The Art of Listening: Insight from a Hall of Fame Coach
By Mike Herbert (May 29, 2025)
To help others be the best versions of themselves, coaches need to learn the subtle art of listening. There were times when coaches could bark orders and the athlete would respond. We, as coaches, though, have learned over the years that while this might have been somewhat effective in the past, it is not exactly the best way to get the most out of our athletes today. To help someone achieve their goals or dreams, the best leaders have started to understand that we must listen, take a step back and ask some questions – listen to the athletes we are leading with the goal of understanding.
Mary Jo Truesdale is a Hall of Fame coach who recently retired at the age of 73, but even up until her last day coaching, she was focused on learning and listening to her athletes.
Learn how Coach Truesdale made listening the most important key to her success on the #beBetter Podcast: Episode #7: Mary Jo Truesdale
The #beBETTER Podcast was created with the simple mission of helping people be the best versions of themselves day after day. Along with Coach Truesdale, the #beBETTER Podcast shares conversations with Div. 1 basketball coaches, a world-renowned horse trainer and former student-athletes who all talk about the things that have helped them to be better throughout their lives. Follow the podcast and listen to more episodes at https://thebebetterpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Dr. Mike Herbert’s 20+ years in education have been focused on helping people to be better teachers, coaches and people. He started his career in athletics as a basketball coach and has coached as well as taught at several different levels including middle school, high school, junior college and NCAA Div. 2. He has taught a course in movement education at Southern Oregon University and has developed courses such as the theory of coaching, sport psychology and sociology of sport for Southwestern Oregon CC where he was most recently the Dean of Health, PE & Athletic. He is currently the Assistant Athletic Director for Community Partnerships at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, CA. In his time away from his duties in athletics, Dr. Herbert spends his time conducting coaching and parent clinics for youth sports organizations and school districts. He also spends his free time supporting his own 2 student-athlete sons and his accomplished wife, Megan Corriea, head softball coach at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, CA. His newest adventure was launching The #beBETTER Podcast earlier this year on Apple and Spotify. The podcast is a resource for all coaches, parents, administrators and people trying to be the best versions of themselves. Mike earned his Ph.D. in HPE with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Mexico and a minor in educational psychology in 2007. You can also follow him on Instagram @bebetter.dr and on his Facebook page: Bebetter.
