experts to design its courses, why he thinks national governing bodies should probably get out of the coach education business, and what a truly professional coaching credential might include. They also talk youth sport, unpaid volunteer coaches, and how much we undervalue the people trusted with kids’ development.Learn more about UESCA at uesca.com and check out Rick’s own podcast for more on endurance coaching and coach education.

In this bonus episode, Liz and Sharon Kriz keep the conversation going after Episode 5 and dive into memory lane—back to their days on the Rutgers Women’s Crew team. They also swap stories from their trip to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where they volunteered at the rowing events. With tons of old rowing photos on screen, this is a great one to watch on video.

In this episode, Liz gets a little giggly with her former Rutgers Women’s Crew teammate, Sharon Kriz. The two share stories from their days as clueless walk-ons who worked their way into the varsity boat and eventually sat together in the 7 and 8 seats their senior year. Sharon went on to compete on the U.S. National Team and has spent more than twenty years coaching youth rowing. She shares a wealth of insight on building athletes from the novice level up, what makes a great rowing program, and how her own journey shapes the way she coaches today.

This week we hear from former English professional footballer Ash Allanson. Ash has an undergraduate degree and PhD in coaching from the University of Hull and has brought his expertise to Ohio University, where he is now a professor of coaching. Listen to Ash and Liz discuss approaches to effective coaching, how coaches are also teachers, and why different athletes need different approaches. They explore how to adapt your coaching style without losing your core philosophy, the role of self-reflection in youth development, and why a coach’s own learning journey is never really finished.

In episode three, Hannah Bleikamp shares what it’s really like to be an HS athletic director and why her degree in coaching may serve her even better than a traditional athletic administration degree. Along with Liz, Hannah is also pursuing her PhD in Sport Management, and together they talk about how she “coaches her coaches,” the village it takes to support a successful athletic program, and the day-to-day realities of leading teams, staff, and parents. They also highlight the many areas in coaching and athletic administration that are still in need of academic research—and why that matters for the future of school sport.

In episode 2, we hear from Desmond Bouteiller, a coach with Team Alberta Baseball, where he was named the 2022 Baseball Alberta Coach Developer of the Year. Desmond is also a Certified Learning Facilitator for Baseball Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC). We will be discussing the Canadian National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), which the CAC manages and delivers, providing education to coaches and coach developers across 65 sports through its partner network of 65 national and provincial/territorial sport organizations.

In our debut episode, Liz talks with swim coach and PhD candidate Stephanie Barnes about her journey from age-group swimmer to college coach, Auburn staff member, and year-round coach in San Antonio. Listen as they explore what separates teaching lessons from truly coaching, how to balance fun with high standards, and why Stephanie believes coaching is a profession worth studying—not just something you fall into.

Welcome to Sport Coach Education, the podcast that explores how coaches learn, grow, and develop. Hosted by Liz Byham — former Division I athlete, public school teacher, and Ph.D. student researching coach education — the show dives into the systems that shape coaching in the U.S. Each week, Liz talks with coaches, educators, and leaders to unpack what coach education really looks like today: from university degrees and governing body certifications to volunteer training programs and emerging professional standards.If you care about coaching, learning, or sport development, this podcast is for you. Subscribe now and join us every Tuesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.