"Lower the Burden of Your Admin Work"
Nate Sallee • June 11, 2020
Ep. 34: Coach to Coach Podcast - Kevin Cristello
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Episode Info
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Kevin Cristello, Assistant Athletic Director for Football at Virginia Tech University joins on the podcast.
Kevin shares how coaches can streamline their admin/operations work so that they can have more time for the best parts of the job...the players, and the game.
We've never heard a coach say they stopped coaching because they stopped loving the game or the kids...it's usually something outside of that. One of the struggles we've heard about is the amount of admin, paperwork, and secondary work that has to be done to run a program. Hopefully, this helps!
Topics:
- Ways coaches he had impacted him
- Handling job transitions
- How to set yourself up for success when it comes to admin
- Getting the right kind of help
- Improving year after year
- Hilarious recruiting story :)
Playing career:
- 2 sport athlete at Simon Kenton High School
- 4-year Defensive Lineman at Morehead State University
Coaching stops:
- Morehead State
- East Carter HS
- Kentucky Christian University
- Eastern Kentucky University
- Nebraska University
- Coastal Carolina
- Virginia Tech
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“There’s a difference between taking pride in your work and having an ego that’s not open to feedback on how to make something better.” - Kevin Cristello
Transcript
Nate (00:00):
This is the coach to coach podcast, episode number 34 Game Time.
Music (00:22):
[inaudible].
Nate (00:22):
Hey, what's going on guys, welcome to the coach to coach podcast, where we believe every kid deserves a coach that cares, and every coach deserves someone in their corner. I'm your host, Nate Sallee. And this podcast is sponsored by the Northern Kentucky fellowship of Christian athletes. Once again, we are so grateful to our donors, our prayer partners, our leaders, our advisory board. So many incredible people that have linked arms with us in recent years to see the movement of God that is Northern Kentucky FCA and the life change that we experience on a regular basis. Hey, real quick, before we get going, if you found value in previous episodes, could you take just a moment and give us a rating on whatever app you're using? It would really help us get the word out and serve more coaches. As a reminder, the purpose of this podcast is to capture the collective wisdom and Northern Kentucky, greater Cincinnati and beyond so that we can all get better together. It's possible to lead a high performing team and also transform lives in the process, but it takes intentionality and it takes one another. I'm so excited for this episode. We are talking with Kevin Cristello. Kevin is currently assistant athletic director for football operations at Virginia tech university. He is a Northern Kentucky native, went to Simon Kenton high school and has had several stops along the way, including Eastern Kentucky university, Nebraska, coastal Carolina, a couple of others that I'll let him get into it, but he has a lot of wisdom to bring to the table when it comes to the side that isn't maybe as fun or intuitive for everybody as coaches. And it's the admin, the operations, how do we maximize our time and get things done in a way where we can focus on the things that we got into coaching in the first place, the players, the game itself, trying to really enjoy that. And he has some great insights on how we can maximize our time and empower others, and really be able to hopefully just enjoy coaching at a whole new level and lighten the load a little bit off of the shoulders when it comes to gosh, all the red tape and the paperwork, everything else, he just has some great philosophies on things that he's learned over years of experience at different levels on how to just navigate all of those different things. So I'm not going to hold you off any longer. Let's hop right in to our conversation with Kevin Christello... All right, guys. We are here with Kevin Christello. Kevin, how are you doing today? Doing well, How about yourself? We're hanging in there. We're we're zooming it up. Just like you've been most the day as well. Just to give our listeners a little bit of a bio. I've known Kevin since college years, but to know kind of, kind of his quick background, I know you started out at, grew up in independence. Did you go to Twenhofel middle school?
Kevin (03:12):
Oh, I actually grew up in Morning View, Kentucky. Okay. Yeah.
Nate (03:16):
Technically morning view. That's right. Yeah. There's like Demossville, Morning View and different pockets. I don't want to not, uh, not include those. So I went to yeah, grew up in morning mornings view Twenhofel, Simon Kenton, stand out football player went to Morehead state university, which is where we met his wife. Erin was the, she was the maid of honor in our wedding. We ended up just having a cool, cool time there. Then you go on. You stay on as a GA Morehead. And then I think I have this right. Is it, is it East Carter and then KCU
Kevin (03:48):
it was KCU first.
