Episode 88

How To Build And Sustain A Championship Culture -- w/ Michigan's Hutch & Bonnie Tholl

Published on: 22nd June, 2020

Do you ever feel like the coaches who've made it to the highest level are in a league of their own?

You're not really wrong. The best of the best have worked their butt off to get there and they've put a lot of hard lessons to good use to stay there.

But they're not so different from the rest of us!

Take Hutch & Bonnie Tholl of Michigan...

Are they softball rockstars? Absolutely. Are they coaches who care first and foremost about developing strong young women... just like us? Yep!

So listen in today and try to imagine how you can do these things with your girls too! Then if you want to put those ideas into action, join the next round of the Softball Coach's Culture Bootcamp!

Just head to the site to learn more!

Enjoy the show!

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About the Podcast

Signed & Ready

College Recruiting + Mental Game Mastery for Softball Athletes and Families

Signed & Ready is the go-to podcast for softball athletes and families navigating the college recruiting process—and preparing to thrive once they get there.

Hosted by Alicia Smith, head coach, recruiting mentor, and mental performance expert, this show pulls back the curtain on what really moves the needle in college recruiting: leadership, composure, and confidence under pressure.

If you're a parent wondering how to support your daughter without overstepping—or an athlete who wants to feel ready, not just look ready—you're in the right place.

Each episode delivers practical strategies, real talk, and coach-level insights on:

Standing out in the recruiting process (beyond the stats)

Building confidence that actually shows up on game day

Leading yourself through high-pressure moments

Thriving in college athletics with a strong mental game

This isn’t just about getting signed.
It’s about becoming the kind of athlete coaches can’t ignore—and the kind of leader who’s ready for the next level.

👉 New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and start building your mental edge—from the inside out.

About your host

Melanie Rushing

If you're the type of coach who believes team culture is key, mental training is a secret weapon, and we can make the biggest impact when we coach the whole person, this podcast is for you!

Hey! We're Melanie Rushing & Alicia Smith - just a couple of softball coaches like you, who want to share our passion for building team culture & mentally tough players.

New episodes are released on Mondays and are typically about 30 minutes long. Just enough time to drive the field or give it a good drag.

We share what we've learned in our 30+ combined years of on-field experience (influenced by our Sport Psych, Coaching Sport Performance & Leadership education)

PLUS we bring on guests from the top softball teams, field of sport psychology and those who specialize in sport performance!

SO if you want to learn actionable tips and strategies to help your team win more games and have more fun head to your podcast player of choice & subscribe!

Talk to you soon!