Walk Like A Champion Podcast

Ever wondered what it means to walk like a Champion?

In this episode, Chad shares the story behind the podcast and gives biblical encouragement to the tennis community on how they can walk like Jesus on and off the court...

It's LAUNCH WEEK!!

Tomorrow, Walk Like a Champion becomes available on Amazon.

Get your copy.

Give a copy.

Lead a friend or team through the book together.

Click the link to get yours on amazon.

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

FINAL EPISODE of SEASON 3!!

Episode 4: Rod Ray

Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. ROD RAY just finished year 26 as HEAD COACH @ Wofford College.

You will hear in this episode:

• How Rod and his wife are overcoming the odds and pursuing a strong marriage,
• His beliefs in being a Christian and highly competitive,
• Why Hard Comes First
• The one thing Rod wants his players to know

This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.

Links:

BUY ROD'S BOOK

Support AIA Tennis Vision

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!

Episode 3: Gian Lemmi

Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. Four years ago, Gian stepped away from his role as Associate Head Coach at Liberty University. Today, he balances a dual calling as the Executive Pastor for Bedrock Church Lynchburg and the Community and Project Manager for New York Times Bestseller Jon Acuff. And he runs the Lemmi Tennis Academy.

You will hear in this episode:

• About his next book project-a "Screwtape Letters" guide for coaches
• Who he dressed up as for Halloween and how that changed his life
• Gian's insight on spending time wisely
• His top encouragement for coaches still serving in the career

This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.

Links:

BUY GIANS BOOK

Support AIA Tennis Vision

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!

TOM'S GOFUNDME

Episode 2: Tom Simpson

Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. You will hear from Tom Simpson former HC at Coker University. Tom has been married for 43 years, spent 45 years as a tennis professional at Smith Stearns and other clubs throughout SC, a pastor and missionary for 25 years, and a college tennis coach for 14 years.

You will hear in this episode:

• His 108 hour and 2 minute marathon with Chad's father, Scott in 1982
• His health battle leading up to a kidney transplant
• Knowing your purpose in coaching
• What God is teaching Tom today

This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.

Links:

Support AIA Tennis Vision

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!

Episode 1: Tanner Stump & Matt Walters

Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. You will hear from Tanner Stump, the former Florida Gators Associate Head Coach, who coached Ben Shelton and the 2021 National Championship. And Matt Walters who finished his career as the Associate HC at Clemson, also having stops at UCF, Mississippi State, and IMG. Both of these men were rising the ranks, and then made the decision to get out of college coaching.

You will hear in this episode:

• Matt & Tanner's faith story
• Regrets from their time as elite college coaches
• How to separate your identity from results
• Why they left their careers
• Top advice for coaches

This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.

Links:

Get insured by Matt Walters

Consult with Tanner Stump

Support AIA Tennis Vision

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - tennis@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

PREASEASON BONUS EPISODE!

Former D1 Iowa Hawkeye tennis athletes, Jason Kerst and Danielle Stickley join Chad for a conversation on building friendship and finding community as an athlete and recent grad. Jason shared his full story in Season 2 and is the current Women's Assistant Coach at Notre Dame. Danielle serves with Athletes in Action's Tennis outreach ministry to coaches and athletes. Listen today to hear their challenges and victories in building community, growing in vulnerability, and becoming more like Jesus.

If you are looking for a local college ministry, search here to connect with an AIA campus ministry near you!

Resources:

Made For People - Justin Whitmel Early

Find Your People - Jennie Allen

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org

About AIA Tennis

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

SEASON 2 FINAL EPISODE!

Trevor Foshey is finishing his 2nd year at the University of Michigan. Prior to that, Trevor spent 4 years as the Associate Head Coach at Liberty. As a player, he helped Mississippi State reach #5 in the nation and was the 7th ranked doubles playing in the country. Trevor put his name in the history books by clinching the 2018 SEC Tournament title in a 3rd set tiebreaker.

You will hear in this episode:

• What Trevor did during college when his life hit rock bottom
• Trevor shares how to build competitiveness in athletes
• The importance of getting into the Word
• The blessing of marrying a godly woman
• 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:

The Gospel

Quiet Strength

Support AIA Tennis Vision

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org

About AIA Tennis

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

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

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

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

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.

Rate. Review. Share!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shelley is in her 1st season as the Head Coach at the University of Kentucky. Prior to that, Shelley had 9 years as a Division 1 Head Coach with the last 5 being at James Madison where she led her team to a national tournament berth in 2021. She has also coached at Middle Tennessee State, Michigan State, and Alabama where she was 3-time team captain.

In this episode with Chad, you will hear:

• How she is building the FAMILY team culture at Kentucky
• What it's like to be a mom and a Power 5 Head Coach
• How she responded to being let go at Alabama in April of 2018
• And much, much more!

Subscribe now and listen to our 8 episode podcast series to hear elite level college tennis coaches share their story so you can be encouraged to take YOUR NEXT STEP in your faith journey.

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org

Support Kentucky's Women's tennis team on their mission trip to the Dominican Republic! Click the link above!

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/GKuALt

Jamie Hunt is in his 7th season as the Associate Head Men's Tennis Coach at the University of Georgia. Prior to that Jamie spent 7 years as the Associate Head Coach at Vanderbilt.

Jamie is the only player in history to win the Easter Bowl Doubles title in the 14s, 16s, and 18s and he rose to as high as #2 in the ITF Junior doubles rankings. He was an All-American at the University of Georgia and was on the National Championship teams in 2007 and 2008.

Jamie shares about:

• How his faith was impacted by AIA while he was an athlete at UGA
• His goals in coaching
• 2 simple ways he slows down to combat the coaching grind
• And much, much more!

Subscribe now and listen to our 8 episode podcast series to hear elite level college tennis coaches share their story so you can be encouraged to take YOUR NEXT STEP in your faith journey.

Connect:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/GKuALt

EPISODE 1

Tom Rees is the Associate Head Tennis Coach at Clemson University. In this episode, he shares with Chad about his journey from England to the US, his calling into coaching, how one tragic day in February of 2021 changed his life forever, and much much more!

Listen to our 8 episode podcast series to hear elite level college tennis coaches share their story so you can be encouraged to take YOUR NEXT STEP in your faith journey.

Subscribe Now!

Join our community:

IG - @aiatennis

Email - chad.simpson@athletesinaction.org

Book Referenced:

More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell

Track: "The Rebel Flagship"

Music provided by https://slip.stream

Free Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/GKuALt