PODCAST · sports
The Player Development Pod
by Edward Jones II
The Player Development Pod explores how to build programs that care for athletes beyond the game. Hosted by Edward Jones II—former Director of Player Development and founder of Beyond The Field—each episode delivers real stories, proven strategies, and expert insights from college, pro, and high school sports. Learn how to enhance the athlete experience, avoid common mistakes, and create generational impact through personal wellness, community engagement, and career development.
Episodes
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7 Old School Strategies That Still Work in Player Development Copy title
The landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, but some player development strategies never go out of style. In this episode of the Player Development Podcast, Edward Jones II shares 7 old school strategies that still work in player development, regardless of the changes happening...
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The 3 Things Athletes Need Before They Trust You
Athlete trust isn't automatically given because of your title. It's earned through how you show up. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, Ed Jones II breaks down three areas athletes are constantly evaluating in the adults who serve them: proximity, reliability, and consistency. Are you...
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Stop Leaving Player Development to Chance: Build the System
Great player development cannot be left to chance. You can have great ideas, meaningful events, strong relationships, and people who genuinely care about athletes. But if your approach is not documented, communicated, organized, and repeatable, it becomes difficult to create consistent impact. In...
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5 Realities Every Player Development Professional Should Know
Player development is growing, but the profession is also facing some important realities. In this episode of the Player Development Podcast, Ed Jones II shares five realities he's seeing across the player development space: The role is changing. The profession is still growing. Women in the…
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Who Helps Athletes Navigate the Hardest Transitions?
Athlete transition does not begin when the final whistle blows. Athletes are constantly navigating change. They enter new programs. They adjust to college. They suffer injuries. They lose starting positions. They move to the scout team. They transfer. They become parents. They lose loved ones.…
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5 Mistakes I Made in Player Development and What They Taught Me
The Player Development Pod is back. In this episode, Ed Jones II shares five mistakes he made while working in player development at the University of Houston, University of Kansas, and Baylor University, and the lessons those experiences taught him. From trying to build programs before...
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Open the Door: Creating Opportunities for Athletes Beyond Sports
What opportunities are you creating for your athletes beyond their sport? Only a small percentage of athletes will go on to compete professionally. That means coaches, athletic administrators, and player development professionals have a responsibility to help athletes prepare for opportunities…
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Who Are You Beyond Your Sport? Helping Athletes Find Their Purpose
Who are you beyond your sport? For many athletes, that can be a difficult question to answer. From an early age, athletes can build their identity around their sport, their performance, and the dream of reaching the next level. But an athletic career represents only a small portion of a person's...
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Stop Being Random: How to Educate Athletes With Intention
What do you actually want athletes to learn while they are in your program? That question sounds simple, but too many programs rely on random programming, passive learning, or the hope that athletes will simply "pick up" leadership, accountability, communication, and maturity along the way. In…
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The Summer of Belonging: How We Built a Championship Team Culture
How do you intentionally build belonging before the season even begins? In this episode, Edward Jones II closes out the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by sharing one of his favorite player development initiatives from his time at Baylor University: the Summer of...
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The Warning Signs Your Athletes Don’t Feel Like They Belong
When a group of athletes starts making poor choices, creating cliques, becoming negative, or separating themselves from the rest of the team, you may be looking at more than a discipline problem. You may have a belonging problem. In this episode, Edward Jones II continues the Belonging portion of...
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Seen, Valued, and Heard: The 3 Keys to Athlete Belonging
What does it actually take for an athlete to feel like they belong? In this episode, Edward Jones II continues the Belonging portion of the BEYOND Player Development Framework by breaking down three foundational elements every athletic program should consider: Seen. Valued. Heard. Being seen can…
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Do Your Athletes Actually Feel Like They Belong
Do the athletes in your program actually feel like they belong? Belonging is more than team chemistry. It is a foundational part of the athlete experience and the first component of the BEYOND Player Development Framework. In this episode, Edward Jones II begins a deeper breakdown of belonging…
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Your Network Is Your Next Opportunity | Live at Duke Football
Your network is your next opportunity. In this special episode of the Player Development Podcast, Edward Jones II takes you inside a live Beyond The Field workshop with the Duke University Football program focused on networking, LinkedIn, career development, and communicating who you are beyond…
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Fall Camp Survival Guide: How Player Development Professionals Win the Toughest Time of the Year
Fall camp is one of the most demanding seasons in college athletics—not just for athletes and coaches, but for player development professionals as well. In this episode of The Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II shares a practical survival guide for navigating the intensity of fall camp. From...
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You Are Needed: 8 Reminders for Everyone Serving Athletes
Before fall camp, training camp, and the new school year begin, this episode is dedicated to the people serving athletes behind the scenes. Whether you work in player development, student-athlete development, academics, community engagement, player services, coaching, athletic administration, or...
