Holding the Ladder in Sport and Leadership

Our guest for this episode is Daniel Nelson. Nelson has over 20 years of international basketball coaching experience. Beginning his career in Ireland with Templeogue, DCU St Vincent’s, Trinity College Dublin and Irish national youth programs, he quickly built a reputation for technical teaching and player development. Since 2011, Nelson has coached across Australia, Europe and beyond, including roles with the Perth Wildcats, where he was part of a national championship-winning team, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Parma Basket Perm and the Taylor Hawks. He has also served as Video Scout for the Australian Men’s National Team, coached West Australian state teams, and worked in national talent identification programs in both Ireland and Australia. His career includes head and assistant coach positions in Cyprus, Romania, the UK, Kosovo, Belgium and the Netherlands, leading teams to competitive success. Nelson is the founder of Daniel Nelson Coaching, delivering clinics, workshops and consulting for coaches and clubs internationally. Known for his tactical precision, use of advanced analytics and commitment to building strong team cultures, he blends structure with adaptability to develop players and programs. He is the current Head Coach of Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus, leading the team into the FIBA Europe Cup for the 2025–26 season. Holding multiple coaching licenses, he continues his record as one of Ireland’s most globally experienced basketball coaches. Holding multiple coaching licenses, he continues to build on a career that has taken an Irish coach to professional leagues and national teams across the world.

Jeff Sherman is in his fourth year as Director of Athletics at Central Methodist University, following a remarkable 37-year Hall of Fame career as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The winningest coach in CMU history, Sherman amassed 668 victories, ranking fourth among active National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) coaches at the time of his retirement and sixth all-time among Missouri’s four-year college coaches. His teams earned 12 twenty-win seasons, four conference titles, and five NAIA National Tournament appearances. A four-time Hall of Fame inductee, Sherman’s impact extends far beyond the court, having mentored more than 75 former players who have gone on to coaching careers at every level. Also an Associate Professor and former Department Chair in Physical Education, Health, and Sport Management, Sherman is known for his leadership, mentorship, and lifelong commitment to Central Methodist University, where he and his wife Julee have served for over four decades. You can learn more about Sherman here: Central Methodist University Athletics

Cory Holen is a seasoned staffing and search consultant with nearly 14 years of experience at Preference Employment Solutions in Fargo, North Dakota, where he leads the Professional Search Division and plays a key role on the leadership team. A proud University of Jamestown (ND) graduate and former Jimmies football player, Holen brings the discipline, competitiveness, and team-first mindset he developed as a student-athlete into his career helping businesses find and grow great talent.Passionate about connecting people with opportunities, Holen thrives on understanding what makes organizations tick and helping candidates step into roles where they can truly succeed. He’s a Certified Search Consultant through the American Staffing Association, DiSC certified, and a Dale Carnegie–trained leader who’s always looking for ways to keep learning and improving.Outside of work, Holen is a dedicated husband and dad who loves coaching, mentoring, and supporting his two sports-loving sons, Kason and Brooks. He’s also active in the Fargo/Moorhead community, serving as Workforce Readiness Director for FMHRA and contributing to The Chamber’s Business Training Committee. Known for his energy, integrity, and genuine care for others, Cory brings both expertise and heart to everything he does. More on Cory here: Our Team - Preference Employment Solutions

Our guest for this episode is Gordon MacFarlane. He is a Performance Mindset Coach, best-selling author, and Human Behavior Specialist with more than four decades of experience in professional sales, business development, and elite athletic coaching. A Senior Master Trainer and certified DISC consultant, he has worked with NCAA, junior, and professional sports programs, guiding teams to multiple championships, including Colby College’s first-ever NESCAC title. His approach blends practical strategies with behavioral science, helping leaders, athletes, and organizations unlock resilience, confidence, and consistent high performance.As a keynote speaker and trainer, Gordon engages audiences with a unique mix of storytelling, research, and actionable tools. His proprietary Performance Engagement Model—centered on awareness, empowerment, and application—equips leaders and coaches to inspire lasting growth. Drawing on his own entrepreneurial journey of founding and running eight businesses, he offers insights grounded in real-world leadership and relationship building. His work spans sports, business, and education, with an emphasis on communication, trust, and purposeful influence.Gordon is the author of several books, including Increase Your GRIT and Mental Toughness, COMMUNICATE to CONNECT: The Power of Words, and Performance Influencer: The Human Behavior Approach to Leadership, with a forthcoming release on mental wellness in leadership. Whether coaching one-on-one, leading workshops, or addressing large audiences, his mission is consistent—to help people believe in themselves, connect meaningfully with others, and perform at their best when it matters most. You can learn more about Gordon by visiting his website: Performance Mindset Coach

Our guest for this episode is Tim McCarthy. He founded The McCarthy Consultancy in 2016 to offer confidential Executive Coaching, Business Consultancy, and Communication Coaching. His mission is to help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential and achieve lasting success.McCarthy brings a rare blend of experience from the executive, sports, and media worlds. He has held top leadership roles in major organizations, including Ulster Bank Group, An Post, BUPA Ireland, and Hello.ie, building several successful direct-to-consumer businesses in finance and insurance. A graduate of National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG; Executive MBA) and University College Cork (UCC; Training & Development), he is also a Qualified Financial Advisor and experienced board member across both commercial and nonprofit sectors.In sport, he represented Ireland over 100 times in basketball, serving as both national team captain and coach. He has also coached Gaelic football and hurling at senior club and county levels. He also is a member of the Irish Basketball Hall of Fame.McCarthy is a seasoned international speaker on leadership and performance. His media credentials include five Olympic Games as a basketball commentator for RTÉ, GAA coverage for The Sunday Game, and interviews with global icons like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.More on McCarthy can be found here:About the McCarthy Consultancy - Lead with intelligenceThe McCarthy ConsultancyThe Big Interview with Timmy McCarthy: 'My mortality had been challenged - then my humanity was'