Walk Like A Champion Podcast

Made for More | Kazuki Matsuno | Pepperdine Assistant Coach

SEASON 2 EPISODE 5!!
Kaz Matsuno is in his first semester serving as the assistant coach at Pepperdine. Prior to that, Kaz helped his alma mater reach new heights as an assistant coach, reaching an all-time high of #15 in the country. As a player at MSU, Kaz reached as high as #36 in the ITA rankings. 
 
You will hear in this episode:
How during Covid, a zoom Athletes in Action meeting changed the course of his life
Kaz’s reflections on why he began a relationship with Jesus
The best premarital advice he’s been given
How Psalm 27 has helped him transition to a new team and city
AND much, much more. . . 
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. 
Resources:
Psalm 27
DONATE HERE for Tennis athletes to go to UTC
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
About AIA Tennis
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Joy in the Process | Austin Rapp | Clemson Assistant Coach

EPISODE 4!!
Austin Rapp has served as the assistant coach at Clemson since 2022. Prior to that, Austin was the Volunteer Assistant with Texas for 2 years. Austin competed for UCLA from 2015-2018, earning All-American status in 2018 after making the semifinals at the NCAA Tournament. He continued on the pro tour reaching 672 in Singles; 328 in doubles.
Austin is known around the country for his joy and diligence as a coach, but in this episode you will hear:
How he turned to God during his time in Austin
the difference between a high achieving team culture and struggling ones
Austin’s top advice for a new Christian. 
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
About AIA Tennis
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Becoming Fearless | Jeri Stewart | Columbus State Assistant Coach

Jeri Stewart is the assistant coach at Columbus State. Prior to that, Jeri coached at Point University where she played an instrumental role in the team reaching a number 2 ranking in the NAIA. Before entering college coaching, Jeri ran a successful junior academy in Columbus, Georgia.
In this conversation, you will hear about:
Jeri shared with me the prayer she prayed as she left college tennis during her time at UGA
Her mindset as a female coach in a male dominated industry
How to grow in your prayer life.
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
About AIA Tennis
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Death to Self, Pride to the Side | Grey Hamilton | Baylor Assistant Coach

EPISODE 2 
Grey Hamilton is in his 2nd year as the assistant tennis coach at Baylor. Prior to that, Grey spent 3 years as the Volunteer Assistant at SMU. Grey played 4 years at Ole Miss where he helped the Rebels  to four-straight NCAA tournament appearances and a spot in the Sweet 16 in 2018.
In this episode: 
- What happened to drastically change his life while playing on the Futures tour
- The one thing his junior coach did for him everyday since he was 12 that when Grey found out, it had a massive impact on his life.
-What Grey found when he dug into the intellectual side of Christianity
-Grey’s daily approach in being a D1 college coach
- The legacy Grey wants to leave.
 
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Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
Resources Grey mentioned:
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
 
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Genuine Joy and Deep Sadness | Jason Kerst | Notre Dame Assistant Coach

SEASON 2 HERE WE GO! 
 
Jason Kerst has served as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Notre Dame since 2023. Prior to that Jason worked in fundraising and was the volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech and at South Carolina while he completed his MBA. Jason competed for the University of Iowa, graduating in 2021 and was the recipient of the ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Leadership Award.
 
In this conversation, you will hear about:
His deep love of tennis and how he became a Christ-follower
What an Iowa campus staffer did that stood out to Jason
How Covid and Iowa dropping Men's Tennis impacted Jason
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
Verses Jason shared:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1
 
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
 
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Healing. Vision. Power. | Lee Taylor Walker | TCU Head Coach

Lee Walker has served as the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at TCU since 2014 where his team reached a high of #14 in the country. Prior to this, he spent 7 years as the Head Coach at Memphis and 5 years as their assistant coach. Lee competed for Memphis where he was ranked as high as number 12 in the country in doubles and is in the Memphis Club Hall of Fame. 
In this conversation, you are going to hear about:
His struggles as a college athlete and where he turned in his lowest moment
How as a D1 coach he was drowning in activity that lead to complete physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion
The fundamentals he prioritized to rebuild his life, family, and coaching
And much, much more!!
This is Episode 8 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
Resources Lee highlighted:
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

A New Heart | Mark Booras | Tulane Head Coach

Mark is the Head Men’s Coach at Tulane where in 2008, he was tasked with rebuilding a program that was discontinued for four years as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Mark has orchestrated the program’s improbable return to national prominence as a top-25 team in the country. Before that, Mark spent 10 years as an Assistant and then Associate HC at LSU. Mark was a top 20 player at West Virginia and went on to reach 267 in the world in doubles.
Mark is known around the country for his joy and the way he treats people. But in this conversation, you are going to hear:
How his faith has impacted his life and coaching
The prayer he prayed before taking the Tulane job
What it was like inside the hospital room the moments before and after his heart transplant in May of 2023
And much, much more!!
This is Episode 7 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
More details on Mark's health battle with the ITA Podcast. 
Mark's GoFundMe Page.
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Building a Team | Nathan Thompson | Princeton Assistant Coach

SUBSCRIBE NOW
EPISODE 6
Nathan is in his 1st season as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Princeton. Nathan competed on the pro tour from 2005-2010 reaching a career high of number 356. Before that, he was an NCAA All-American at Clemson. Nathan also has had coaching stops at Clemson and D2 Southern Wesleyan along with working at the Junior Tennis Champions Center where he worked with players like Mitchell Frank and Francis Tiafoe.
In this conversation with Chad, you will hear:
What Nathan learned from his time playing for the legendary Chuck Kriese,
How he wandered from his faith during college
About a major adversity that he and his wife have journeyed through
And much, much more! 
 
This is Episode 6 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

Searching for Peace | Derek Schwandt | Liberty Head Coach

Derek is in his 7th year as the Head Coach at Liberty. He led the team to a number 39 national team ranking in 2021 and won the inaugural 2023 Universal Tennis NIT Title.
Before that, he spent five seasons as the Assistant Coach at Georgia Tech where he was instrumental in recruiting and developing Chris Eubanks who recently reached 31 in the world after making the quarterfinals last year at Wimbledon. Derek also had coaching stops at Fresno State and the University of Virginia.
Derek is nationally known for being strategic, a master problem solver, and a developer of talent. But in this episode you are going to hear:
What was really going on behind the scenes as he was rising the coaching ranks
What he learned from the legendary Coach Brian Boland and Tony Bresky
How four men stepped into Derek’s life at Georgia Tech, completely transforming Derek and the trajectory or his life
And much, much more! 
This is episode 5 of our 8 episode series sharing faith filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. Join us for the entire series! 
 
Derek shared about how the story of Unbroken impacted his life. Here is a link to the book. A slight warning to young readers, this book is quite heavy and contains language. Read with wisdom and caution. But it truly is an unbelievable story of perseverance and how God transforms lives. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream

From Cancer to Coach | Matt Hill | Arizona State Head Coach

In 2016, Matt took on the task to reinstate Arizona State’s Men’s Tennis team where he quickly brought them back to national prominence. Prior to that, Matt spent 4 seasons as the Head Coach at South Florida where his team reached as high as #13 in the nation. He’s also had coaching stops at Mississippi State and Alabama.
Matt is known around the country for being a strong leader, innovator, and visionary. But in this conversation with Chad, you are going to hear:
How Matt’s faith has shaped who he is and the way he coaches
How he responded at age 19 to a cancer battle
The ways he aims to build community outside the tennis court
This is Episode 4 of our 8 episode series sharing faith filled stories of elite college tennis coaches. 
 
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org
 
 
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream