Coach Kub Podcast

As we embark on the week ahead, I challenge us to view one aspect of our lives with a process-minded approach. Rather than judging ourselves over the wins and losses that come our way, let’s seek the learning and progress in those situations and build off of that wisdom. Use it to be better the next time, and continuing on our way on that path with allow for greatness to be realized.

Bennie is a native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and alumnus of Michigan State University. He played played football for the Spartans from 2010-13, capping off his career with a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl Victory his senior season. Bennie had his sights set on the NFL after graduation and signed with the Denver Broncos as Undrafted Free Agent. He spent three years in Denver which was highlighted by winning the Super Bowl during the 2015 season and catching the final pass of Peyton Manning's career. After short stints with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, Bennie signed with the New Giants where he has played the last two seasons. His most recent feat is the writing and publishing of his book Silver Spoon: The Imperfect Guide To Success, which is set to debut on January 28.

As we embark on this week I challenge us to seek positive energy and influence in all that we do. When we are talking to our co-workers, let’s be that vibe. After the guy driving in front of us cuts us off, let’s take a deep breath and keep it moving. When everyone else is talking about how the world is such a mess, let’s give them a reason to think the opposite. Be that person this week, be purposeful in that pursuit, because we can and we should. Make it a great week y’all!

Pratik is entering his fourth season as the Giants’ Director of Performance Nutrition/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Patel joined the Giants after time at the University of Oregon, where he was the Athletic Department’s Director of Sports Nutrition since October 2014. Patel’s job was to develop and direct the Sports Nutrition Department and manage the daily nutrition needs for 18 athletic teams and sports. Prior to his arrival at Oregon, he acted as the Sports Dietitian to the Michigan State University Athletic Department serving 23 teams and 720 athletes. Patel is originally from Shawnee, Kansas and went on to receive his undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Master’s in Kinesiology from Kansas State University, where he also acted as the Sports Dietitian for the Men’s Basketball team. He began his career in sports as an intern learning from the staff at the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and at the University of Kansas.

As we embark on this week, I challenge us to pick an aspect of our lives and define what success looks like in that realm. A big question I suggest asking is do we need more of that specific thing in our life, or would simply being better in it or at it find us in a healthier frame of mind. Do I need to work more hours, or do I need to be more efficient with those hours? Do I need to be making more money, or do I need to manage it better? Do I need to have more friends, or do I need to be better and more purposeful with the ones I currently have?

Cristina is a big-time player in the Health and Fitness industry and one of the game's top influencers through a multitude of platforms. She has been involved in the industry for over 5 years now, and impacts thousands of people every single day through her YouTube channel, Instagram profile, and CCFIT app. On today's episode, Cristina shares more of her story on how she got her start, what she has learned along the way, and how she has utilized this medium to make a difference in the lives of so many.

Without question our genetic make-up plays a big role in how our mental and physical biology’s are formed. So, when it comes to our skillsets, whether it be leadership, how fast we can run, or our reading ability, it would be easy to write these things off as natural talents that were gifted to us at birth. However, through personal and work experiences, I have witnessed firsthand how this could not be further from the truth, and if willing, just about anything in our lives can be improved upon through hard work and purposeful approaches.

Logan is a native of Zanesville, Ohio and current graduate of Ohio State University. During his time in Columbus he majored in Sport Industry and walked on to the Buckeye football team in winter of 2018. Logan's story of trying out for the team is a modern-day Rudy-like story, as he was working as a maintenance personnel at the football building when he was invited to work out for an opportunity to join the team come spring time. He worked his way onto the roster in the fall of 2018, and the rest is history.

Hard work needs to consist of seeking purpose in our pursuits, consistency over a quality amount of time, and an open mind to what we find by doing so. It’s okay to not know what to do, it’s okay to not know what the step looks like, and it’s okay to not have your life figured out today. But, taking action and putting our efforts towards something we feel could lead us to happiness and/or greatness is necessary, and finding the courage to make that happen could be just what you have searching for all your life. Make it a great week y’all!

Nick (@nicharsh) is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Channels for SentryOne and is responsible for leading the SentryOne Global Partner Network.Prior to joining SentryOne, Nick was Vice President of National & Strategic Accounts for Dictaphone - Healthcare Division. Previous experience includes sales management positions with Computer Associates, NEC Computer USA, Tegra Varityper, and Heath/Zenith Computer Systems. Nick holds a BA degree in Economics from University of Dayton in Dayton, OH.