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How Smaller Programs Can Build Incredible Player Development Without Big Resources
Do you need Power 4 resources to create meaningful player development? Absolutely not. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II shares the practical framework smaller schools can use to create transformational athlete experiences regardless of budget. Learn why…
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The BEYOND Framework: Organizing Your Entire Player Development Program
At the 2026 Player Development Summit, I had the opportunity to present one of the foundational ideas behind Beyond The Field. In this episode, you'll hear my complete presentation on the BEYOND Framework, the system I've used to organize player development initiatives into one intentional model....
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How to Build Trust With Athlete Families From Day One
Building trust with an athlete’s family should not begin when there is a problem. It should start on day one. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, Edward Jones II breaks down the importance of building intentional relationships with parents and families throughout the athlete…
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A Month Later, I Finally Have the Words | Reflecting on the 2026 Player Development Summit
It's been a month since the 2026 Player Development Summit, and I finally have the words. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, I take time to reflect on one of the most meaningful experiences in Beyond The Field's history. Rather than simply recapping the event, I share the stories,...
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Student-Athletes: This Company Is ACTUALLY Hiring Former Athletes
Register for the Athlete Career Experience (ACE): https://forms.gle/xAcaD2qgnkFu6zVVA Student-athletes… if you’re trying to figure out what comes next after sports, this video is for you. The Athlete Career Experience (ACE) is a new opportunity happening at the 2026 Player Development Summit in...
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Why Player Development Programs Feel Disconnected (And How to Fix It)
Recently, I had the opportunity to work directly with the Iowa State Football Player Development staff, leading a full workshop on the Beyond Player Development Model. In this episode, I break down exactly what we did, what I observed, and what changed after implementing the framework. One of the...
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The Player Development System I Wish I Had 10 Years Ago
After 10 years in player development, I finally figured it out. It was never about doing more. It was never about better programming. It was about having a system. In this episode, I break down the BEYOND Player Development Model, a framework designed to bring clarity to one of the most...
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What Trump’s College Sports Order Actually Means for Athletes
Donald Trump recently signed an executive order titled Urgent National Action to Save College Sports. In this episode, Ed Jones II breaks down what this order means — not from a political perspective, but through the lens of player development and the student-athlete experience. This conversation...
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What Makes the Player Development Summit Different
As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit (May 29–30), this episode gives you a real look at what makes this experience different. In this episode, I break down the true return on investment of the summit. From access to high-level professionals, to the intentional community...
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I Started This Podcast to Clear My Name… Here’s What Happened
Four years ago, I started The Player Development Pod for one reason: To clear my name. After being let go and hearing things about myself that didn’t align with who I was, I made a decision… If I showed up every week and gave real value to coaches, athletes, and professionals in this space, the...
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Why the 2026 Player Development Summit Is Headed to Detroit
As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode shares insights, conversations, and real experiences that help explain what the Summit is truly about. In this episode you will hear three perspectives that bring the Player Development...
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Road to the 2026 Player Development Summit | Insight, Speaker Spotlight, and Attendee Reflection
As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan on May 29 and May 30, this episode gives you a deeper look into what the Summit is really about. In this episode, you will hear three important perspectives that help bring the Player Development Summit experience to life....
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From Zoom Call to National Stage (The Rise of the Player Development Summit)
As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode takes you inside the movement. This isn’t just a conference recap. This is the story of how a virtual gathering of 28 people turned into a national in-person summit with leaders from the NFL, NBA,...
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Who Is the Player Development Summit Really For? | 2026 Detroit Preview + 2025 Transformational Moments
As we prepare for the 2026 Player Development Summit in Detroit, Michigan (May 29–30), this episode gives you a clear and honest look at what this experience is really about. This is not just another conference. This is a room built for the people doing the unseen work in athletics. In this...
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Here's What You Need To Know About the 2026 Player Development Summit...
The 2026 Player Development Summit dates are officially set. The 2026 Player Development Summit will be held May 29 to May 30 in Detroit at TechTown Detroit, and in this episode I share everything you need to know about what the summit is, why it exists, and why Detroit is the right city for this...
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Alumni Relations in a Portal Happy World
Alumni relations isn’t broken but it is changing. In this episode, I close out the 12 Days of Player Development by tackling alumni relations in a portal-happy world. With athletes transferring more than ever, programs are being forced to rethink alumni identity, engagement, and connection.…
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8 Ways Player Development Can Transform Your Program
Player development can transform your program. Period. In Day 11 of the 12 Days of Player Development, I break down 8 specific ways player development improves culture, leadership, communication, alignment, and sustainability in sports organizations. This episode is for: Coaches feeling stretched...
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The Sports Role You Didn’t Hear About in Your Sports Management Class
Most sports management students graduate without ever hearing about player development. That is a problem. In this episode, I explain: Why player development is missing from most curricula What the role truly looks like day to day Who should pursue it and who should not The challenges behind the...
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International Athlete Development and the Skills That Matter Most
International athletes are changing the landscape of college and professional sports. In this episode of the Player Development Pod, I dive into international athlete development and the skills international student athletes gain through intentional player development. You will learn: Why...
