
Advertise on podcast: Walk Like A Champion Podcast
Rating
5from
This podcast has
21 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Chad SimpsonExplicit
No
Date created
2024/02/12
Latest episode
2026/09/30
Average duration
41 min.
Release period
66 days
Description
Take the next step in your championship walk by listening and learning from leaders who are ’walking like a champion.’
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Check latest episodes from Walk Like A Champion Podcast podcast
What Does It Mean to Walk Like A Champion?
2026/09/30
Ever wondered what it means to walk like a Champion?
In this episode, Chad shares the story behind the podcast and gives biblical encouragement to the tennis community on how they can walk like Jesus on and off the court...
It's LAUNCH WEEK!!
Tomorrow, Walk Like a Champion becomes available on Amazon.
Get your copy.
Give a copy.
Lead a friend or team through the book together.
Click the link to get yours on amazon.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Don't Make It About You | Rod Ray | Wofford Head Coach
2026/05/05
FINAL EPISODE of SEASON 3!!
Episode 4: Rod Ray
Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. ROD RAY just finished year 26 as HEAD COACH @ Wofford College.
You will hear in this episode:
How Rod and his wife are overcoming the odds and pursuing a strong marriage,
His beliefs in being a Christian and highly competitive,
Why Hard Comes First
The one thing Rod wants his players to know
This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.
Links:
BUY ROD'S BOOK
Support AIA Tennis Vision
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
"When Your Schedule Feels Out of Control... Redeem Your Time" ----- Reflections From Former Coaches ----- GIAN LEMMI [Liberty]
2026/04/28
Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!
Episode 3: Gian Lemmi
Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. Four years ago, Gian stepped away from his role as Associate Head Coach at Liberty University. Today, he balances a dual calling as the Executive Pastor for Bedrock Church Lynchburg and the Community and Project Manager for New York Times Bestseller Jon Acuff. And he runs the Lemmi Tennis Academy.
You will hear in this episode:
About his next book project-a "Screwtape Letters" guide for coaches
Who he dressed up as for Halloween and how that changed his life
Gian's insight on spending time wisely
His top encouragement for coaches still serving in the career
This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.
Links:
BUY GIANS BOOK
Support AIA Tennis Vision
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
"Live to Serve" ----- Reflections From Former Coaches ----- TOM SIMPSON [Coker]
2026/04/21
Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!
TOM'S GOFUNDME
Episode 2: Tom Simpson
Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. You will hear from Tom Simpson former HC at Coker University. Tom has been married for 43 years, spent 45 years as a tennis professional at Smith Stearns and other clubs throughout SC, a pastor and missionary for 25 years, and a college tennis coach for 14 years.
You will hear in this episode:
His 108 hour and 2 minute marathon with Chad's father, Scott in 1982
His health battle leading up to a kidney transplant
Knowing your purpose in coaching
What God is teaching Tom today
This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.
Links:
Support AIA Tennis Vision
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
"What's Filling Your Cup?" ----- Reflections From Former Coaches ----- TANNER STUMP [Florida] & MATT WALTERS [Clemson]
2026/04/14
Walk Like a Champion Podcast SEASON 3!!
Episode 1: Tanner Stump & Matt Walters
Listen to this conversation with AIA Tennis Director, Chad Simpson. You will hear from Tanner Stump, the former Florida Gators Associate Head Coach, who coached Ben Shelton and the 2021 National Championship. And Matt Walters who finished his career as the Associate HC at Clemson, also having stops at UCF, Mississippi State, and IMG. Both of these men were rising the ranks, and then made the decision to get out of college coaching.
You will hear in this episode:
Matt & Tanner's faith story
Regrets from their time as elite college coaches
How to separate your identity from results
Why they left their careers
Top advice for coaches
This is Season 3 of the Podcast! We are sharing 4 episodes with former or current college coaches to hear what walking like Jesus looks like as a leader.
Links:
Get insured by Matt Walters
Consult with Tanner Stump
Support AIA Tennis Vision
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
PRESEASON BONUS EPISODE .... Build Deeper Friendship in 2026 w/ Jason Kerst & Danielle Stickley
2026/01/14
PREASEASON BONUS EPISODE!