Whatever education we do hold, whatever grace and kindness is within our souls, and whatever knowledge can help someone else for the better, seek out opportunities to act on those things. At the end of the day, whether we like it or not, we will be judged for what we have done and acted on, not how many books we have read or how many degrees we obtained. Go out and act TODAY, and make the difference you wish to see in the world.

Niko is a native of Northville, Michigan and alumnus of Michigan State University. He played Fullback for the Spartan football team and was a three-time letter winner before injuries prompted him to retire in 2012. Since that point, Niko has worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for four Power 5 schools that include Michigan State, Mississippi State University, University of Maryland, and currently at Ohio State University. In his current role Niko is in his third season as an Assistant S&C Coach for the Buckeye football program, coming off their third straight Big Ten Championship this previous weekend.

My challenge for us this week is to first take time for quiet, purposeful thinking and attempt to understand ourselves 1% more each day. Performing this step first is vital because owning ourselves and who we are is the responsibility necessary to a better life in all realms. Once this step is initiated, then and only then, can we approach conversations with others in the appropriate light to be productive and enriching, rather than the other way around.

Colin is a native of Wathena, Kansas and graduate of Missouri Western State University. During his collegiate career, Colin played two years of football at Cornell College before transferring to Missouri Western where he was a student assistant for two seasons. Upon graduation, Colin spent three years teaching and coaching multiple sports at the high school level, before making his way back to Missouri Western coaching the on defensive side of the ball for two years, and then transitioning to running backs his third year. Coach McQuillan is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and is going into his third season with the Bulldogs.

What are your daily habits and how are they affecting your ability to optimize yourself? Is your mindset supporting your current and future well-being? How about your environment? Family? Friends? Only we can answer these questions for ourselves, but ultimately, we have the chance every single day, for nine hours and forty minutes at the least, to make strides in the right direction through our habits and processes. The choice is ours; how can we be better?

Jane is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina and alumnus of Appalachian State University. During her time in Boone she majored in Health Promotion and was a member of the Women's Soccer Team. Jane had an extremely impressive career as a Mountaineer, finishing tied for first in single-season goals with 11, and being named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year her senior season. After graduation Jane moved to Chicago and started her career in Medical Sales. She spent one year in the Windy City before starting her current position with Stryker Corporation as a Sales Representative covering the Panhandle of Florida.

When the opportunity presents itself, I encourage you all to choose a life of teaching over telling, and your footprint will always be one beyond your wildest comprehension.

Tyler Hickey is a Pilot and Captain on the U.S. Bobsled team. Before Bobsled, Tyler played Division 1 Football, while studying Mathematics and Sports Science at Davidson College in Charlotte, NC. After graduating from college, Tyler chose to pursue his dream of representing the United States in the Olympics, and that dream became closer to a reality when the U.S. Olympic Committee extended Tyler an invitation to try out for Bobsledding. At the end of multiple rounds of tryouts, Tyler was one of four recruits to be selected to the team from a pool of 500+ professional and former collegiate athletes. In the four years that have passed since his first tryout for the U.S. Bobsled Team, Tyler has gone on to become one of the Top 5 ranked Bobsled Pilots in the country, competed in and won several international competitions, and continues to pursue his dream of competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

Do actions matter? Absolutely. Do inactions matter, absolutely? The combination of these two entities and finding the right mixture of both will allow us the opportunity to discover the things in life that we strongly desire to find. As we move forward with our week, I challenge us all to find one thing that we can implement into our lives that will help us be better, and to also find one thing that we can remove or stay away from that will help us in that same pursuit. Think purposefully, decide on a certain path, and go. Make it a great week y’all.

Casey is a native of Rockford, Michigan and alumnus of Michigan State University. During his time at Michigan State he majored in Economics while being part of the Michigan State Men's Basketball program as a Student Manager. During his time with the team, the Spartans won the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship in 2016 and Big Ten Regular Season Championship in 2018. Upon graduation, Casey went to work with current NBA player and Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker, helping him with his sports marketing and brand partnerships. Most recently he co-founded a company called Off The Record, that aims to create human connection through phone free experiences.