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Starting this podcast back in 2020, it was all about learning from coaches who felt the same loss that I did. What I did not anticipate was connecting with coaches all over the country. Meeting people I never thought I would ever have the chance to connect with, all because we shared a similar story. Being able to be vulnerable and real about their experience. Real is rare.

This past week was fun because I was fortunate to sit down with a former athletic director in Dan Schumacher, a scout in Mike Rittelmann and a coach in Brian White. As a kid I grew-up living and dying with Wisconsin football. One of those pinch me moments, getting a chance to sit down with Coach Brian White. He spent 11 years in Madison helping consistently push that program to the top in the 90s.

Dan is one of six athletic directors ever to work at all three levels of D1 (Chicago State), D2 (Lewis University) and D3 (University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and Northland College) Overseeing facility upgrades, adding sports and constantly leaving the place he left better than he found it. Really excited to see his next step.

Coach Brian White, currently an assistant at Bowling Green, recently published a book and has spent nearly 40 years coaching college football. He has worked coast to coast. Recruited Zay Flowers and AJ Dillon, coached Trey McBride and Aaron Hernandez, spent time working with Lou Holtz, Barry Alvarez, Tyrone Willingham, Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp, Steve Addazio, Scot Loeffler and now for Eddie George. He witnessed national championships, Rose Bowl victories and has been fired multiple times. He also shares some never told before insight on his relationship with Aaron Hernandez.

Dan Schumacher shares his extensive journey in college athletics, highlighting his strategic approach to facility upgrades and program turnarounds. Discover insights on navigating NCAA processes, building winning teams, and adapting to the evolving landscape of college sports. We talk his experience as an athlete and working at Winona State, being an athletic director at D2 Lewis University, D1 Chicago State University, D3 University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and D3 Northland College.

In this episode, Mike Rittelmann shares his journey from a D3 football player and coach to scout, highlighting the importance of networking, talent evaluation, and the unique aspects of CFL and the College Gridiron Showcase.

We talk about Coach Brian White's new book, "The Locker Room is Not For Sale". We travel through his college football journey from Fordham, Notre Dame, UNLV, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Washington, Florida, Boston College, Colorado State and now Bowling Green. During the episode we learn about being real, mentorship, recruiting, his love for cooking, staying connected to players, dealing with Parkinson’s, his thoughts on Aaron Hernandez and a special Lou Holtz story.

Shared some of this in last week’s newsletter. This week I published the full piece of “Interviewing 101” on the website.

I am a casual golf fan. But, sometimes you get down a rabbit hole. I recently upgraded my set of clubs. If you golf with me, plan on it being a full day. I spend more time in the rough and the woods than anywhere else.

The new set I purchased is Wilson brand. Going down the rabbit hole, I wanted to see what current golfers use Wilson clubs. I stumbled upon Gary Woodland. One thing led to another. Noticed he was a D2 basketball guy before transferring to Kansas for golf.

His story is worth the listen. In 2023, Woodland had brain surgery to remove a lesion pressing on his brain. More recently, he has been diagnosed with PTSD. In March, he won for the first time since the US Open in 2019. Keep fighting Gary.

^{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.}