The Coachers Podcast
Welcome to The Coachers Podcast 🤙🏽 — hosted by Keanu Yamamoto.
Each episode features raw, unfiltered conversations with coaches from every level and sport, sharing their real journeys: toughest moments, biggest wins, best practices, and the hard-earned lessons that build tougher athletes, stronger teams, and better leaders. From forging a culture and mental toughness to balancing life beyond the whistle, this is your go-to vault for authentic inspiration on coaching, leadership, and team building. Coaches, athletes, parents, and fans — dive in for stories that unite and motivate across the game. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe now and join the conversation! ⛳️🗣️
The Coachers Podcast
Coach John Mannion: A Team Is A Reflection Of Their Coach
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Coach John Mannion is a longtime high school football coach and was most recently the founding head coach of the Mountainside High School Mavericks in Beaverton, Oregon. Hired in 2017 when the school first opened, Coach Mannion built the program from the ground up, leading the Mavericks from their inaugural 2018 season through 2022. Over those five seasons, he compiled a record of 29-20, including a strong 9-2 campaign in 2022 that saw the team reach the 6A state quarterfinals. Before Mountainside, Mannion spent seven successful years as head coach at Silverton High School (2010–2017), where his teams went 57-20, won two league championships (2012 and 2014), made multiple playoff runs, and reached the state championship game in 2014. A coach for more than 35 years overall — starting back in 1988 — Mannion also had earlier success at Foothill High School in California, where his teams won multiple league and sectional titles. Coach Mannion stepped down as Mountainside’s head coach in January 2023, since retiring, he’s stayed active in the coaching community through writing and sharing insights on the game. You can check out his work via Substack: “John Mannion’s Coaching Playbook”.
In this conversation, Coach John Mannion shares his journey coaching football across multiple high schools, including the challenges of building programs from scratch. He highlights the central role of relationships, core values, and resilience in developing strong teams and coaching his own children. Coach Mannion stresses consistency in coaching, the importance of making practices harder than games, and football’s inherently unselfish nature. A major focus is building a cohesive culture where every player feels valued and has a role, regardless of athletic ability. He discusses accountability, consistent treatment of all players, and the power of team-oriented rewards. Coach Mannion also emphasizes the often-overlooked impact of special teams in high school football and defines success through personal growth and player experience rather than just wins and losses. Finally, he reflects on the evolving landscape of football and its effects on team dynamics and player retention.
Takeaways:
Focus on what you can control – Out scrap the other team.
Why is Football the Greatest Sport?
The Value of Special Teams!
Every Kick in the Endzone is like a Sack in HS.
The Dynamics of coaching your own kids.
If you Tolerate it You Encourage it.
A team's demeanor reflects the coach's attitude.
Success is built on resilience and learning from setbacks.
Consistency in all aspects translates to performance on the field.
Making practice harder than the game prepares players for real situations.
Every player should feel valued to enhance team culture.
Football allows players of varying abilities to find their role.
Helmet Stickers: Team recognition boosts morale and encourages participation.
Success should be measured by player development, not just wins.
Practice is where meaningful relationships are built.
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