Nate (03:50):
KCU first. And then East Carter and then gosh. Yeah, bring me up to speed on the, on the other stops.
Kevin (03:56):
Then I went to Eastern Kentucky university. I was there for about six years as a director of football ops, got an opportunity to go out to university of Nebraska and be assistant director of football operations out there. Was there for a short 12 months stay. Um, then got a job at coastal Carolina university was there for two years as a couple of different roles there, both in recruiting and in football ops, chief of staff eventually. And now I am a assistant A.D. For football at Virginia tech.
Nate (04:28):
Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. I've been really excited for you guys. You're just now getting your, getting your feet wet there, Virginia tech, and that's right. When all those Corona stuff hit as well. So you're probably still kind of just finding your bearings, aren't you?
Kevin (04:39):
Yeah. I'm still trying to figure out, um, whenever, you know, I've been in a couple of different levels, uh, whenever you get to the power five level, you no longer, um, have one or two people that can answer what you have to answer. Uh, for example, I can compliance. There's not one or two people. There's eight to 10 people. So just trying to navigate narrow that down, who handles what still, uh, in different areas of academics and all different styles.
Nate (05:05):
Yeah, that's good. Well, let's go back to kind of life as a athlete, growing up through the ranks, we just mentioned all the different stops you had on post your playing career. But I know you've played under several different programs and teams and coaches growing up. Who, who do you think really left a Mark on you as a coach and why?
Kevin (05:29):
Well, I, uh, I'll say this Nate. I, uh, actually being from the great state of Kentucky, had hoop dreams my entire life, uh, only played football really my senior year and kinda crazy how it kind of led me to the path I'm in now. But you know, growing up, playing basketball, I would have to say my dad kind of was my coach, which was good and bad. Uh, kind of, I remember this because he was all, he was hard on me because he wanted me to do well. Um, and then when I started playing football, he knew nothing about football. Never played it. Parents wouldn't let them. And I do remember him telling me after one game and I'll never forget it. And I'll probably tell my kids, unfortunately, but he said, I don't know anything about football, but all I can tell you is if that's the kind of effort you're going to give, then you better change it.
Nate (06:18):
Simple and clear.
Kevin (06:20):
Simple and clear. And I understood it because, you know, um, he was, he was very, uh, passionate about working hard didn't care if you were good. He obviously wanted me to be good, but he cared more about the product of what basically I was putting out. There was a product conversion of my family. And if we weren't going hard, he let you know about it.
Nate (06:41):
Yeah. And it's such a, such as, again, just a simple thing, but man, there's some depth to that just on the spiritual side where, you know, one of Katelyn's life versus my wife Colossians 3:23 with work at everything with all of your heart as if you're doing it for the Lord, not for man, but then this idea of we're, we are a representation. We're an ambassador for ourselves, for our family. And for those of us that have faith where we're kind of representing what it means to be a Christian athlete at that point too, and people are watching. Yeah,
Kevin (07:10):
for sure. And then I would say the second person is probably my old high school basketball coach, Scott Humphrey. He was very influential in how I am today because he was extremely hard on me. And I felt like he didn't like me. I was one of those kids. Like the head coach hates me. He doesn't like me. He's always on me, but he is the one that actually helped me get to Morehead State university. And he was our basketball coach.
Nate (07:37):
Oh, interesting. So your basketball coach helped you on the path to your, you know, going to the next level of football wise.
Kevin (07:43):
Correct. I only played one year of football, so there really wasn't a whole lot of film and, you know, coach, uh, they're at Simon Kenton, did a great job, but, helped me get recruited, but coach Humphrey had some contacts and really helped me to get to Morehead. And, really one of the, it's a funny story going in the Morehead because I was like first day of school walk on and in a non scholarship program. So that's the kind of the joke that I tell people to kind of start my career, but I, you know, worked hard and everything that I've done has been through hard work and just, uh, you know, the faith that I've had and the people that's been around me.
