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This is a first in Warrior Way Podcast history: a host of the show … is now a guest! That’s right: Johnny Isom is our guest for Episode 17, where we focus on Community and Leadership with host and Assistant Head of School Jared Mlynczyk.

Coach Isom has held many titles during his time at Liberty: PE teacher, assistant football coach, head baseball coach, Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Director, and now he’s in his role as Director of Alumni Relations.

In this episode, Coach Isom details his journey at Liberty and lessons he’s learned along the way, what his new role entails, and he explains why he’s excited for Liberty Christian’s growing group of alumni.

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A brief transcription of part of this episode can be found below. You can jump straight to that point of the podcast by click on the timestamp. 

 

Mr. Mlynczyk (at the 15:42 mark): "In your in your new title – Director of Alumni Relations – you know, I love chatting with you and all the different conversations that we've had over your time in this role. Tell those who are listening to this: what kinds of, outside of athletics now, what kinds of things do you get to do in this in this new position?"

Coach Isom: "Yeah, it's been great. I think the heart of it, which I love, is I believe in the school. And I think we're super blessed with the kids that walk these hallways. And I think sometimes if this is the only environment you know, you almost take that for granted at times. This is how special our kids and our families are here.

"And so, what this role has done for me is really, and this is another thing that's been cool, is I felt like when I coached, I bypassed a lot of relationships with kids because, one, I think kids need coaches.

"They don't need necessarily friends. They need coaches."

Mr. Mlynczyk: "That’s well said."

Coach Isom: "And then [reason No.] 2: I was always nervous about a kid playing for me and the reason they felt like they were playing is because, ‘Ah, the coaches like them better than me.’ And so I kind of kept all kids at a certain distance. And looking back on it, it's hard because you bypass on relationships. But I think it did kind of make the chemistry of the teams I coached feel like they're out there because they're the best ones. And so I do think it did that.

"But now, what the position [of Director of Alumni Relations has] allowed me to do is kind of go back and really build some relationships that I didn't get to do while they played for me or I just didn't know them. … We’ve got 2,500 alumni out there, which is pretty amazing. We're coming [up] on of 40 years of existence. We're going to have some special stuff for our alumni next year. And just it's a big, big moment for our school.

"But the main thing is trying to make something that our alumni can be proud of because they've done a great job of building such a great school. So I'm trying to make – and that's kind of what whether it was: a the girls and boys middle school thrower coach or a varsity baseball coach – I want to make what one I'm a part of and special for the Kingdom.

"So that's kind of my heart. I want to make the Alumni Association special. And it's been gaining some momentum and it's fun to watch."

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Listen to episodes where Coach Isom has been the host of this show!

EP 7: Nicole Kornet, Class of 2012 | Read here
EP 10: Alissa Teo, Class of 2008 | Read here

 

Mr. Mlynczyk (at the 14:31 mark): "Is there a maybe a piece of advice … you would have for in this day and age of all of the high levels of competition and athletics for parents as they kind of process this whole thing?

"I mean, you've seen firsthand … But is there anything that you would say over reflecting all those years that parents probably need to know about the athletic experience?"

Coach Isom: "Yes, it's hard. It's hard as a parent. Someone that you love so dearly is just involved in something they care so much about and you have no control over it. I’ve got a 14-year-old daughter and when I when she came into the world, then I had a better understanding of what parents go through.

"That's hard. It's really hard. So, yeah, [having my own child] really affected the way that I did lineups [when I was a coach] and that kind of thing because those thoughts were always in the back of my mind that it's going to be hard for parents. So I would just say, I think I've heard it best, that as a parent, all I have to do is say, ‘I enjoy watching you play’ and that's the end of the conversation and kind of let it run its course. I mean, it's not easy, though. I do know that."

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Be sure to listen to the whole episode to hear more from Coach Isom!

Want to listen to more episodes? You can find the podcast page on Spotify here.