Former D1 Iowa Hawkeye tennis athletes, Jason Kerst and Danielle Stickley join Chad for a conversation on building friendship and finding community as an athlete and recent grad. Jason shared his full story in Season 2 and is the current Women's Assistant Coach at Notre Dame. Danielle serves with Athletes in Action's Tennis outreach ministry to coaches and athletes. Listen today to hear their challenges and victories in building community, growing in vulnerability, and becoming more like Jesus.
If you are looking for a local college ministry, search here to connect with an AIA campus ministry near you!
Resources:
Made For People - Justin Whitmel Early
Find Your People - Jennie Allen
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
About AIA Tennis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Seasons of Life | Trevor Foshey | Michigan Assistant Coach
2025/04/21
SEASON 2 FINAL EPISODE!
Trevor Foshey is finishing his 2nd year at the University of Michigan. Prior to that, Trevor spent 4 years as the Associate Head Coach at Liberty. As a player, he helped Mississippi State reach #5 in the nation and was the 7th ranked doubles playing in the country. Trevor put his name in the history books by clinching the 2018 SEC Tournament title in a 3rd set tiebreaker.
You will hear in this episode:
What Trevor did during college when his life hit rock bottom
Trevor shares how to build competitiveness in athletes
The importance of getting into the Word
The blessing of marrying a godly woman
And much, much more. . .
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories.
Resources:
The Gospel
Quiet Strength
Support AIA Tennis Vision
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
About AIA Tennis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Made for More | Kazuki Matsuno | Pepperdine Assistant Coach
2025/04/14
SEASON 2 EPISODE 5!!
Kaz Matsuno is in his first semester serving as the assistant coach at Pepperdine. Prior to that, Kaz helped his alma mater reach new heights as an assistant coach, reaching an all-time high of #15 in the country. As a player at MSU, Kaz reached as high as #36 in the ITA rankings.
You will hear in this episode:
How during Covid, a zoom Athletes in Action meeting changed the course of his life
Kaz’s reflections on why he began a relationship with Jesus
The best premarital advice he’s been given
How Psalm 27 has helped him transition to a new team and city
AND much, much more. . .
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories.
Resources:
Psalm 27
DONATE HERE for Tennis athletes to go to UTC
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
About AIA Tennis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Joy in the Process | Austin Rapp | Clemson Assistant Coach
2025/04/07
EPISODE 4!!
Austin Rapp has served as the assistant coach at Clemson since 2022. Prior to that, Austin was the Volunteer Assistant with Texas for 2 years. Austin competed for UCLA from 2015-2018, earning All-American status in 2018 after making the semifinals at the NCAA Tournament. He continued on the pro tour reaching 672 in Singles; 328 in doubles.
Austin is known around the country for his joy and diligence as a coach, but in this episode you will hear:
How he turned to God during his time in Austin
the difference between a high achieving team culture and struggling ones
Austin’s top advice for a new Christian.
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
About AIA Tennis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Becoming Fearless | Jeri Stewart | Columbus State Assistant Coach
2025/03/31
Jeri Stewart is the assistant coach at Columbus State. Prior to that, Jeri coached at Point University where she played an instrumental role in the team reaching a number 2 ranking in the NAIA. Before entering college coaching, Jeri ran a successful junior academy in Columbus, Georgia.
In this conversation, you will hear about:
Jeri shared with me the prayer she prayed as she left college tennis during her time at UGA
Her mindset as a female coach in a male dominated industry
How to grow in your prayer life.
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
About AIA Tennis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Death to Self, Pride to the Side | Grey Hamilton | Baylor Assistant Coach
2025/03/24
EPISODE 2
Grey Hamilton is in his 2nd year as the assistant tennis coach at Baylor. Prior to that, Grey spent 3 years as the Volunteer Assistant at SMU. Grey played 4 years at Ole Miss where he helped the Rebels to four-straight NCAA tournament appearances and a spot in the Sweet 16 in 2018.
In this episode:
- What happened to drastically change his life while playing on the Futures tour
- The one thing his junior coach did for him everyday since he was 12 that when Grey found out, it had a massive impact on his life.