Nate (08:22):
Yeah. That's a great, that's great way to sum it up. I've seen that with you as well. I remember hearing some of the stories when you're at the D ops. at EKU and you probably have to do it at different times too, but you would be driving ahead, it'd be a road trip for that weekend and you have to be driving ahead on the interstate four or five hours ahead of them for the restaurant or the hotel or wherever you were going to make sure everything was going to be all set and ready to go for the team. And he got gosh, a hundred plus people behind you that are expecting things to go well.
Kevin (08:49):
For sure, making sure that the food showed up, when did the bus leave or there's problem with this and kind of, it's a, but I will say those, those type of obstacles, you know, being a Kentucky Christian university, a smaller Christian school with about four or 500 enrollees, and doing a lot of things has really, set me up for kind of where I'm at today, because I know how this is supposed to look, I know how this is. I'm not one of those people that while I haven't done it before I've, I've seen it and kind of been through it.
Nate (09:23):
Yeah. That's amazing. Well, whether the budget has been minuscule or huge at different different schools, you've kind of seen it all. What have been some, some key takeaways that you've picked up from different coaches, whether it be, you know, coach hood at EKU or at Nebraska, or even currently, at Virginia tech that you feel like, man, this is, this is an important piece. If you're trying to build a successful program or successful culture, man, I would say, man, I would put this up on the top five of things to be implementing.
Kevin (09:55):
Yeah. Well I can say like whenever I was at Kentucky Christian and Morehead state, you always had to be mindful of your budget because you didn't have a big budget. When I got to EKU, I thought that I hit the jackpot, you know, looking back at it now, it wasn't great, but it was better than those places. Cause it was a higher level. But the one thing that Dean Hood told me and kind of stuck with me as, you know, he's a man of faith and he kind of told me we've got to be good stewards of this money because it's not ours that kind of resonated with me. And I was like, you know what, that's a great point. I'm treated as if it's ours and do good things with it. And he was big on, you know, doing stuff for the kingdom and just where you spend your money and how you spend it is key.
Nate (10:41):
Yeah. That's a, that's a good way to approach it. Yeah. Just our, our time, our resources, whether it's our personal finances or the budget that we're given, how are we maximizing that and being good and being good stewards, being good managers. Yeah. That's awesome.
Kevin (10:54):
Correct. And the other thing I took from Dean hood, which is great. Now you go through your experience younger and your career. And as you get older and you learn from different people another thing I took from him was this world is about relationships. And I've been at a lot of different levels and kind of the relationships you have with people good or bad is what this world's about and have having a relationship with coaches, people, teachers, the custodians, everybody, the same relationship. Cause that's what kind of God wants us to do is have relationships with everybody, including themselves.
Nate (11:30):
Yeah. And that's so good. I've heard it said recently that relationships, aren't a means to the end in the kingdom, that they are the end like that kind of, that kind of wraps it all up our relationship with God relationship with others and being able to treat people the same across the board. Like not the exact same, just because we have different types of relationships with people, but to not look down on the janitor, for example, and not be so intimidated by somebody above you that you're, that you're not able to connect with them either.
Kevin (12:03):
I take personal pride in like whenever I was at EKU, we had five managers that was easy. And I was in charge of him that was easy to learn their name. And we had like two filmers. I Went out to Nebraska and they were 15 filmers and they were 15-20 managers. So I tried to take time and learn everybody's name where they're from. And I try to kind of always know they'll joke about it because I'll go, okay, you're Daniel from Richmond and Richmond, Virginia, or you're such and such from such and such. So I try to associate that way that they know that I care about them because I do genuinely want to get to know them. And they are people when, just in my experience, you know, it doesn't matter. I'm at Virginia tech now, but that's not changing that doesn't identify or who I am. You know what I mean? Then I'm in a power five school. People when they go to the AFCA convention or something, they look, they say, Oh, I'm in college, you're in high school or you're a middle school coach. So I'm better than you. And that's not the way to look at it. C
Nate (13:11):
Yeah. That's good. Well, Hey, I didn't, I didn't prep you for this question, but it just came to my mind. I've seen you go through some of these transitions because you have these different stops and along the way it was right around Christmas time. We we've had a couple of different times where you've come back home and we've had you over for dinner, that sort of thing. And your perspective on not having a job at that moment and not really just not knowing what's, what's coming around the corner, that next year, the way you handled, that was always just really impressive and inspiring to me. So I'd love for you to just kind of share what was going on in your mind and heart in between those stops between EKU and Nebraska, coastal and where you're at now.
