From National Champion to Building the Future of Softball | Kevin Blaskowski

What comes after winning a national championship?
For Kevin Blaskowski, it meant helping shape the future of softball.
After more than 800 collegiate victories, an NCAA Division II National Championship, and decades of building championship programs, Kevin now focuses on developing the next generation of athletes through American Freedom and Coach B Softball Academy.
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Kevin shares his perspective on the biggest changes impacting today’s game—from NIL and the transfer portal to recruiting, player development, and the rising costs of travel softball. He also reflects on his coaching philosophy, lessons from building championship teams, overcoming burnout, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, or softball fan, this conversation offers an inside look at where the game has been—and where it’s headed.
🥎 The future of college softball recruiting💰 NIL, the transfer portal, and changing NCAA rules📈 Building championship-winning offenses🎯 Player development vs. chasing trophies👨‍👩‍👧 Advice for parents navigating travel softball💸 Why youth sports are becoming more expensive🏆 Life after winning a national championship❤️ Building a legacy that goes beyond wins and losses
About Kevin Blaskowski
Kevin Blaskowski is the National Director of American Freedom and the owner of Coach B Softball Academy. During his 25-year collegiate coaching career, he won more than 800 games, led West Texas A&M to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship, earned National Coach of the Year honors, and built one of the most successful offensive programs in college softball history. His coaching philosophy and career achievements are introduced at the beginning of the episode and discussed throughout the conversation.
🎙️ Subscribe to The Coach & Counselor for conversations with coaches, athletic directors, athletes, and leaders who are making an impact both on and off the field.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/Xm1Ufd1mikE?si=apeTGNhA7-7jBrTi

The New MLB Draft: How Analytics, NIL & Player Development Are Changing Baseball

The MLB Draft is changing and so is the path to professional baseball. On this episode of The Coach & Counselor, host Tony Gilio is joined by former MLB player and scout Greg Golson and baseball analyst Matt Pajak for an in-depth conversation on the biggest storylines from this year’s MLB Draft. Together, they break down how NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping player development, why organizations value certain prospects over others, the growing role of analytics, why contact skills are becoming more valuable, the surprising shortage of right-handed power hitters, and what today’s athletes need to do to stand out. Whether you’re a player, coach, parent, scout, or simply a fan of the game, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how MLB teams evaluate talent and where baseball is headed next. *In this episode:*

  • MLB Draft winners and biggest surprises
  • How NIL is changing draft strategy
  • Why some elite college players go undrafted
  • The growing value of contact over pure power
  • Why right-handed power hitters are becoming increasingly rare
  • Scouts vs. analytics in player evaluation
  • What players should focus on to reach the next level
  • Advice for high school and college athletes pursuing professional baseball

🎙️ Subscribe to *The Coach & Counselor* for weekly conversations with coaches, athletes, and industry leaders covering player development, leadership, recruiting, youth sports, and the future of athletics.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/VGbmhDvRrW8?si=4PLSfIerIILZWyvX

The Reality Gap: What Every Athletic Leader Needs to Hear

What happens when the reality of high school athletics collides with the expectations created by social media, recruiting hype, and college sports? In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, host Tony Gilio sits down with Jeremy Eubank, Athletic & Activities Director at Prince Edward County High School and incoming VIAAA President-Elect, for a candid conversation about leadership, recruiting, and the evolving landscape of education-based athletics. Jeremy shares his perspective on the growing disconnect between perception and reality in youth sports, why honest recruiting conversations matter, and how athletic leaders can better serve student-athletes and families. From increasing participation and developing future leaders to leveraging technology, mentoring coaches, and maintaining work-life balance, Jeremy offers practical insights for today’s athletic directors and coaches. Whether you’re leading an athletic department, coaching a team, or helping student-athletes navigate their future, this episode delivers valuable lessons on building programs that prioritize opportunity, character, and long-term success. 🎙️ Listen now and discover why closing the “reality gap” may be one of the most important responsibilities athletic leaders have today. #TheCoachAndCounselor#AthleticDirector#EducationBasedAthletics#CoachingLeadership#StudentAthleteDevelopment#CollegeRecruiting#SportsLeadership#HighSchoolAthletics

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/ul_UzrMliQs

Are We Ruining Youth Sports? Why Today’s Athletes Are Burning Out

Youth sports have never been more competitive.
Athletes are specializing earlier, playing more games, training year-round, and facing more pressure than ever before. But is all of that actually helping them develop, or is it leading to burnout?
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, former Division I and professional baseball player Kyle Attl shares his perspective on athlete development, coaching, technology, and the challenges facing today’s young athletes.
Drawing from his experiences as a player, coach, parent, and leader in sports technology, Kyle discusses the balance between development and enjoyment, the impact of modern training tools, the evolution of player development, and why keeping the game fun may be more important than ever.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, or sports leader, this conversation offers valuable insight into building better athletes without losing sight of what makes sports meaningful in the first place.
Topics include:
⚾ Youth sports burnout
⚾ Playing too many games at a young age
⚾ Athlete development vs. athlete overload
⚾ Coaching philosophies that build confidence
⚾ The role of technology in modern sports
⚾ Lessons from Division I and professional baseball
⚾ Helping athletes stay motivated and engaged
⚾ Why the best development plans focus on the long game
🎙️ Listen now to discover how coaches, parents, and athletes can pursue excellence without sacrificing the joy of the game.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/jAIKjnRTu0I?si=t3lzJOJYb0lLMt7y

Everyone Wants the Shot. Few Want the Work.

