Our First Lead ‘Em Up Team

Home / Blog / Self-Awareness / Our First Lead ‘Em Up Team

Our First Lead ‘Em Up Team

It was six-years ago I worked with the Watkins Mill Football Team but during that time, Lead ‘Em Up wasn’t even a thing.  I was still figuring this whole thing out.

It wasn’t until a year after Watkins Mill we launched Lead ‘Em Up and actually “pitched” a coach to hire us to work with their team all season long.

A mutual friend, Alan Stein, connected me to Chris Lun, Head Basketball Coach at Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD.

Coach Lun and I met one day in his classroom at Pyle Middle School and I pitched the idea of Whitman Basketball having a leadership coach on staff and using Lead ‘Em Up.  He loved the idea and jumped on-board.

I was ecstatic. Coach Lun is a State Championship coach who runs an incredible program so for him to see the vision I was casting it helped confirm our vision was something coaches would actually want.

That year was an incredible season.  We went all in with the boys; weekly sessions, on-going text conversations, team dinners, Iron awards and more. The year exceeded my expectations.

The season had the natural roller-coasters; losing streaks mid-season and questioning if leaders would step-up, but with a few weeks left in the season things starting clicking.  We had turned the corner.

The players began taking hold of the team and leading it to another level. The run we made the last few weeks of the season, throughout the playoffs, on our way to a Regional Championship and finally ending up at Xfinity Center for the State Tournament, was absolutely incredible.

Still to this day, that season was one of the best experiences with a team I’ve ever had.

Coach Lun is special. What an honor to work with him and the Whitman program and shout-out to Coach for being the first to help get the ball rolling for Lead ‘Em Up.

We want to provide you a tool to keep your players engaged, growing as leaders and continuing to feel connected to their team/teammates; The 21-Day Leadership Playbook. 

This FREE 21-Day Leadership Playbook is filled with various Lead ‘Em Up exercises, uniquely modified for players to do on their own, as part of a team-wide exercise.

Download your free copy right here! 

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

Other Posts

Podcasts

Ep. 147: The Cost of Inconsistency

Ep. 147: The Cost of Inconsistency

As a coach, your standards set the tone for your team, but what happens when those standards shift from day to day? In this episode, we explore the impact of inconsistency in coaching: inconsistent call-outs, fluctuating expectations, and the confusion it creates for athletes trying to earn trust and clarity. We will dive into the “demo, drill, defend” strategy that reveals the secret to coaching with consistency and clarity. Whether you’re a seasoned coach or just starting out, this episode challenges you to examine your habits and ask: Are your standards steady, or do they depend on the day?

Ep. 147: The Cost of Inconsistency

Ep. 146: Learning Doesn’t Require Losing

Coaches often say you learn more from losing than winning, but what if that’s not the only way? In this episode, we flip the script and talk about how to build a culture where learning, reflection, and growth happen even in the midst of success. We’ll discuss how the best place to learn is through wins, so you’re not forced to grow only after a tough loss or rock-bottom moment. Great teams get better while they’re winning, and so can yours.