Kevin (13:51):
Yeah. Um, you know, I've been, I've been fired and let go twice in my career. Neither one of them was my fault. So what I basically learned in this whole process is it's not really things are out of my control. I don't control it. So, uh, and I think what you're referring to is icon upbeat and positive because I always knew that it's out of my hands and the big guy upstairs is gonna take care of me. That's kind of the way I've always treated it. I've I really never interviewed for a job that I've got.
Nate (14:25):
Hmm.
Keith (14:26):
I've never went out and sought out things. I didn't seek out the Eastern job. I didn't seek out the Nebraska, coastal Carolina. I didn't seek out any of these jobs. They have come to me. And I think a big part of that is just because of my attitude. And I'd like to think of, because of my faith of who I am and just me being me and not worrying about the things I can't control.
Nate (14:50):
No, that's great. Well, there's, there's a couple of layers that I'm thinking of. Two, one is the serenity prayer. I posted that a couple of weeks ago, just on social media right as all this Corona craziness was starting, but it's about, you know, except the things we can't change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference. But you've also talked about the work ethic that you've taken pride in. Ever since your dad said, you know, you're going to need more effort. I don't know anything about football, but I need the more effort. And I think the process you've just been so faithful at the process that that's kind of been the inputs that you've needed to, to get those referrals that you may or may not have even been asking for. But it people it's amazing how much people are watching the in and day out. We don't even realize it.
Kevin (15:33):
Again It's based on, like I said, relationships that you have with everybody. Cause the reason I've got these jobs is because the people hiring have called people and that people have done their homework and they just have said, I don't know why they must have any mixed up with somebody else, but they've said good things about me. And it's kind of led me to where I am and you know, I haven't really had a whole lot growing up. I don't really hold that against my parents. They did the best they could. But I've also, that's kinda, that's molded me into how I am today. I didn't have her free ride. Things weren't easy growing up. But, um, because of that, I know I want better for my kids, but I also, I still have a picture in my office of my childhood home. And I also have my locker tag when I was at Morehead state. This'll tell you, I came in at number 106, that locker tag up with my picture of my house growing up just to kind of as a reminder to where you've come from and where, you know, where are the big guy upstairs taking me?
Nate (16:40):
Yeah, man. So good. Well, Hey, let's, let's switch gears just a little bit. One of the things that I've seen personally with Katelyn coaching her volleyball team, and I hear over and over again, just in the coaching world is really feeling it can be overwhelming. When you think about all the different pieces you gotta do. And so many times you get into coaching so that you can coach the sport, coach the players and be around the game. And hopefully some of the motivation is to change their lives in the process, but there's a whole lot of admin operations type things that they just have to get done in order for that to even take place. And you've seen so many different programs I get with different types of budgets. So if you're talking to a middle school, high school youth, college, I know there's probably different, different levels. You might say different things too, but what are some like go to principles that would apply across the board on how do we, how do we most efficiently take care of all the admin ops things so that we can focus on that? The reason, the real reason why we're there?
Kevin (17:42):
Yeah, for sure. And I think the number one thing is to always remember your why and why you're doing things. You know, why I got into doing it cause somebody helped me coach Humphrey. Uh, other people have helped me. So I want to help kids along the way. But the thing that's really kind of helped me out is I wore multiple hats. There's a bunch of stuff that's got to get done is prioritizing what it needs to be done. Because currently I'm working on, you know, I'm in charge of budget that I'm in charge I'll say it this way. I'm in charge of everything except coaching a position. Gotcha. So you've got to prioritize based on that, that changes based on time of year and what's going on. So I would say just make sure you have a list. I'm a big list person. So I have a list of things that gotta get done. And then I prioritize that and try to see, is this going to make this kid better? This is going to make us better and then take it from there.
