Today's Play: Gustavus Adolphus head coach Tommy Valentini shares the powerful story behind his team’s NCAA doubles national championship—one rooted in culture, gratitude, and perspective. Tommy highlights how his players prioritized team values, even in the highest-pressure moments, and honored a lost classmate in a deeply meaningful way. He offers insight into how true freedom in sport comes from knowing your worth isn’t defined by wins or losses—a mindset built over years, starting in youth sports. Tommy also reflects on the enduring legacy of his mentor, Steve Wilkinson, whose “double vision” approach—seeing people both as they are and as they could be at their best—informs Tommy’s coaching, parenting, and life.
Today's Coach: Dr. Tommy Valentini is in his 16th year as head coach of the Gustavus Adolphus College men's tennis team where he holds an overall record of 273-104. The Gusties are the third winningest program in the history of Division III tennis with an all-time mark of 1303-532-3 (.710 winning percentage). Gustavus has claimed two NCAA Team Championships (1980, 1982), while also winning six national titles in doubles and four national titles in singles. Tommy has also coached at Emory University and University of Nebraska, written a book chapter titled: Love-Love: A Fresh Start at Finding Value and Virtue in Tennis and presented a Ted Talk on Purposeful Character Building Through Sport. He's also a youth hockey coach and runs a coach education/team culture building education program for the Minnesota River Bulldogs. Last, but not least, Tommy is a professor in the philosophy department at Gustavus Adolphus College where he teaches sport ethics and philosophy.
Mentioned in today's episode: Let Love Serve, by Steve Wilkerson
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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud
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