Some coaches build programs. Others build people.

In Part 1 of our conversation with Coach Nick Bazzle, he tells the story of the man who shaped his career: Coach Patrick, a mentor who retired early so Nick could take over the program, even though it cost him his own chance to coach in the Shrine Bowl.

"Instead of trying to serve himself, he's looking for how can he serve you."

It's a story about what a high school football coach can be: a father figure, a mentor, and someone who puts the next man ahead of himself.

Hosted by Paul Regan and Charlie Goss

This is Part 1 of 3.

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What happens when winning and making disciples start pulling in opposite directions? Charlie Goss and Paul Regan tackle the pressure every coach feels, but rarely says out loud—the tension between success on the field and faithfulness to a greater calling.
This conversation goes straight at the question behind every whistle, lineup decision, and late-night doubt: if the scoreboard disappeared tomorrow, what would your players remember about you? Charlie and Paul unpack the real purpose of coaching, why influence matters more than stats, and how a coach can pursue excellence without losing sight of eternity.
You’ll hear:
Why the urge to win can become an idol
How coaching becomes a unique discipleship opportunity
What servant leadership looks like in a real practice
The difference between demanding excellence and leading with ego
Practical ways to talk about Jesus without turning it into a performance
Charlie also shares the personal story that sparked this podcast in the first place—a championship season, a moment of frustration, and the realization that even success can leave you asking, “Is this really enough?” From there, the episode builds toward a bigger vision for coaches, players, parents, and anyone who feels the pressure to perform while trying to live out their faith.
If you coach, teach, lead, or simply care about influencing young people well, this episode will challenge your motives and sharpen your perspective. It’s honest, convicting, and built for anyone trying to be faithful when the pressure to win is loud.

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Winning is not the real battle. The real question is whether you can coach with God first, serve your players well, and refuse to let the scoreboard become your identity.
Paul and Charlie get brutally honest about what it looks like to lead as a Christian coach when performance pressure, parents, school leaders, and your own competitive drive are all pulling at you at once. If you have ever felt torn between pursuing wins and staying faithful, this conversation gives you the framework to think about both without turning faith into a checklist.
You'll hear why legalistic “do more for God” coaching falls apart, why your own walk with Christ has to come first before trying to pour into athletes, and how the right heart changes everything from prayer and Bible studies to discipline, mentoring, and the way you handle pressure. The guys also break down what it means to be on Team Jesus, why you cannot compare your calling to another coach's, and why your family may be your first mission field.
They also get real about failure. Charlie and Paul share painful moments when they lost their cool with players, what that conviction felt like afterward, and why repentance and forgiveness are not optional if you want to model Christ in a locker room. From there, the conversation opens up into the biggest mistakes, victories, and surprises they've seen in coaching, including kids who came back years later still chasing Jesus.
If you coach, lead, mentor, or just want to know how faith actually shows up under pressure, this episode is for you. It's a direct, challenging, and encouraging reminder that the goal is not just to win games—it’s to make disciples, love people well, and let everything flow from putting God first.

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