Jeff Tungate Bio:

Jeff Tungate became Head Coach of Oakland University’s Women’s Basketball team in July 2013 and retired in December 2024 due to health reasons. He now serves as Director of Development at Rochester Christian University.

Before leading the women’s program, Tungate spent six seasons as Associate Head Coach for Oakland’s Men’s Basketball team, earning the inaugural Oakland Athletics Coach of the Year award in 2014. His earlier roles included Associate Men’s Head Coach at Purdue Fort Wayne, where he helped set school win records, and Head Coach at Lincoln Memorial University.

An Oakland graduate (1993, English), Tungate was also a standout baseball player, earning Preseason All-American honors and ranking fifth in school history for single-season batting average (.397).

As Women’s Head Coach, Tungate achieved the third-most wins in program history, including two victories over nationally ranked teams and a 17–5 record in the Metro Series against Detroit Mercy. He developed eight professional players, 19 All-Conference honorees, and 59 Academic Honor Roll recipients, mentoring stars like Olivia Nash, Elena Popkey, and Taylor Jones.

His first season reignited the program with its first non-losing league record since 2011 and record offensive output. The following seasons saw continued success, including a win over nationally ranked Green Bay and top league rankings in scoring and field goal percentage.

The 2016–17 season was among Oakland’s best, tying for third in the Horizon League with a 12–6 record, averaging 76.6 points per game (19th nationally), and setting a Division I era record for double-digit victories. Oakland again defeated ranked Green Bay that year.

Tungate led the program to its first Horizon League postseason win in 2017–18 and a deep tournament run in 2021–22, highlighted by upsets over higher-seeded teams. In 2023–24, before taking medical leave, he led Oakland to a 2–2 start, including an overtime win over Akron. The team finished the season among national leaders in steals and forced turnovers.

He and his wife Kelley live in Rochester, Michigan, with their two sons, Jordan and Cooper.

Jeff Contact Info:

• Email:- jtungate@rcu.edu
• Website: - www.rcu.edu

Summary:

In this episode of the Achieving Peak Performance podcast, Dr. Keith Brennan and Jeff Tungate discuss the vital role parents play in supporting their children in sports. They explore the importance of trust between parents and coaches, the need for independence in young athletes, and the lessons learned from competition and failure. Jeff shares personal anecdotes from his coaching career and parenting experiences, emphasizing the significance of modeling positive behavior and allowing children to navigate challenges on their own. The conversation highlights the necessity of fostering a supportive environment that encourages growth and resilience in young athletes.

Takeaways:

• Trust is essential between parents, coaches, and athletes.
• Parents should support their children without over-involvement.
• Encouraging independence helps children develop resilience.
• Modeling positive behavior is crucial for children.
• Failure is a part of growth and learning.
• Communication with coaches should come from the athlete, not the parent.
• Parents should focus on the long-term development of their children.
• Youth sports should be about enjoyment, not just winning.
• Teaching life lessons through sports is more important than trophies.
• Parents need to reflect on their behavior and its impact on their children.

Contact Hosts:

• Dr. Keith Brennan
• Rob Stein