What separates good athletes from great ones?
According to Deshawn Woods, it’s not talent. It’s the willingness to embrace the work that happens long before anyone notices the result.
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Tony Gilio sits down with basketball coach, league commissioner, founder, and NIL advocate Deshawn Woods to discuss his journey from playing college basketball at Wiley College and Texas A&M to coaching, building professional opportunities for athletes, and creating pathways through the Women’s Basketball Association.
Deshawn shares lessons learned from every stage of his career, including what young athletes often misunderstand about success, why self-awareness is one of the most valuable leadership traits, and how NIL is changing the future of sports for athletes and their families.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🏀 Why the best athletes focus on growth, not hype
🏀 The reality of playing professionally overseas
🏀 How NIL opportunities extend beyond superstar athletes
🏀 The importance of personal branding and marketability
🏀 Leadership lessons from coaching and entrepreneurship
🏀 Why staying grounded creates long-term success
🏀 What athletes, parents, and coaches need to know about today’s sports landscape
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, educator, or leader, this conversation offers practical insights on development, opportunity, and the mindset required to keep growing.
🎙️ Subscribe to The Coach & Counselor for more conversations about sports, leadership, personal growth, and the people creating opportunities for others to succeed. #basketball #coaching #athlete #sportspsychology

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/WTgSs5EkQi4?si=1LXCcQSk-egYta0h

Raising Competitors, Not Just Athletes

Sports are about more than wins, losses, and championships; they’re one of the greatest classrooms for life.
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Tony Gilio sits down with Russ Romano, founder of D1 Mindset Coach, former Division I pitcher, and certified mental performance coach, to discuss what it truly means to develop competitors, not just athletes.
Russ shares the mental performance strategies used by elite athletes and championship programs, while exploring why confidence, resilience, leadership, discipline, and self-belief matter far more than talent alone. Together, they dive into the importance of focusing on the process, overcoming adversity, controlling the controllables, and helping young athletes build a foundation for long-term success both on and off the field.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, athlete, educator, or leader, this conversation offers valuable lessons on developing people who can thrive under pressure, embrace challenges, and carry the lessons of competition into every area of life.
Because the ultimate goal isn’t just raising better athletes, it’s raising better competitors, leaders, and human beings.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/3iEP4cwhsSI?si=wW_GiOKTxC3JZzCr

Beyond the Jersey: What Truly Builds Great Athletes

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor Podcast, we sit down with Axie Estrada, author, mentor, coach, and founder of Legendary Built, for a powerful conversation about what truly builds great athletes beyond the game itself.
With more than 14 years of coaching experience and over 300 athletes mentored, Axie shares her perspective on mindset, resilience, leadership, overcoming adversity, and helping athletes recognize their worth both on and off the field. From guiding athletes through failure and pressure to building confidence and mental toughness, this episode dives into the lessons sports can teach far beyond the jersey.
Axie also opens up about her personal journey through loss, hardship, motherhood, and rebuilding her life experiences that inspired her book Legendary Built, available now on Amazon.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this conversation delivers valuable insight on growth, perseverance, and becoming the best version of yourself through every challenge life throws your way.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/dn8o7TvmTeM?si=7zdjU77e2DH-C8uR

The Journey Nobody Saw: The Reality of Chasing the Dream| Jonathan De Marte

Olympian and former professional baseball player Jonathan De Marte shares the side of the athlete journey most people never see — from multiple arm surgeries and independent baseball to signing with the Chicago Cubs and competing in the Olympics for Team Israel.

In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, Jonathan opens up about resilience, identity, athlete development, parenting in sports, injury prevention, and why mentorship and foundational athleticism matter more than ever in today’s youth sports culture.

A powerful conversation for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone navigating growth, adversity, and performance both in sports and in life.

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/3n_Wj_3XY3Y?si=nNqphCbjvuvzUjTZ

Communication, Ownership, and Coaching That Actually Works: Aron Villegas

Aron Villegas, Director of Coaching at Rodeo Soccer Club, has built his career developing players from the ground up working his way from grassroots coaching to leading at the academy level in youth soccer.

In this episode, he breaks down what coaching actually demands beyond drills and tactics. From communication and ownership to building trust with players and parents, Aron shares the principles that separate average coaching from real leadership.

The conversation dives into player development, decision-making, and the importance of creating an environment where athletes can grow not just perform. Aron also shares lessons from navigating burnout, leadership challenges, and building a player pathway within the game.

This is a real look at coaching, culture, and what it takes to lead the right way.

🎙️ Coach & Counselor Podcast Watch here: https://youtu.be/Zw8l915eWi0?si=38Y9-Mc28jjBTFng

The Truth About Making It Today: The Separation Isn’t Skill

What does it really take to make it as an athlete today? In this episode of Coach & Counselor, NBA G League player and former Division I athlete Blaise Threatt breaks down the truth most athletes overlook—it’s not just about talent. From having no college offers to walking on at a Division II program, to becoming a top performer at Weber State and earning his shot in the NBA G League, Blaise shares the mindset that changed everything. This conversation dives into: The difference between hearing coaching and actually applying it Why being coachable, adaptable, and ready matters more than skill What separates athletes when everyone is talented The reality of the G League and chasing the NBA Lessons on discipline, resilience, and long-term growth Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode gives a real look at what it takes to grow, develop, and stand out in today’s game.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and tap into a mindset that goes beyond sports. https://youtu.be/w5tsWikA7Lo?si=jp9RQCXQV4Ydom-W

👇 Drop a comment: What’s one mindset shift that helped you grow?

#CoachAndCounselor#BlaiseThreatt#AthleteMindset#Basketball#NBAGLeague#PersonalGrowth#Leadership