Leadership self-evaluation for coaches is often overlooked, yet it may be the most important habit a leader develops. In a recent conversation with a new athletic director, we were brainstorming ways he could mentor his staff and head coaches. We talked about culture, accountability, communication — all the usual levers. But one theme kept rising to […]

Leadership ownership in team culture is most clearly revealed after disappointment, not celebration. When Vanderbilt Head Coach Clark Lea was asked about his team being left out of the College Football Playoff, he had every opportunity to point outward. Instead, he chose ownership: “There’s no one to blame but ourselves.” That sentence captures one of the […]

In post-season leadership in college athletics, the final whistle feels like an ending. In reality, it’s a revealing. When the season ends, urgency fades. The noise quiets. The cameras leave. Decisions slow. And what’s left behind—unfiltered and unprotected—is leadership. Not the version we market.The version we actually lived. The post-season doesn’t change your culture.It exposes it. What the End […]

In a coaching conversation this week, we talked about two skills every leader leans on — but often struggles to balance: compartmentalization and prioritization. On their own, each one is powerful: But here’s the challenge — when boundaries and priorities collide, leaders can feel pulled in two directions. Do you stay fully present in the moment, or drop […]

The famed bayonet charge by the 20th Maine regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Fall sports are back. Across the country, college athletes are lacing up cleats, taping wrists, and stepping onto fields, courts, and courses—some for the first time, others for one last ride. It’s the start of another season… but it’s more than just opening day. This is where college sports leadership comes to life. The Quiet Moments That […]

The College World Series isn’t just a baseball tournament.It’s a showcase of grit, culture, and the emotional highs and lows that define elite teams. Each June, Omaha becomes the proving ground for leadership under pressure. When the lights go out and the stadium empties, what stays with us are the leadership lessons—the moments of growth, identity, and resilience […]

In sports leadership, we often talk about grit, culture, and toughness. But one of the most powerful tools for building great teams often gets overlooked: experiential learning. It’s more than just “learning from experience.” What drives real growth is how you reflect, reframe, and respond. The Power Behind the Process: Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle Legendary educator David Kolb […]

3 Ways to Learn From Experience! There’s something profoundly humbling about standing on the fields of Gettysburg, where pivotal moments of courage, failure, and resolve changed the trajectory of a nation. But more than a historic site, Gettysburg is a living classroom—an unparalleled stage for leader development that brings concepts to life through experience. At Tom Van Dam Coaching […]

Hardiness in the Postseason Push As the regular season winds down and postseason hopes hang in the balance, college athletes are under pressure. The fatigue is real. The stakes are high. And yet—some players rise, while others falter. What makes the difference? In 2018, Oregon State Baseball found itself on the brink—twice. One loss away […]