Nate (18:40):
Yeah. Would you suggest over time, like if you're going to be coaching in a program or being around a program more than one year, trying to document as much as you can, as far as, well gosh, last year during spring break time, I was doing this during the summer. I was doing this and just trying to have those bullet points. Because you're never going to do it again the next year. Right. Is that, do you recommend having, having that kind of like year long template almost?
Kevin (19:03):
Yeah. So what I've always had started whenever I was at EKU is I've had a yearly calendar and it's mostly just an overview of what's going on, but I also have made notes on that. So the following year, when you get back to, let's say spring ball, you're looking at it a month ahead and you look at your notes and say, Ooh, don't forget. We've had these issues. These kids didn't get their check or we gotta make sure this is going on with practice times. And what I've done here recently is I've even taken that to another level. And I have what I call a kind of a policies and procedures. Now I call it policies and procedures. It's not a typical, Hey, like a rules. This is the first rule it's Hey, during, when I got, I got this job in January, this is how we did this. This is what next year I need to make sure we have done. Or we had a staff meeting. Coach said he wants to get this done better. Our Bowl game for example, I got, I was fortunate enough to go to the bowl game and I just was a sponge and wrote down everything that needed improvement on. So that next year I'm not sitting there thinking, cause I've done that before is I sat there. What, what was that that we had to get? I just pulled it out to my policy and procedure and there it is.
Nate (20:24):
Yeah. That's great. I've heard that weak ink is better than a strong memory. So just go ahead and write that baby down.
Kevin (20:31):
For sure. And Nate I'll tell you another thing that I've kind of grown out of is, you know, I'm very prideful of my work. I want to do a good job, but I think there's a fine line between being prideful and ego. So having the ability to this day, like being able to say, Hey coaches, I know I set this camp up or I did this, I did that. And I worked very hard at it. What can I do better and getting feedback. And sometimes it's good stuff. And sometimes it's like, well, if you don't have a clue or, but you got a welcome that kind of stuff, because that's how you learn. It's how you get better.
Nate (21:08):
Yeah. Just to have that continuous improvement mindset. I'm assuming if you're in charge of managers and film people and everything else you've had to, I mean, you're only one person. You can't do everything that you need to get done. So you've had to work through other people. What have been some, some things that you've picked up kind of on that side of things, how have you, how have you learned to delegate well,
Kevin (21:29):
Well, it all starts with, to be honest with you with trust and building trust, uh, with the people, um, and kind of helping anytime I hire somebody and I've hired people throughout interns, whatever is, can I trust them? It's a big trust thing or they kind of are kind of people what's their character like, and trust, if you get people in there that you can trust or you start building that trust with, then you can start working on helping, managing them and help their technique and their styles to fit with you. And basically what the head coach wants.
Nate (22:03):
Yeah, no, yeah. Always being submitting to that and thinking through it. That's really interesting. So it's not just, Hey, this guy's a rockstar at Microsoft Excel. It's like, no, I want to know first and foremost, can I trust this guy? And I can teach him some of the tools later,
Kevin (22:17):
correct. If I, if I'm hiring, for example, if I was hiring an assistant at some point, if I ever did I look, can I trust this person? Can I trust them that they're not going to not only talk about me behind my back? Or can I trust them? Hey, I give you an assignment to do, can I trust you to get it done? Now I can coach you up and how I want it done, where eventually I kind of, you know, release the chain a little bit to where you feel more comfortable. Cause at the end of the day, my, um, it's my area and I'm in charge and I'm responsible. I always tell them if this gets messed up is the head coach going to call you in and yell at you or is he gonna yell at me? I need to make sure that I can trust that we're speaking the same language right now. We gotta make sure they're speaking Hokie.
Nate (23:07):
Yeah, there you go. That's right. Well, I know huddle is a tool that's used across the board and just about everybody is using huddle at this point for video and everything. Are there any other tools I'm just trying to get really practical here for a second. Are there any other tools or resources that you currently use or have used in the past that you think, gosh, high school, middle school, different program might really benefit from this?
