Coach & Counselor

Hosted by Tony Gilio, Coach & Counselor explores how today’s youth benefit most from intentional, empowering adult leadership. Each episode blends perspectives from coaches, mentors, and mental health professionals, shaping the next generation on and off the field. From tough conversations to inspiring transformations, we dive into what it takes to support young people in today’s world.

Coach & Counselor is a sports podcast hosted by Tony Gilio, with 53 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Tony Gilio hosts Coach & Counselor, a sports show with 53 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Coach & Counselor

  The Baseball Development Trap

  Aug 14, 202652 min

  On this episode of The Coach & Counselor , Tony sits down with Jason Hirsh , former Major League pitcher, coach, and founder of FAST Performance. Jason went from Division III baseball at California Lutheran University to becoming a second-round draft pick of the Houston Astros and eventually reaching the Major Leagues with the Astros and Colorado Rockies, including being part of Colorado’s 2007 World Series run. Today, Jason uses those experiences to help develop the next generation of athletes. At FAST Performance, his approach goes beyond pitching mechanics, combining strength, mobility, arm care, technology, recovery, and lifestyle to build better, healthier players. Tony and Jason dive into The Baseball Development Trap the idea that more games, more tournaments, more showcases, and more exposure must mean more development. They discuss year-round baseball, recruiting, the changing college landscape, injury and recovery, velocity development, and why sometimes the best thing an athlete can do is step away from competition and focus on getting better. They also explore how TrackMan, video, data, and AI are changing coaching, while asking where technology truly helps and where good old-fashioned coaching still matters. It’s a conversation about finding the right path for each athlete instead of simply chasing more. Are we developing better baseball players or are we just keeping them busier? Find out on this episode of The Coach & Counselor .

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Coach & Counselor

  Built for What’s Next: Rugby, Coaching & Growth

  Aug 7, 202638 min

  Former Colorado Mesa University rugby player Simon Cespedes is taking everything the game has taught him and using it to build what comes next. In this episode, Simon sits down with Tony Gilio to talk about his journey through sports, finding his place in rugby, competing at Colorado Mesa University, and beginning a new chapter as a performance coach in the Grand Valley. Simon shares how his experiences as an athlete shaped his confidence, consistency, and approach to challenges and how the example set by his mother continues to influence the person and coach he wants to become. The conversation explores the lessons that extend far beyond the field: the importance of consistency, being a great teammate, building strong relationships, staying authentic, and finding ways to make a positive impact on the people around you. Simon also shares his developing philosophy on coaching young athletes, why keeping sports fun matters, memorable moments from his rugby career, what he’s learning from coaching one of his first clients, a 70-year-old competitive sprinter, and why he believes rugby and its welcoming community have a bright future in the United States. For Simon, graduating and finishing his collegiate playing career isn’t the end of the journey. It’s the foundation for what’s next.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Coach & Counselor

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

  Jul 17, 20261h 5m

  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 do 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.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Coach & Counselor

  The Reality Gap: What Every Athletic Leader Needs to Hear

  Jun 19, 202648 min

  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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Coach & Counselor

  Raising Competitors, Not Just Athletes

  May 29, 202654 min

  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.

  ListenShow Notes

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.