Coach Kub Podcast

Joining us today for our Friday Discussion is the extremely impressive Justin Cessante. Justin's life resume kicks off with his collegiate career at Grand Valley State University where he played Linebacker on the football team, which was highlighted by winning the National Championship in 2002. Upon graduation he found himself on the coaching side of the game at his high school alma mater, Detroit Catholic Central, while also working at American Franchise Systems for four years in the corporate world. Justin knew his calling was in providing a platform for the youth in his area which is when he turned to the task of co-founding the non-profit HYPE Athletics. He spent a number of amazing years with HYPE before moving on to his current role at the Legacy Center in Brighton, Michigan as the Director of Football Operations. In addition to this role he is also the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Legacy and Executive Director of the L.E.A.D. Foundation whose mission is to empower student-athletes and support

“ Having hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks. Hope is more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all right, but rather it is believing you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals" - Daniel Goleman

For today's Friday Discussion we are joined by Skyler Windmiller. Skyler was born and raised in the great of Kansas, growing up in the town of Shawnee. He attended Missouri Western State University where he was a 4-year starter at Quarterback for the Griffons, majored in Exercise Science, and is finishing his M.B.A. in the coming weeks. A few months ago he authored his first eBook called Mindset Muscle which focuses on the development and control of your thoughts to help you further gain control of your mind. He is currently a High School football coach and teacher in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and the Owner/President of New Dimension Supplement Club.

“Society is commonly too cheap. We meet at very short intervals, not having had time to acquire any new value for each other” - Walden The world we live in and the people that consume it sometimes take on the approach that busyness is ideal, companionship is always needed, and time away from even our closest friends can be detrimental to our well being. At different times these situations are always welcome and very much needed, but to what extent? If we are always around others and constantly in motion, where do we find time to improve upon ourselves and develop greater value that we can bring to the table?

Joining us today for our Friday Discussion is Michael Clark. Mike is a native of Atlanta, Georgia where he was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball. He continued his football career into college attending Jacksonville State University as a defensive lineman, winning two conference championships with the Gamecocks. Upon graduation Mike accepted a Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant job at Eastern Kentucky University, where he earned his Master's Degree and was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Track and Field, Tennis, and Men's and Women's Golf. After completing his degree, Mike moved down to Charlotte, North Carolina taking a job as the Head of Strength and Conditioning at Champions Sports Performance, where he has held that role for the past six years.

As human beings, one of our deepest desires is the urge to feel important; how can we harness it into a productive aspect of our leadership efforts?

Joining us today for our Friday Discussion is Mr. Drew Valentine. Drew is a native of Lansing, Michigan where he attended the legendary Sexton High School. He played his collegiate basketball at Oakland University where he graduated as the winningest player in school history and was the heart and soul of an Oakland program that recorded 87 victories and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. Upon graduation Drew became a Graduate Assistant at Michigan State University for two seasons, then back to his alma mater as an Assistant Coach for Oakland, and is now currently an Assistant Coach at Loyola University of Chicago. He made an immediate impact in his first season helping lead the Ramblers to their first NCAA Final Four appearance in 55 years and back-to-back regular season conference titles for the first time in school history.

Would it be possible to re-train our conversational skills and seek to approach our conversations with the end goal of understanding the other person’s perspective, rather than prove it right or wrong? Would this method lead to more productive and enriching interactions that could benefit both parties involved?

For today’s Friday Discussion we are joined by Mr. Adam Powers. Adam is a native of Plymouth, Michigan and currently residing in the beautiful and re-surging city of Detroit, Michigan. Growing up he was a very impressive athlete capping off his playing days as a two-year captain for the football team at Kalamazoo College. Over the next couple of years he spent a ton of time traveling the world highlighted first by spending one year in Australia and then moving on to visit more than 20 countries following that stint. More of Adam’s highlights include securing a MBA in International Business, volunteering for the outstanding organization Folds of Honor, and being an avid health and fitness advocate taking part in a wide variety of gyms and movements across the country!