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If I Wanted to Go From Assistant to Director in One Year, Here’s What I’d Do
If you are an assistant in player development and your goal is to become a Director, this episode will give you clarity on what actually matters. In Day 8 of the 12 Days of Player Development, I walk through what I would focus on if I wanted to go from assistant to director in one year. This is…
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Alignment Through Communication in Player Development
Alignment is one of the most overlooked responsibilities in player development. In this episode of the 12 Days of Player Development, Edward Jones II breaks down how alignment through communication shapes the athlete experience across an entire program. With so many departments influencing...
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11 Simple Questions That Unlock Real Athlete Conversations
Most coaches and player development professionals have asked this question: “How are you doing?” And most of the time, the answer is the same: “I’m good.” In this episode, I break down 11 simple questions that unlock real, meaningful conversations with athletes and help you move beyond...
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How to Get Athletes to Show Up to Programming When It’s Not Mandatory
It’s Day 5 of the 12 Days of Player Development. One of the biggest challenges in player development is getting athletes to show up to programming when it is not mandatory. This episode answers a real question from Jessie Martinez, who works with high school athletes at IMG and attended the 2025...
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Effectively Using Data in Player Development (Most Programs Miss This)
Day 4 of the 12 Days of Player Development focuses on how to effectively use data for intentional programming. In this episode, Ed shares a real example from his time at the University of Houston where simple, player driven data led to one of the most successful career development programs he has...
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8 Ways Player Development Can Impact Winning ON THE FIELD
Day 3 of the 12 Days of Player Development Can player development actually help teams win games? In this episode, Ed Jones II breaks down 8 clear and practical ways player development directly impacts on-field success. This is not theory. These are real systems, behaviors, and habits Ed…
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If You’re a Coach Without a Player Development Lead, Listen to This
It’s Day 2 of the 12 Days of Player Development. In this episode, Ed Jones II speaks directly to coaches who do not have a Player Development Lead and explains why this role is no longer optional in today’s athletic programs. Drawing from his experience in player development at the University of...
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5 Warning Signs Your Program Needs Player Development
Welcome to Day One of the 12 Days of Player Development. Over the next 12 days, I will be breaking down real world player development topics that impact athletes, coaches, staff, and programs at every level. Each episode focuses on an area of player development that often goes overlooked but…
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How to Prepare for a Player Development Interview the Right Way
Ed shares lessons learned from his own interview experiences across multiple universities, explains what coaches and administrators are really listening for, and teaches you how to prepare the right way without giving away your entire playbook. • Why listening is the hidden advantage How to…
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What I Learned From 5 Player Development Interviews
In this episode, I walk you through the five player development interviews I had at three different universities and the lessons each one taught me. From getting unexpectedly interviewed in my high school office by Tom Herman, to breaking down my entire job on the spot for Todd Orlando, to being...
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Supporting Coaches During Head Coach Transitions
Coaching transitions are one of the most stressful periods inside any football program. The public sees rumors, headlines, job openings, and contract numbers. But inside the building, coaches are dealing with real pressure. Contract insecurity. Family stress. Social media noise. Expectations from...
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Who Coaches Hire First When They Take Over a Program
The coaching carousel is spinning again, and today we are breaking down a part of college football that most people never see. When a head coach gets hired, there is a clear order in how the staff is built. After working at Houston, Kansas, and Baylor, I have lived this process in real time. In...
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The Coaching Carousel Exposed: What Really Happens Behind the Scenes
n this mega episode of The Player Development Pod, Ed Jones breaks down the full reality of the coaching carousel. You will hear the truth about firings, transitions, uncertainty, and what it looks like when the entire industry starts moving all at once. Ed shares insider lessons from his time in...
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Working for College Football’s Most Wanted Coach
In today’s episode of the Player Development Pod, I take you inside one of the wildest seasons of my career: the year I worked for college football’s most wanted head coach, Tom Herman, at the University of Houston. You’ve heard me talk about coaching hot seats. But what happens when your coach…
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When Your Coach Is On The Hot Seat: The Truth No One Tells You
What do you do when your head coach is on the hot seat and the entire building feels it? In this episode, Ed Jones II takes you inside the real pressure of a hot seat season in college football. Using his experience from the 2018 University of Houston season, he shares what it is actually like to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Player Development Pod explores how to build programs that care for athletes beyond the game. Hosted by Edward Jones II—former Director of Player Development and founder of Beyond The Field—each episode delivers real stories, proven strategies, and expert insights from college, pro, and high school sports. Learn how to enhance the athlete experience, avoid common mistakes, and create generational impact through personal wellness, community engagement, and career development.
HOSTED BY
Edward Jones II
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Player Development Pod have?
The Player Development Pod currently has 292 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Player Development Pod about?
The Player Development Pod explores how to build programs that care for athletes beyond the game. Hosted by Edward Jones II—former Director of Player Development and founder of Beyond The Field—each episode delivers real stories, proven strategies, and expert insights from college, pro, and high...
How often does The Player Development Pod release new episodes?
The Player Development Pod publishes regularly with 292 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Player Development Pod?
You can listen to The Player Development Pod on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Player Development Pod?
The Player Development Pod is created and hosted by Edward Jones II.
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