It’s been a few years since my father passed away. December 29, 2022 to be exact.

He passed away after being in a car accident on one of the foggiest nights we’ve had in northern Wisconsin. His best friend from high school was driving the vehicle and it was a matter of bad timing on a desolate back road just west of our home.

He was helping his friends relative with an issue at their cabin. That’s who my dad was. Always helping someone. Most nights during the week or even weekends he was out helping someone.

Some of my favorite quotes from his obituary wall.

Need concrete poured? Plumbing issue at your house? Lawn mower making a funny noise? Got some questions regarding deer hunting? Need to be educated on John Wayne? My dad was the guy.

Each father and son has a unique relationship.

Some of the kids follow the same career as their father. Others have the same hobbies. Our careers were different. Our hobbies certainly weren’t the same. My dad was big into the outdoors and it was just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I played hoops (got hoops gene from my mama) and he was a wrestler.

Though as much as we were different, there are similarities. He could connect with anyone. Everywhere you went, he knew someone. As much as he connected, he included others. If we were hosting a gathering or out somewhere, he made everyone feel like they were the biggest priority and part of the group.

In some ways, I’ve taken that to a different level due to my travels in coaching, different jobs and podcasting. But, it’s all because I had a front row seat to seeing that happen for 36 years of my life. Along with work ethic. Everyone says their parents work the hardest, but I’ll fight tooth and nail that I’ve won that lottery on that.

He served on the County Board and the Town Board. I could go on and on about all the things he did. But, it’s what he didn’t do that I’d like to talk about.

He never said, “good job.”

There were subtle hints when you did things right but for the most part you didn’t get much of a pat on the back. It wasn’t until he passed and I reflected that his “good job” or prideful moments were expressed differently.

He would be telling others about something I did well. Boasting about something I was doing in college, the internship I was involved with, coaching at UW-Superior, etc. In those moments, I hated it because I’ve always despised the spotlight being focused on me. I tried to deflect his comments.

Now looking back, he was being prideful in what I was doing. He was proud to tell others. With me being around it was an indirect way of saying, “I’m proud of you.”

People say that it gets easier after you lose someone. You adjust to a new normal and that’s about it. I’ve always tried to look at the positive side since his passing. The fact that I was able to spend 36 years with him. Others aren’t as fortunate.

Enjoy your time with loved ones. The clock is ticking for all of us.

Charles Wesley Godwin just dropped an absolute gem this past week. “Get some rest now, you’re the best now.”

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.

One of the most successful coaches we’ve had on the FCP. Coach Danelle Bishop shares her inspiring journey from basketball player to a successful college coach. She highlights the importance of resilience, mentorship, building confidence, Next Play (Goldfish Mentality), family and adapting strategies for long-term success in coaching. We talk about her time as head coach at Azusa Pacific, being let go at Cal Baptist and the successful run since 2010 she has had at Cal Poly Pomona.

Coach Tim Bernero shares his extensive journey through high school, college, and coaching basketball at various levels. We talk about him growing up in Chicago suburbs, attending Carmel Catholic and Lake Forest College. The stops he made while being a men's basketball assistant at University of Chicago, North Park, Elmhurst and Carthage. He shares a great story about how he landed an interim role as the women's basketball coach at Carthage in the fall of 2003. With great success he led Carthage women's basketball to Sweet 16s, an Elite 8 and won 311 games over 20 years. He was let go in 2023 and is now helping coach back at his alma mater.

_{Fired Coaches Podcast started in May 2020. The podcast interviews coaches, scouts, media and others connected to the sports world that fell from the mountaintop. They were either fired, resigned or told that their contract would not be renewed. Level does not matter. The story does.}