Coach Mark Nolan dives into the problem of ego-driven coaching in high school sports, contrasting three coach types — politician, survival, and servant — and honoring the legacy of his mentor, Coach Jim Horner.

He shares real stories of favoritism, booster politics, and the rise of private coaching, and urges parents and coaches to demand development, restore trust, and prioritize kids over power and profit.

Coach Mark Nolan likens the modern NIL and transfer portal landscape to a rigged game of Monopoly, where the NCAA, collectives, boosters, agents, and streaming giants control the board while student-athletes and parents face confusion and risk.

He breaks down the players, pitfalls, and hidden costs, and introduces a nine-module NIL video roadmap designed to give parents clarity, protect athletes, and offer practical strategies for navigating deals and the transfer portal.

In this episode we talk with Balint about his rise from youth soccer and local Hornets football to becoming a D1 scholarship kicker at Georgia State. He shares the moment he knew kicking was his path, the Gatlinburg breakthrough, and how national camps shaped his recruiting.

Balint outlines the daily work—stretching, plyometrics, weight training, hydration—and the importance of competing at camps, building relationships with coaches, and developing trust with your long snapper and holder.

He explains why Georgia State felt like home, credits his parents’ sacrifices and faith, and offers clear advice for young kickers and their families: be patient, train smart, communicate with coaches, and stay committed.