The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast

Award Winning Advice for High School Athletes

In this episode we’re talking about high school athletes and the Gaziano Awards. Athletes can build their athlete brand by applying for awards and scholarships, at the same time they can learn a lot about themselves going through the process. Part of the process involves starting to discover who you are and who you want to be; sharing your athlete brand story. 
Today’s guest on The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast is Luke Libby, former high school football player and Gaziano Award Winner. I first met Luke when he was at Thornton Academy and he won the Gaziano Award in 2011. Luke and I talk about advice for high school athletes and how high school athletes need more media training and skills to make themselves more marketable.
In this episode:
The story behind the Gaziano Awards
Why high school athletes should push themselves to start building their brand story and discovering who they are as a person
Why high school athletes need to remember where they came from
The opportunity for high school athletes to market themselves through media interviews
Luke talks about the importance of media training for high school athletes
Why first impressions matter for high school athletes and how the interviews can build confidence
Luke explains how to handle your nerves and why it is so important to listen and breath during a media interview
Luke’s tough decision to not play college sports
Find out who inspired Luke in 7th grade to become dentist
Advice for student athletes about how you are always being watched and this is an opportunity to build your athlete brand and engage with your community
Luke’s time at Thornton Academy and how that helped him build his network
Why it is important to be pliable when a plan doesn’t work out and how to adjust and handle change
Advice for high school athletes who want to play sports in college or grow their career
Tips for college athletes applying to colleges
Show links:
Gaziano Awardshttps://www.gazianolinemanawards.org/
Flashback: Luke’s first media interview in after winning the Gaziano Awards in 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju8qyVNsNfE
About Frank Gaziano
https://gazianolinemanawards.org/learn.asp?cat=1842
Thornton Academy
https://www.thorntonacademy.org/
University of New England
https://www.une.edu/
Saco River Dentistry
https://www.sacoriverdentistry.com/about/
Pliable Athlete Branding 
https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete
 
Connect with Luke Libby
Facebook: Luke Libby
Email: TheGazianoAwards@gmail.com

Stanley Cup Champion Talks about Athlete Development and Transitioning

In episode 5, we’re talking about transition. For athletes, the decision to stop playing their favorite sport whether after high school, college or a professional career can be a difficult, but it's also a big opportunity.
Today’s guest on The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast is Drew Miller, former NHL player and Stanley Cup Champion with the Anaheim Ducks. Drew and I spent time together when I was a broadcaster for the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League. He also attended Michigan State to play division 1 ice hockey for the Spartans, just like his older brother, Ryan Miller, who also played in the NHL and for Team USA. Ryan is now the current assistant coach of Team USA.
In this episode:
Drew’s relationship with his brother and former NHL goalie Ryan Miller
Playing college hockey at Michigan State and how Drew built his own athlete brand following his brother, Ryan Miller, a Hobey Baker Award winner
A funny story from Drew about when he got called up when he was at a grocery store in Portland, Maine
Transitioning out of sports, while keeping a hockey mentality and using the skills as an athlete in his role as an insurance agent
The importance of relationships and building your network
How to use your athlete brand to separate yourself from the competition in sports, but also in you future career to get employed
Drew talks about his athlete brand and why he thinks it is so  important to follow up with people
The importance of having a team around you and trusted advisors for building your athlete brand
Show links:
KIG Insurance
https://www.getkig.com/
Pliable Athlete Branding 
https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete
Michigan State Spartans Website
https://msuspartans.com/
Drew Miller on Hockey Database
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=69845
Ryan Miller on Hockey Database
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=45065
Anaheim Ducks
https://www.nhl.com/ducks
Detroit Red Wings
https://www.nhl.com/redwings
Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital
https://www.mainehealth.org/Barbara-Bush-Childrens-Hospital
Connect with Drew Miller
http://drewmillerkig.com/
Facebook: Drew Miller Insurance
Email: drewm@getkig.com
 

Advice for Athletes Who Want to Play Division 1 Sports

In episode 4, Greg Glynn sits down for an exclusive interview with Rand Pecknold, head coach of the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team.
Pecknold is in 28th season behind the bench for the Quinnipiac men's ice hockey program. He has the most wins of any coach in Quinnipiac history with more than 550. In 2016, he was named the Spencer Penrose National Coach of the Year and College Hockey News National Coach of the Year. He has helped the Bobcats reach the national championship game in 2013 and 2016.
Included in this interview:
How Quinnipiac University and Rand Pecknold helped Greg start his broadcasting career
Advice for athletes who want to play NCAA sports at a division 1 school
Why an athlete's content on social media matters and how it can ruin their chances to play for a school
The importance of culture on a team and why it matters
Advice for 16-19-year-olds about commitment
How being ranked #1 or #2 in the country helps a college and creates awareness
The development of Quinnipiac players who play in the NHL, including Devon Toews, Connor Clifton and Chase Priskie 
How NHL coaches have helped Rand become a better coach
When and why Quinnipiac started trending #1 on Facebook
How a new facility helps with recruiting
Road trip advice and a helpful tip for how to get wrinkles out of your shirt without ironing it
How Rand has been pliable during his coaching career
Show links:
Quinnipiac Athletics website: https://gobobcats.com/
Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey social media accounts:
Twitter: @QU_MIH
Instagram: @qu_mih
InStat website for recruiting athletes: https://instatsport.com/
Pliable's Athlete Branding Process: https://pliablemarketing.com/athlete

How to get recruited and make it to the NHL

In episode 3 of The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast we’re talking about recruiting. This is a hot topic for high school and college bound athletes, especially with the new NCAA rules about name image and likeness.
Our guest is Derek Whitmore, former NHL player and current Assistant Coach of the Chicago Steel of the USHL. 
In this episode:
How Derek navigated his path to the NHL
Recruiting during the pandemic and coming out of the pandemic
Differences between D1 and D3
Advice for high school hockey players who want to go to a Division 1 college
Where recruits are looking for talent
What makes a good recruit?
How has COVID changed recruiting
Advice for high school or hockey players in juniors to try so they can stand out to recruiters
The biggest adjustment student athletes have to make in college
Impact of college transfer rule
New name image and likeness rule in the NCAA
How Derek was pliable in his hockey career
 
Connect with Derek Whitmore
Twitter: @DWhitmore21
Instagram: DerekW2121
Email: dwhitmore@chicagosteelhockeyteam.com
 
Show links:
Peter Clark, Athletic Trainer, Strength and Performance Coach at Beyond Strength
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-clark-7a178829/
Chicago Steel
https://www.chicagosteelhockeyteam.com/
Bowdoin College
https://www.bowdoin.edu
Pliable Athlete Branding
https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete