Holding the Ladder in Sport and Leadership

Our guest for this episode is Ronnie Arrow. He is a retired college basketball coach best known for his success at the junior college and NCAA Division I levels, particularly with the University of South Alabama and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.A standout player at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State), Arrow earned All-Lone Star Conference honors before beginning a distinguished coaching career. He first rose to prominence at San Jacinto College (1977-1987), compiling a remarkable 302-43 record while winning three NJCAA national championships (1983, 1984, 1986) and multiple Coach of the Year honors.Arrow became head coach at South Alabama in 1987, leading the Jaguars to two Sun Belt Conference championships, multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, and a top 25 national ranking. Known for his up-tempo, high-scoring style, his teams consistently ranked among conference leaders in scoring.After a successful stint launching the NCAA Division I program at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where he led the Islanders to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007, Arrow returned to South Alabama for a second tenure from 2007 to 2012.Over his career, Arrow built a reputation as an innovative offensive coach and program builder, also earning international success by leading the U.S. Junior World Cup Team to a gold medal in 1989. He retired from college head coaching in 2012, leaving a legacy defined by winning, player development, and the ability to elevate programs at multiple levels of college basketball. He continues to develop young players in the Mobile, AL metro area.

Our guest for this episode is Sarah Boruta. Boruta just completed her 15th season (2025-26) as director of operations for Liberty University women’s basketball, overseeing daily program logistics including budget management, travel, scheduling, game-day operations, equipment, and recruiting support. She also directed the Lady Flames’ summer camps for 14 years, growing participation by 1,000 percent and building a team camp from the ground up into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier events, which sold out for the first time in 2022. An active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and former member of Women Leaders in College Sports, she has presented at national conventions and is a graduate of the NACWAA (now known as Women Leaders in College Sports) Institute for Administrative Advancement, where she was nominated for the Judith M. Sweet Commitment Award.Prior to Liberty, Boruta held roles at Stanford (2008-11) and Ferris State (2005-08), advancing from video intern to director of basketball marketing and video at Stanford University, where she helped boost attendance and led social media and promotions. At Ferris State, she managed operations, camps, and marketing efforts. She has been part of multiple successful programs, including three NCAA Division I Final Four teams at Stanford and a NCAA Division II Sweet 16 team at Ferris State. Additionally, she is the founder of the College Basketball Operations Institute. It is a career-focused platform that prepares individuals for roles in college basketball operations. It offers practical training, mentorship, and resources centered on program logistics, recruiting support, and daily team management, helping students and aspiring professionals gain real-world experience and advance in the field. Growing up in Mason, MI, Boruta holds four degrees, including a bachelor’s from Ferris State, a master’s in sport management, and an MBA from Liberty. You can learn more about at College Basketball Operations Institute at https://collegebasketballops.com/.

Our guest for this episode is Tom Mitchell, Ph.D. He is a Performance Coach and founder of Winning Spirit Coach, helping business leaders, athletes, and high-level performers discover their greatness within. As the former sport psychologist for the NBA's Golden State Warriors and co-author of an Amazon #1 Best Seller, "The Winning Spirit: 16 Timeless Principles That Drive Performance Excellence," with NFL legend Joe Montana (The Winning Spirit: 16 Timeless Principles That Drive Performance Excellence: Montana, Joe, Mitchell, Tom, Henderson, Bruce: 9780812974980: Amazon.com: Books), and "Winning Spirit Basketball: Find Your Greatness Within" with Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Mullin (Winning Spirit Basketball: Find Your Greatness Within: Mullin, Chris, Mitchell, Tom: 9781613213131: Amazon.com: Books), he helps clients by asking powerful questions that awaken their "Inner Coach" rather than just giving advice.Mitchell’s journey began when he was a college basketball coach with a burning desire to work in the NBA. The turning point came when he tested the power of visualization, writing "I am now the sport psychologist of the Golden State Warriors" on six 3x5 index cards and placing them where he'd see them daily. Within a year, he landed that exact job.Through his journey, Tom developed a unique approach to help high achievers find clarity and confidence through what he calls the "Inner Coach Playbook." He also founded Winning Spirit Coach, LLC, a for-profit company offering coaches the opportunity to become certified members of our coaching community. At the heart of his organization is the opportunity to help others grow personally and professionally (Winning Spirit Coach | Home). In 2004, he, along with Montana and Hilleary Hoskinson, a successful corporate executive and 25-year veteran of building teams within an array of banking, publishing and technology companies, founded MVP Performance Institute (MVP Performance | WinningSpirit). MVP was created to bring this unparalleled experience and skill to leaders and teams. We grew to be a trusted source, guiding clients with direction, honesty and hands-on support to help them win. Additionally, he and Hoskinson co-authored "Winning Spirit Business: Sharpen Your Performance Edge" (Winning Spirit Business: Finding Your Performance Edge: Tom Mitchell: 9781493558797: Amazon.com: Books).

Our guest for this first episode of 2026 is Greg Snow. He is the Director of Golf and Manager at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Willmar, Minnesota. A PGA-affiliated professional, Snow brings decades of experience in golf operations, instruction, and community engagement. Prior to Eagle Creek, he spent more than a decade as Director of Golf and clubhouse manager at Olivia Golf Club, where he built strong junior programs and grew participation. Known for his passion for teaching and relationships, Snow is deeply involved in developing golfers of all ages and fostering a welcoming golf culture. His background also includes coaching high school basketball and golf, as well as officiating high school basketball, reflecting his long-standing commitment to sport, leadership, and community. He also serves as an elected county commissioner as the Renville County Commissioner for District 4 in Renville County, Minnesota, a position he began in January 2019 and continues to hold with a current term running through 2026. A graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, where he was an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference All-Conference player in basketball and golf, he is married to his wife Leigh Ann. They are the proud parents of four.

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.