Kevin (23:32):
You know, HUDL is nationally for recruiting, and video services and that sort of thing for me right now, I use a service called Teamworks, which is calendar, communication..and if I did not have Teamworks, it'd be difficult. I know a lot of people use this old adage of this (legal pad) has never had a virus. Yeah. But if I didn't have Teamworks, I'd be in trouble. And Teamworks basically just kind of provides me with the checklist. Um, if we switch a time as far as, as a practice time, or I need to communicate with the guys, I can send them a quick text and I know that that's not, not everybody has access to that. Yeah. But you know, and I've had Teamworks almost at every stop except, you know, Kentucky, Christian and Morehead.
Nate (24:27):
No, that's good. So that's, is that a pretty, pretty high end subscription?
Kevin (24:33):
It really just depends like kind of base it on where, what level you're at, what you can pay. But, um, I recommend it, uh, at anywhere I'm at, if we don't have it, we're we'll be getting it.
Nate (24:47):
Yeah. Priority one. That's good. Well, and earlier, just for the listeners, he was pointing to a legal pad saying that doesn't have a virus, but you also, there was a, some level of we've gotta embrace the technology. Just think about, we wouldn't be able to do this or so many different things if we didn't have the technology that we have now, uh, it can, it can be a distraction at times, but I do think there's a lot of good to it as well.
Kevin (25:06):
Correct. There's a lot of, and especially when you think in terms of recruiting and how the social media aspect of things and what recruiting has turned into these days, it can be a positive thing and it can be a negative.
Nate (25:21):
Yeah. Yeah. All right. Well, let's, uh, it's kind of to summarize a little bit. We have... Say you're say you're a high school AD/football coach and you have all this stuff going on beyond just getting buying Teamworks. Is there anything else that would be on your, on your short list to, Hey man, if we get these two, three, four things going our lives are going to be a whole lot better.
Kevin (25:46):
Um, I mean, other than like making sure you're you have a good list of what you kind of get done. Really I I've been I'm truthful when I say this Teamworks is the only thing I've ever used other than the old school, writing it down and having a list. I, to this day, I have a big whiteboard in my office and during travel, whenever season's going, I'll have a home checklist and in away checklist. And that way it's a visual for me, if my assistant or anybody that needs to come in there and I've given people responsibilities, they can come look, what's done. I can check it off. And it gives them a chance to stop by and see me too.
Nate (26:24):
Yeah, that's good. Is that so teamworks, you can, I'm assuming you can delegate different tasks and schedule things and it should just tell me a little bit more about it. Now I'm intrigued, man.
Kevin (26:36):
so basically what it is, it's a communication platform. Okay. So everybody is on it. So if right now, if I need to know, Hey Johnny Smith, I need to note his information. I can, I got an app. I go on click his name and it's going to give me his student ID number, his email address, his mom parent information. Uh, if he's on scholarship, it's going to put endless amount of information in there. That way I have it at the Palm of my hands and for us right now, I can see if coach says, Hey, I need to talk to Johnny soon. He can get here. I can click his name and it'll show me his schedule and I'll have quick access to see when I can get them.
Nate (27:17):
No, that's really good. Wow. Yeah.
Kevin (27:20):
Yeah. The travel from an operations standpoint, it kind of centralizes all my information as far as my bus meals, hotel, all that stuff.
Nate (27:32):
No, that's good. And by the way, this isn't sponsored by Teamworks. He's not getting paid to attend, but maybe you should be man. Be good. Be good. Little set up there.
Kevin (27:40):
Yeah. I mean, I I'm adamant about them and they do. They it's, it's a great program if, uh, if you're able to get it to help your program.
Nate (27:48):
Excellent. Cool. Well kind of final question here. If you had, you know, say you were talking to a young coach, that's just starting out just trying to get the footing on, you know, maybe they've gone away. They've played in college at a certain level. They're come back to trying to stay in the game and they got their first coaching gig. What would you tell that man or woman who is just starting out based on kind of the years that you've had?
