Today’s Play: Amy and Keenan Hickton explore how parental support rooted in trust, humility, and awareness can unlock an athlete’s full potential. Keenan reflects on how his own parents supported his late transition to golf with unconditional encouragement—while also resisting the urge to overstep as knowledgeable former athletes. The conversation highlights the critical importance of letting coaches coach, staying grounded in reality, and helping student-athletes learn to take ownership of both their progress and setbacks.

Today's Coach: Keenan Hickton is the Head Men’s Golf Coach at The University of the South, Sewanee. He spent the last six years as assistant coach at Emory University, where the team achieved a No. 1 national ranking, placed in the top 5 nationally for most of his tenure, and won 22 tournaments—including three UAA championships. As a student-athlete at Emory, Keenan was a three-time UAA team champion, Tournament MVP, and two-time All-Scholar Team honoree, graduating in 2018 with a degree in Business Administration.

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Gustavus Adolphus head coach Tommy Valentini shares the powerful story behind his team’s NCAA doubles national championship—one rooted in culture, gratitude, and perspective. Tommy highlights how his players prioritized team values, even in the highest-pressure moments, and honored a lost classmate in a deeply meaningful way. He offers insight into how true freedom in sport comes from knowing your worth isn’t defined by wins or losses—a mindset built over years, starting in youth sports. Tommy also reflects on the enduring legacy of his mentor, Steve Wilkinson, whose “double vision” approach—seeing people both as they are and as they could be at their best—informs Tommy’s coaching, parenting, and life.

Today's Coach: Dr. Tommy Valentini is in his 16th year as head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus College men's tennis team where he holds an overall record of 273-104. The Gusties are the third winningest program in the history of Division III tennis with an all-time mark of 1303-532-3 (.710 winning percentage). Gustavus has claimed two NCAA Team Championships (1980, 1982), while also winning six national titles in doubles and four national titles in singles. Tommy has also coached at Emory University and University of Nebraska, written a book chapter titled: Love-Love: A Fresh Start at Finding Value and Virtue in Tennis and presented a Ted Talk on Purposeful Character Building Through Sport. He's also a youth hockey coach and runs a coach education/team culture building education program for the Minnesota River Bulldogs. Last, but not least, Tommy is a professor in the philosophy department at Gustavus Adolphus College where he teaches sport ethics and philosophy.

Mentioned in today's episode: Let Love Serve, by Steve Wilkerson

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today’s Play: Kirk Wagner shares the story of his journey from a soccer-playing son of German immigrants to a high school coach in Atlanta, weaving in lessons from his professional playing days in Germany and his path through college recruiting. Kirk emphasizes the values of reliability, lifelong learning, and being the coach he always wished he had. He also pulls back the curtain on the financial and emotional realities of coaching, encouraging parents to adjust their expectations and appreciate the often-unseen sacrifices coaches make. This episode reminds us that a coach’s impact isn’t measured in wins alone—it’s in the lives they shape along the way.

Today's Coach: Kirk Wagner is the Head Boys Soccer Coach at St. Pius X Catholic High School. Kirk has extensive playing experience at the collegiate level (NAIA St. Edwards University where he is a member of the Hall of Fame), and professional levels (in Germany). His coaching career, spans over 35 years across high school, club, and collegiate levels.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, and download our new e-book, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Steve Brown returns to share how he’s now giving back through the Steve Brown Academy and his Complete Your Square approach to student-athlete development. Steve opens up about the emotional toll of transitioning out of sport, the importance of identity beyond athletics, and the power of therapy, mentorship, and purpose. He also offers wise advice for parents: know your role, assume positive intent, and give hard moments time to breathe before reacting.

Today's Coach: Olympian Steve Brown is the founder of the Steve Brown Academy and creator of the Complete Your Square curriculum, designed to support student-athletes in athletics, academics, character, and service. He competed in the 2000 Olympic Games for Trinidad & Tobago after a standout multi-sport career at Wake Forest. With degrees from Wake, Duke, and UPenn, Steve brings over 15 years of experience in independent school admissions and leadership development.

Check out the book referenced in this episode: Loserthink by Scott Adams

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, and download our new e-book, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Olympian and educator Steve Brown shares the incredible story of how sport shaped his identity—from a fearful 10-year-old in D.C. to representing Trinidad in the Olympic Games. Steve reflects on the hurdles he faced—literally and figuratively—and the unexpected people and institutions who showed up for his dream. He reminds us that keeping an open heart, and open mind, just might be the key to discovering the support you didn’t know you had.

Today's Coach: Olympian Steve Brown is the founder of the Steve Brown Academy and creator of the Complete Your Square curriculum, designed to support student-athletes in athletics, academics, character, and service. He competed in the 2000 Olympic Games for Trinidad & Tobago after a standout multi-sport career at Wake Forest. With degrees from Wake, Duke, and UPenn, Steve brings over 15 years of experience in independent school admissions and leadership development.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, and download our new e-book, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Kevin Ye discussed the importance of instilling life values like hard work and teamwork in young athletes. He emphasizes the need for perspective, noting that sports should be enjoyable and not all-consuming. He also highlights the significance of aligning college choices with personal goals, considering factors like division level, school size, and team culture. Kevin also reflects on the support from his parents, who focused on process-oriented goals rather than results.

Today's Coach: Kevin Ye is the co-owner of PATL, a padel company with locations in Atlanta and Louisville that offers coaching, community play, and instructions to all ages. Previously, Kevin Ye coached college tennis at Emory University and helped the team win the NCAA Championship in 2021, two UAA titles as well as the 2018 National Indoor Team Championship. He was named the NCAA Division III Regional and National Assistant Coach of the Year as well as part of the 2023-2024 UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. He also coached competitive juniors at ACE Academy in Norcross, GA as the Head Professional of Junior Development. In college, Ye played for Kenyon College, a NCAA Division III program in Gambier, OH. He helped lead the team to four NCAC Conference championships and reach the finals of the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2012, while the following year in 2013, helped lead the team to the NCAA Division III National Indoor Championship.

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Coach Karl Hedley emphasizes the importance of allowing players to face adversity and develop resilience. Hedley stresses the value of sports in teaching teamwork, respect, and leadership, and advises parents to support their children's growth by stepping back and letting them learn from experiences.

Today's Coach: Karl Hedley is the Boys Soccer Director at Gwinnett Soccer Association. He's coached youth soccer for 20 years and specializes in coaching middle-school-aged players.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, and download our new e-book, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Coach Keenan Hickton shares his journey from multi-sport athlete in Pittsburgh to Emory University standout, and eventually to coaching one of the top-ranked Division III golf teams in the country. Keenan talks about what he looks for in recruits—highlighting the rare but powerful combination of confidence and humility—and why rankings don’t always tell the full story. He offers valuable advice to parents on how to support their young athletes through the emotional highs and lows of competitive sports, urging families to stay process-focused, trust the coach, and avoid overreacting to short-term results.

Today's Coach: Keenan Hickton is the newly appointed Head Men’s Golf Coach at The University of the South, Sewanee. He spent the last six years as assistant coach at Emory University, where the team achieved a No. 1 national ranking, placed in the top 5 nationally for most of his tenure, and won 22 tournaments—including three UAA championships. As a student-athlete at Emory, Keenan was a three-time UAA team champion, Tournament MVP, and two-time All-Scholar Team honoree, graduating in 2018 with a degree in Business Administration.

Send us your feedback!

To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, and download our new e-book, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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