The Great Coaches: Leadership & Life

Our great coach on this episode is Eddie O’Sullivan Eddie played Rugby at provincial level in Ireland and started coaching after becoming a PE teacher. He would go on to coach Rugby for 35 years and counting across the USA, France and Ireland. This journey has led his to coach at 5 Rugby World Cups and to win three triple crowns leading Ireland. That Irish team won 50 tests under his leadership and climbed to the #3 world ranking. In recent years he has been  Technical Advisor to Brown University and Notre Dame in recent years and currently consulting with a number of Major League Rugby franchises in the US. Q: What role does leading innovation play in my leadership?Q: Am I too unemotional as a leader?Q: Is the idea of one voice at a time, the right idea for my organization?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website

Our great coach on this episode is John Aloisi John Aloisi is a former Australian professional soccer player and now head coach.He enjoyed a 20-year career across top leagues in Europe and Australia, becoming the first Australian to play and score in La Liga, the Premier League, and Serie A.Internationally, Aloisi earned 55 caps for the Socceroos, scoring 27 goals, and represented Australia at the 2006 World Cup, three Confederations Cups, and the 2004 Olympics.After retiring in 2011, Aloisi transitioned into coaching. He managed Melbourne Heart, Brisbane Roar, and since 2021 has led Western United, guiding them to their first A-League Men Championship in 2022. And it left me with these questions to reflect on:Do I verbalise gratitude enough?How can I better refine failure for my team?What mental strength training can I instigate for the team? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Our great coach on this episode is Samantha Bird. Sam is a Netball Coach. As a player she represented England but retired at 24 after a knee injury. She then carved out a long career as a lawyer working with the London Metropolitan Police. In 2005 the United Kingdon Netball Super League was formed and Sam started as an Assistant with the London Mavericks. She became the team head coach in 2014. In 2016 she was appointed as the head coach for the new franchise the Severn Stars. In 2019 she then became the Head Coach of the London Pulse leading them to the treble of the Super League title, Super Cup, and NPL tournament in 2025. 3 questions the interview with Sam challenged me with were:• Is my organization the type of place where people know somebody will have their back if they are having a bad day?• Am I engaging with me mentors enough to frame challenging questions of myself• Am I calling out example of ambition and bravery enough?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Mickey Arthur is a cricket coach.Mickey has coached 4 of the 12 test cricket playing nations in the world. South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Key highlights from his career include leading the South African team to be number one in all cricket formats. Coaching the South Africans when they scored a record 438 in a One-Day International against Australia. And Taking Pakistan to number one in the T20 and test format while also winning the Champions Trophy with them. He was the first non-Australian to coach the Australian Test team, and has been the head coach for Jamaica in the Caribbean Premier League, the Karachi Kings in Pakistan and the Rangpur Riders in Bangldesh. He is presently the head coach of the Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the Rangpur Riders.Q: I don’t use non-negotiables as a leader and it made me wonder whether I should?Q: This challenged me to consider whether there are times that I overtalk as a leader?Q: This made me reflect on who I should be challenging more in my team?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Todays podcast is on the topic of Connection. And to explore the topic and the impact it can have on team performance I am going to use audio from 10 of the 214  Great Coaches we have interviewed on the podcast. Their voices will complimemnt and amplify each other and at the end of this episode my hope is that you have a few ideas on how to improve the connection in your own sporting, work or community groups.·     What are you doing when you are apart, to prepare for the times when you will come together?·     What can you do to be more authentic with each other?·     How can you share more information about yourself with each other in a way that deepens your understanding of what drives each of you?·     How can you use daily, small moments to stay connected?·     What more could you do to understand the linkages between the people who support you? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com   

Our great coach on this episode is Anders Tortensson.However this is not just a story about Anders, its also about the triumph of his team Mjallby in winning the Swedish top tier football competition in 2025.Mjallby is a town of 14,000 people with a budget that is only 12% of the richest club in the league, Malmo. Their stadium holds only 6000 people, and many of the players live in flats together and car pool into training.In 2017 they were in the 4th flight of Swedish football, and now after theirn victory they have qualified to take part in the Champions League qualifiers.They are led by Anders. A former school principal and miltary officer who has been involved with the club on and off since being a player there in the 1980’s. In 2023 he became the head coach on a full time, professional basis and has led them to a a championship that many believe is one of the greatest underdog stories in European football.What can I do better to work with people's inner and outmer motivation?How can I use my voice better to convey a sense of calm?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Todays episode is On Leadership and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches. The first is Mike Dunlap. Mike is a basketball coach who has led teams in US Colleges, the NBA and in Australia. He was also an assistant with the  Milwaukee Bucks when then they defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship in 2021.The second is Rugby Union coach Franco Smith. As a player Franco represented South Africa as well as playing for clubs in South Africa, Italy, France and Wales. As a coach he has led teams to National Championships in Italy and South Africa and is presently the head coach of the Glasgow Warriors.Q: How do you mitigate the loneliness you might feel as a leader?Q: What philosophy guides you as a leaderQ: What did you do today to lead by example? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Our great coach on this episode is John Connolly.John is a rugby union coach who started coaching in the 1980’s. He rose through the ranks and eventually led the Queensland Reds to the Super 6 title in 1992, and then back-to-back Super 10 titles in 1994-94. He then went on to coach in in Ireland, France, Wales and England, before returning to coach the Australian National team, the Wallabies for 2 years.In 2021 John became a quadriplegic. However, he did not let this define him or slow him down and he now uses his energy to raise money for others with spinal injuries.His adventures are captured in his book Bare Knuckles it’s a terrific read and all the money raised from it go to the Perry Cross FoundationQ: What role does pride play in your teams identity?Q: How do you find the balance between single mindedness and being open to new ideas?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

Our great coach on this episode is Dell McGee.Dell is an American Football Coach.He played for the college powerhouse Auburn before a professional career that included stints with the Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions.The year after retiring he started coaching as an Assistant at High School level. He eventually became a Hih School head coach and won the 2007 state championship.He eventually went on to join the Georgia Bulldogs as the run game coordinator and running backs coach under Kirby Smart, helping them national championships in 2021 and 2022.After 8 years with the Bulldogs he was announced as the Georgia State Head Coach in 2024. Q: What are the pillars that define your teams’ culture?Q: What are some of the purpose’s that drive the people in your team?Q: How well are you able to regulate emotional ups and downs during tough times?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com