Kevin (28:13):
I would just tell them to, don't try to... I see a lot in the younger, some younger people where they try to get in there and they're full of energy and they want to do this. To kind of just trust the process and just be relational driven. Um, listen to the vision that your head coach or whoever, whatever path you're taking and just be yourself. Cause at the end of the day, that's, what's going to get you through is just being yourself. If you're somebody else it's kind of like dating. If you try to act like somebody, you're not eventually they're gonna find out
Nate (28:46):
that's right. Wow, man, there must be something to that because there's been multiple other coaches that have said something similar to that in recent recent interviews where, Hey, don't try to just copy cat. Some other person, you know, find your own style, hone that. Don't just try to be the exact. Maybe it was an, even though there's a good coach, don't try to be exactly like them because you're unique yourself and you have your own specific things that you can give. And I love that. That's good. Right.
Kevin (29:14):
And I, a good friend of mine in this profession is Adam Clark. And he's the ops guy. He's the same position in that North Carolina State. And we worked together in Nebraska and we worked well together, but we are slightly different. Yeah. He is him and I am me and he's not trying to be me and I'm not trying to be him, but it's just important to be yourself. Because like I said, at the end of the day, your true colors are going to show.
Nate (29:40):
Yeah. And he also mentioned just kind of, kind of falling under the head coach's vision. You're doing that right now. You would encourage them to do it. And I've also heard it said that before you can be a great leader, you have to learn to be a great follower.
Kevin (29:53):
Correct? Correct. And you've got to make sure the old adage of the good Lord gave you two ears, one mouth you're listening and listen to your players. Um, and just, just trying to help.
Nate (30:05):
That's good. As a, as a send off here, do you have things back? It could be any level, but just wanted to see if we have a little laugh or before we wrap up, let's, what's been one of the most embarrassing moments either as an ops person or on the field. If you're like me, there's several, but is there anyone that comes top of mind?
Kevin (30:27):
Well, there's a, there's a lot throughout the time, but I can say one that kind of keeps running through my head now is whenever I was at Kentucky Christian, we, uh, we were having spring practice or spring game and we had recruits coming in. They weren't supposed to be there for a couple more hours. So I was physically cutting the grass. So the game field, the practice field at that time, getting ready for the game and the recruits and parents showed up as I was pushing the push mower. You, uh, talk about, Hey, we're here for the visit. So that was kind of a little different for me.
Nate (31:03):
Well, key word then did you say push mower? Push, push mower. Push mower. Yeah. They have turf now. So they're in a much better situation, but gosh, that's hilarious.
Kevin (31:18):
Yeah. Hey, come to Kentucky. Christian, hold on one second. Let me get, let me, prime this to get started here.
Nate (31:25):
Oh man. Well, good stuff. Well, thanks so much for hopping on here and giving us some of your wisdom. I appreciate you guys. You guys are dear friends, even though you're jet setting all over the country, different stops. I know. Just appreciate your all's friendship. And thankfully for things like zoom and Marco polo, and we're even breaking out some tik toks now connecting through that. So you're saying the other day, so keep up the great work over there at Virginia tech. I know it's going to be a fun ride for you guys and just really appreciate you as a person. Thanks for bringing it today. And we'll talk to you soon.
Kevin (32:00):
I appreciate it. Thanks for everything you do.
