017: Understanding Your ‘Why’ with Aaron Rodgers

After learning the game and plying his trade in North Texas, Aaron Rodgers transitioned from defending the goal to training other goalkeepers at the collegiate level. Eventually, his coaching journey would lead to the Ohio Bobcats, where he is starting his sixth season as the women’s head coach.

In today’s episode, Aaron discusses his development, both as a player and a coach. He outlines what he learned at each step along the way, and how the game of soccer – and intercollegiate athletics in general – can prepare student-athletes for a lot more than simply playing a sport.

Aaron has made character-building a primary focus of his program. He talks about the importance of emphasizing integrity and a team-first mentality, as well as helping players to understand their “Why” – their intrinsic motivation for playing the game. He credits Simon Sinek and his famous TED talk, among other authors and innovators, for helping him discover this vital piece of the coaching puzzle.

Along the way, Aaron also discusses his current squad of Bobcats, including a trio of promising goalkeepers. He talks about their prospects for the 2018 season and the qualities that he looks for when recruiting keepers for the college game.

It’s a packed 30 minutes, and there’s even more in the Outtakes segment below. I hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks to Aaron Rodgers for joining me!