Faith and Coaching with Brock Thompson, South Dakota State Head Coach and 2024 Layton Shoemaker Award Recipient

In Episode 142, Brock Thompson, South Dakota State Head Coach and 2024 FCA Layton Shoemaker Award winner, talks with Phil and Paul about his coaching journey and lessons he has learned along the way, how he incorporates his faith into his coaching and how he does it in a secular school, the origin of the word, “Coach,” aligning priorities with faith, our need for accountability, the importance of belief, authenticity and vulnerability, how what makes America a great country negatively affects youth soccer, the power of “I don’t know,” and much more. Specifically, Brock discusses: 

·      His personal story and coaching journey, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, and coaching, and what he is doing in retirement how he ended up at South Dakota State (5:41)

·      How his coaching stint at North Dakota is a big part of his faith journey (8:47)

·      His personal why/life purpose and how he is living it out today (14:37)

·      How he incorporates his faith into his coaching (18:53)

·      Living out faith as a coach in a secular school (23:10)

·      What his faith has to do with his team’s success at SD State (25:58)

·      The need for accountability and where he finds it (29:17)

·      His defining moment as a player and life lessons he learned from it (33:38)

·      His most influential coach and how he is using the lessons learned from that coach in his life today (37:43)

·      His thoughts on the good and bad of US soccer, and how a great quality of America negatively affects youth sports in our country (43:41)

·      What we are missing in the training of our youth players (50:04)

·      How he is using lessons learned from the beautiful game in his relationships outside the game (57:36)

·      His book recommendations (59:13)

Resources and Links from this Episode

·      Video of the Episode

·      HSEL Facebook Group

·      Warrior Way Soccer

·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast)

·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program

·      Phil’s email for DISC Training

·      Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life, Tony Dungy

·      The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, Andy Andrews

·      3D Coach: Capturing the Heart Behind the Jersey, Jeff Duke

·      9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life: A Psychologist Learns from His Patients What Really Works and What Doesn’t, Henry Cloud