Are we indirectly putting a lot of focus on controlling our environments so our character is not challenged? Are we afraid to seek a new challenge, new environment, or new relationship because it may expose us for who we really are? Would being consistently exposed to a wide variety of environments aid in our “character development? 

For today’s Friday Discussion, we are joined by friend, former teammate, and all around lights out dude, Mr. Darien Harris. Darien is a former linebacker and captain for the football team at Michigan State University.  After a short stint with the Cincinnati Bengals and Ottawa RedBlacks of the CFL, Darien decided to return to MSU to complete a Master’s degree which he graduated with this past Friday in Marketing Research while also serving as a graduate assistant in the Clara Bell Smith Center for Student Athlete Support Services. Outside of that, Darien is currently a regular contributor to the Big Ten Network, brand ambassador for BIGGBY COFFEE, and Coach for Legacy Sport’s football program out of Brighton, MI.  During his time at MSU, Darien was a part of the winningest senior class of all time, including a Rose Bowl Championship, two Big Ten Championships, a Cotton Bowl Championship, and a berth in the College Football Playoffs. 

“Beauty is the result of gradual growth from within outward, of the necessities and character of the indweller, who does it themselves, without ever a thought for the appearance.”

In today's Friday Discussion I am extremely excited to be joined by Bailee Bullough, former player in the Real Estate market and current Level V Circle Achiever for Rodan + Fields, a premium skincare brand built on a legacy of innovative dermatology-inspired skincare products that are redefining the future of anti-aging skincare.  Four years into the business, Bailee has developed herself into an exceptionally strong and innovative leader who oversees a team of 80 women across the globe. In addition to her work duties, she is the wife to a college football coach and pregnant with their first baby boy!

If our “HOW” can be elevated and supported by genuine care and challenge, our “WHAT” will certainly do the same.

For today’s Friday Discussion we will be joined with Matt Rea – founder, owner, and creator of Detroit Muscle, a fitness apparel brand with the goal of creating content to inspire, motivate, and inform a community of likeminded individuals in the Detroit area and beyond. Matt also leads the Content Marketing Team at Xenith, an industry leader in designing and manufacturing football helmets, protective equipment, and performance training apparel. Matt’s passion for health, fitness, and leadership started at a young age, and was amplified through his 15 year football career which included his time playing for Michigan State University and two years in the Canadian Football League. Matt strives every day to do 3 things: Be a leader in the way he carries himself and interacts with those around him. Create something of value and share it with a relevant audience. Work as smart as he is working hard; cutting out anything that may be slowing him down or not allowing him to reach his potential.

The central idea behind this notion is that if we are to lead those around us, we first and foremost must absolutely focus on the development and maturation of our own hearts, souls, and minds.

In today's Friday Discussion we are blessed to be joined by Ira Childress - Athletic Director at Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan. In his role with the Chiefs he utilizes his creativity and vision to provide innovative solutions and experiences for OHS student-athletes, coaches, and surrounding community. As a result of his efforts, Childress is currently a finalist for NATIONAL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR! 

I have found that the best way in which to keep finding victories and significant advancement in our lives is to change when we don’t have to, especially at the top of our game. 

If we can take on a viewpoint that we may not be where we eventually want to be in the future, in order to get there, we must appreciate the journey and the lessons we are learning in the moment to give us a fighting chance at seeing our dreams come true.

In today’s discussion we are joined by the beautiful, loving, gracious Mrs. Karen Sadler. Karen is the leader of the Michael Sadler Foundation and beloved mother of my friend and teammate, Mike Sadler. Mike’s extraordinary life was abruptly halted when he died in a tragic car accident in Wisconsin on July 23, 2016.  At the time, he was volunteering at a kicking camp to mentor young players. His commitment to helping others, contributing to community and embracing his love of family, friends, and society was constant. He lived his life with impeccable character. Only after his death did we realize the tens of thousands of lives he affected because of his integrity and the way he chose to live life. Michael earned unparalleled recognition in academics and athletics.  At MSU he earned a bachelor's degree in Engineering and a master's degree in Public Policy. He was an All-American as well as the first-ever, four-time Academic All American in MSU history. Michael was a member of the Natio