Nate (32:12):
Well, there it is. Guys. Our conversation with Kevin Christello.. Really appreciated his insight. I hope one of the byproducts of this episode is that you're able to have some more sleep and get some better rest at night, knowing that what you need to get done is getting done and that you're able to find a tool that works for you to communicate well and to be able to empower some help. That way you're not carrying the load all by yourself. Hey, if you haven't already, we invite you to go ahead and hit that subscribe button so you don't miss out on any future episodes coming up. We're going to continue to work hard to try to bring you valuable content. That's going to help you personally and professionally. If you want to learn more about Northern Kentucky, FCA, just head on over to NKYfca.org until next time, keep growing, keep learning, keep changing lives on your team and in your home,
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At 7'4" and 300 pounds, Purdue center Zach Edey is "the man in the middle." He occupies a lot of space for rebounds and scoring. Purdue's hopes for winning a national championship are weighing heavily on Zach Edey's shoulders. Long ago another "man in the middle" was nailed to a cross on a hillside outside Jerusalem. He was jeered at, taunted, spit on, and reviled by those passing by and even by those who were crucified on either side of Him. For six hours Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus Christ is "the man in the middle". The hope of the world was pinned on Him. He was dying for the salvation of the entire world. "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (I Peter 3:18) This Easter, Jesus Christ, "the man in the middle," wants to get in the middle of your heart. He wants you to accept His payment for your sins. You can receive that payment by saying something like this: "Lord, thank You for being the "the man in the middle", for dying for my sins on the cross. Thank you for your payment for my sins. Get in the middle of my heart and change me from the inside out. Amen For more infomation go to: https://thefour.fca.org/
In the NFL draft, the final pick is tagged with the label "Mr. Irrelevant". Irrelevant. "Unnecessary. Not meaningful. Serving no purpose. Of no significance. Having no bearing on the matter at hand." In 2022 Brock Purdy was the final pick of the NFL draft. He was Mr. Irrelevant. Yesterday, Brock Purdy, was far from being "irrelevant". As the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, he led his team to a convincing win over the Dallas Cowboys and sent them into the NFL conference championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brock Purdy was not "irrelevant". He is not who the NFL draft says he was. And yet with all his relevance to the success of his team, there is another level of relevance for us all. Not what the success or lack of success of our teams tells us who we are, but who God says we are. And God says, "You are relevant. You matter. I see you. You make a difference." The cross of Jesus Christ spells out our relevance. Jesus says to you, "You are worth dying for. You are worth 6 hours on a cross with nails in my hands and feet. You are worth it." Coach, take your relevance as a gift from God. He gives that to you. Relevant because God says you are. A relevance of being, not of doing. Lord, help us remember to take our relevance from who we are in relationship to You and that is one of a beloved son or daughter. No matter how good it gets or how bad it gets. Even if we feel irrelevant. Marty Mayer Northern Kentucky FCA
Sign up for the Coach and Spouse Getaway: nkyfca.org/getaway "Taking your marriage from stagnant and complacent to active and creative" - Brad Rhoads Coaching can be tough, and so can marriage...the two together can put even the best relationships to the test. This is why Brad Rhoads with Grace Marriage jumps on the podcast. Website: https://www.gracemarriage.com/ He shares his journey from a college tennis player to a lawyer, to a switch to full-time marriage ministry. He and his wife presented back-to-back years at our KY FCA Coach and Spouse Getaway and crushed it! Walk away with some great insights and tips on how to have a marriage that is full of life and fun Support the show Instagram: @nkyfca
It's been around longer than you think!
Coach Bill Curry gives us what Jeremy Sheetinger calls "audio gold" on this episode! Some of the topics include: - Stories from playing for Vince Lombardi and with guys like Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. - Coaching stops at Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia State. - "6 Characteristics of a Champion" - "Power of the Huddle" - Reflections on navigating coaching and personal life Follow Bill on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachbillcurry Bill's Website: http://billcurry.net/ ----- NKY FCA Website: https://nkyfca.org/
Podcast episode with Rusty Parks.
Information about the new app that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes developed.
Episode Info Sign up for the FCA Coaches Challenge Here: https://fcacoacheschallenge.org Join hundreds of coaches as they study through the New Testament of the Bible together in 2021. A weekly reading plan, optional daily text reminders, and the power of knowing you're not alone in the journey! Sign up today! This is a unique episode where we hear from Mo Isom-Aiken as she shares with a group of local High School athletes here in NKY. Mo has an incredible athletic pedigree: LSU All-American Goalkeeper Sportscenter Top 10 Play for scoring a 90-yard goal SEC All-Freshman Team Trained as a placekicker for the football team LSU's all-time school record in women's soccer with 35 victories and 25 shutouts. Her family and faith are top priorities in life and it has led her to become an author of 3 books as well as fulfilling speaking engagements around the country. More info on her books and other resources can be found on: https://www.moisom.com/ The goal of this episode is to give a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Mo's story but also an increased awareness of a day in the life of an athlete living in 2021. We hope it's encouraging, inspirational, and eye-opening...and that it ultimately helps you grow as a coach!
College Athletes Challenge - 2 Timothy 4
Contact Info
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