Walk Like A Champion Podcast

Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!! Episode 3: Gian Lemmi Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. Four years ago, Gian stepped away from his role as Associate Head Coach at Liberty University. Today, he balances a dual calling as the Executive Pastor for Bedrock Church Lynchburg and the Community and Project Manager for New York Times Bestseller Jon Acuff. And he runs the Lemmi Tennis Academy. You will hear in this episode: About his next book project-a "Screwtape Letters" guide for coaches Who he dressed up as for Halloween and how that changed his life Gian's insight on spending time wisely His top encouragement for coaches still serving in the career This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader. Links: BUY GIANS BOOK Support AIA Tennis Vision Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!! Episode 1: Tanner Stump & Matt Walters Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. You will hear from Tanner Stump, the former Florida Gators Associate Head Coach, who coached Ben Shelton and the 2021 National Championship. And Matt Walters who finished his career as the Associate HC at Clemson, also having stops at UCF, Mississippi State, and IMG. Both of these men were rising the ranks, and then made the decision to get out of college coaching. You will hear in this episode: Matt & Tanner's faith story Regrets from their time as elite college coaches How to separate your identity from results Why they left their careers Top advice for coaches This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader. Links: Get insured by Matt Walters Consult with Tanner Stump Support AIA Tennis Vision Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

SEASON 2 FINAL EPISODE! Trevor Foshey is finishing his 2nd year at the University of Michigan. Prior to that, Trevor spent 4 years as the Associate Head Coach at Liberty. As a player, he helped Mississippi State reach #5 in the nation and was the 7th ranked doubles playing in the country. Trevor put his name in the history books by clinching the 2018 SEC Tournament title in a 3rd set tiebreaker. You will hear in this episode: What Trevor did during college when his life hit rock bottom Trevor shares how to build competitiveness in athletes The importance of getting into the Word The blessing of marrying a godly woman And much, much more. . . This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. Resources: The Gospel Quiet Strength Support AIA Tennis Vision Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org About AIA Tennis Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

EPISODE 4!! Austin Rapp has served as the assistant coach at Clemson since 2022. Prior to that, Austin was the Volunteer Assistant with Texas for 2 years. Austin competed for UCLA from 2015-2018, earning All-American status in 2018 after making the semifinals at the NCAA Tournament. He continued on the pro tour reaching 672 in Singles; 328 in doubles. Austin is known around the country for his joy and diligence as a coach, but in this episode you will hear: How he turned to God during his time in Austin the difference between a high achieving team culture and struggling ones Austin’s top advice for a new Christian. And much, much more!! This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org About AIA Tennis Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

SEASON 2 HERE WE GO! Jason Kerst has served as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Notre Dame since 2023. Prior to that Jason worked in fundraising and was the volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech and at South Carolina while he completed his MBA. Jason competed for the University of Iowa, graduating in 2021 and was the recipient of the ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Leadership Award. In this conversation, you will hear about: His deep love of tennis and how he became a Christ-follower What an Iowa campus staffer did that stood out to Jason How Covid and Iowa dropping Men's Tennis impacted Jason And much, much more!! This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org Verses Jason shared: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

Mark is the Head Men’s Coach at Tulane where in 2008, he was tasked with rebuilding a program that was discontinued for four years as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Mark has orchestrated the program’s improbable return to national prominence as a top-25 team in the country. Before that, Mark spent 10 years as an Assistant and then Associate HC at LSU. Mark was a top 20 player at West Virginia and went on to reach 267 in the world in doubles. Mark is known around the country for his joy and the way he treats people. But in this conversation, you are going to hear: How his faith has impacted his life and coaching The prayer he prayed before taking the Tulane job What it was like inside the hospital room the moments before and after his heart transplant in May of 2023 And much, much more!! This is Episode 7 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org More details on Mark's health battle with the ITA Podcast. Mark's GoFundMe Page. Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

Derek is in his 7th year as the Head Coach at Liberty. He led the team to a number 39 national team ranking in 2021 and won the inaugural 2023 Universal Tennis NIT Title. Before that, he spent five seasons as the Assistant Coach at Georgia Tech where he was instrumental in recruiting and developing Chris Eubanks who recently reached 31 in the world after making the quarterfinals last year at Wimbledon. Derek also had coaching stops at Fresno State and the University of Virginia. Derek is nationally known for being strategic, a master problem solver, and a developer of talent. But in this episode you are going to hear: What was really going on behind the scenes as he was rising the coaching ranks What he learned from the legendary Coach Brian Boland and Tony Bresky How four men stepped into Derek’s life at Georgia Tech, completely transforming Derek and the trajectory or his life And much, much more! This is episode 5 of our 8 episode series sharing faith filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. Join us for the entire series! Derek shared about how the story of Unbroken impacted his life. Here is a link to the book. A slight warning to young readers, this book is quite heavy and contains language. Read with wisdom and caution. But it truly is an unbelievable story of perseverance and how God transforms lives. Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream

Shelley is in her 1st season as the Head Coach at the University of Kentucky. Prior to that, Shelley had 9 years as a Division 1 Head Coach with the last 5 being at James Madison where she led her team to a national tournament berth in 2021. She has also coached at Middle Tennessee State, Michigan State, and Alabama where she was 3-time team captain. In this episode with Chad, you will hear: How she is building the FAMILY team culture at Kentucky What it's like to be a mom and a Power 5 Head Coach How she responded to being let go at Alabama in April of 2018 And much, much more! Subscribe now and listen to our 8 episode podcast series to hear elite level college tennis coaches share their story so you can be encouraged to take YOUR NEXT STEP in your faith journey. Connect: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org Support Kentucky's Women's tennis team on their mission trip to the Dominican Republic! Click the link above! Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/GKuALt

EPISODE 1 Tom Rees is the Associate Head Tennis Coach at Clemson University. In this episode, he shares with Chad about his journey from England to the US, his calling into coaching, how one tragic day in February of 2021 changed his life forever, and much much more! Listen to our 8 episode podcast series to hear elite level college tennis coaches share their story so you can be encouraged to take YOUR NEXT STEP in your faith journey. Subscribe Now! Join our community: IG - @aiatennis Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org Book Referenced: More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell Track: "The Rebel Flagship" Music provided by https://slip.stream Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/GKuALt