Everyday Mike

What can a competitive shooting sport teach us about leadership, parenting, coaching, sales, and life? A lot more than you might think. In this episode of Everyday Mike, I sit down with Dave Rolli to explore the...

Players leave. Players quit. Families move on. That’s part of youth sports. But the real question isn’t if it happens—it’s how we handle it and why it’s happening in the first place. In this episode, Coach Mike talks...

We talk about “passion” all the time in youth sports. But what does it actually mean? In this episode of Everyday Mike, Coach Mike takes a step back and looks at the word from a different angle — starting with a simple...

Kip McDaniel grew up in a competitive family of six, caught the coaching bug early, and now serves as Director at Midstate Soccer Club in Decatur, Illinois. As the outdoor spring season approaches, we sit down to talk...

Co-ops can be a great thing. But when enrollment math doesn’t match participation reality, and standards don’t evolve with classification, teams feel it. In this episode of Everyday Mike, I explore the good, the hard...

What happens when a drill slows down, gets clunky, or falls apart? In this episode of Everyday Mike, I share a simple basketball drill that reveals something much bigger about teamwork, communication, and response. When...

As a coach and a parent, I’ve seen it from both sides. Some of the best moments in youth sports happen after the game — and unfortunately, so can some of the most damaging ones. In Episode #31 of Everyday Mike, I share...

In youth sports, every team has rules — but the best programs live by standards. In this episode, Coach Mike breaks down the three non-negotiable standards that shape culture, effort, and identity: being coachable...

Building a program is easy when you’ve got talent, trophies, and support. But what happens when you’re starting from scratch — when you’re rebuilding, re-teaching, and sometimes wondering if anyone else even cares? In...

Life feels full right now — soccer, volleyball, basketball, harvest, work, family. But here’s the reminder I needed and maybe you do too: a full plate isn’t the problem … it’s the plan. In this episode, I break down...

Game film is everywhere—from Hudl to Veo, from parents on the sideline to AI-tracked data breakdowns. But the question remains: Are we using it to develop our athletes—or to validate ourselves? In this episode, Coach...

Craig Beckmier has spent more than two decades building one of the top livestock judging programs in the country at Lincoln Land Community College. He’s more than a coach—he’s a mentor, a dad, and a man of faith who has...

A high school girl’s quiet sideline moment speaks volumes: “Dad, I love you… but please be quiet.” In this episode, Coach Mike explores what really helps — and what unintentionally hurts — from the sidelines. With real...

After a wild weekend at a massive volleyball tournament, I reflect on what it means to be a good sports dad. From being present to staying calm in the chaos—this episode is for every dad on the sideline.

Jesse Elmore was the soccer guy growing up in our area. In this episode, we talk about his journey from starting the game at age 4 to playing professionally, and now coaching and raising kids in sports. Jesse shares...