🎙️Building a Program That Lasts | Larry Yoder | Significant Coaching Ep. 166

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Larry Yoder, Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University, to break down what it takes to build—and sustain—a successful college program over time.

This is a real, honest conversation about how programs are actually built, what coaches go through in the early years, and how discipline, accountability, and consistency shape long-term success.

From starting with limited resources and learning on the fly, to creating a program that players and parents trust, Coach Yoder shares what it really looks like behind the scenes—and why staying committed to the process matters.

Yoder is in his 17th season at Mount Mercy, where he has compiled over 400 wins while leading the Mustangs to multiple conference championships, NAIA National Tournament appearances, and a fifth-place finish at the NAIA World Series. His program has rewritten the record books offensively, while continuing to excel in pitching and defense, and he played a key role in the development of Busse Field—one of the premier softball facilities in the NAIA.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Yoder: https://mountmercy.edu/athletics/soft...

CHAPTERS
00:40 “What Are You Doing?” – First-Year Reflection
02:00 Taking Over a Struggling Program
03:30 Rebuilding a Roster from Scratch
05:30 Early Wins & Finding Momentum
08:15 Lessons from the Early Year

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

📆 To Schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school or organization, you can schedule a discovery Zoom session here: https://calendly.com/mrogers_significantcoaching/speaking-inquiry-w-matt-rogers

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podca...