-What Grey found when he dug into the intellectual side of Christianity
-Grey’s daily approach in being a D1 college coach
- The legacy Grey wants to leave.
Rate. Review. Share!
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Resources Grey mentioned:
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Genuine Joy and Deep Sadness | Jason Kerst | Notre Dame Assistant Coach
2025/03/17
SEASON 2 HERE WE GO!
Jason Kerst has served as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Notre Dame since 2023. Prior to that Jason worked in fundraising and was the volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech and at South Carolina while he completed his MBA. Jason competed for the University of Iowa, graduating in 2021 and was the recipient of the ITA Regional Arthur Ashe Leadership Award.
In this conversation, you will hear about:
His deep love of tennis and how he became a Christ-follower
What an Iowa campus staffer did that stood out to Jason
How Covid and Iowa dropping Men's Tennis impacted Jason
And much, much more!!
This is Season 2 of the Podcast! We are sharing 6 episodes all with elite assistant coaches to hear behind the scenes about their careers and faith stories.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Verses Jason shared:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Healing. Vision. Power. | Lee Taylor Walker | TCU Head Coach
2024/04/08
Lee Walker has served as the Head Women’s Tennis Coach at TCU since 2014 where his team reached a high of #14 in the country. Prior to this, he spent 7 years as the Head Coach at Memphis and 5 years as their assistant coach. Lee competed for Memphis where he was ranked as high as number 12 in the country in doubles and is in the Memphis Club Hall of Fame.
In this conversation, you are going to hear about:
His struggles as a college athlete and where he turned in his lowest moment
How as a D1 coach he was drowning in activity that lead to complete physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion
The fundamentals he prioritized to rebuild his life, family, and coaching
And much, much more!!
This is Episode 8 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Resources Lee highlighted:
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
A New Heart | Mark Booras | Tulane Head Coach
2024/04/01
Mark is the Head Men’s Coach at Tulane where in 2008, he was tasked with rebuilding a program that was discontinued for four years as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Mark has orchestrated the program’s improbable return to national prominence as a top-25 team in the country. Before that, Mark spent 10 years as an Assistant and then Associate HC at LSU. Mark was a top 20 player at West Virginia and went on to reach 267 in the world in doubles.
Mark is known around the country for his joy and the way he treats people. But in this conversation, you are going to hear:
How his faith has impacted his life and coaching
The prayer he prayed before taking the Tulane job
What it was like inside the hospital room the moments before and after his heart transplant in May of 2023
And much, much more!!
This is Episode 7 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
More details on Mark's health battle with the ITA Podcast.
Mark's GoFundMe Page.
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Building a Team | Nathan Thompson | Princeton Assistant Coach
2024/03/25
SUBSCRIBE NOW
EPISODE 6
Nathan is in his 1st season as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Princeton. Nathan competed on the pro tour from 2005-2010 reaching a career high of number 356. Before that, he was an NCAA All-American at Clemson. Nathan also has had coaching stops at Clemson and D2 Southern Wesleyan along with working at the Junior Tennis Champions Center where he worked with players like Mitchell Frank and Francis Tiafoe.
In this conversation with Chad, you will hear:
What Nathan learned from his time playing for the legendary Chuck Kriese,
How he wandered from his faith during college
About a major adversity that he and his wife have journeyed through
And much, much more!
This is Episode 6 of our 8 episode series sharing faith-filled stories of elite college tennis coaches.
Connect:
IG - @aiatennis
Email - [email protected]
Track: "The Rebel Flagship"
Music provided by https://slip.stream
Podcast reviews
Read Walk Like A Champion Podcast podcast reviews
jbraught88 2026/04/22
Gospel & Tennis
Tennis can seem like a lonely place as a Christ-follower. Only a few episodes in and I’ve already been encouraged!
basebplyrjp8 2025/10/03
Stellar
What impresses me the most about Chad is his heart.
Hauge_J 2025/04/11
GREAT LISTEN!
Walk Like A Champion is a solid podcast that blends faith, sports, and real life in a real and honest way. Chad keeps things easy to follow but still ...
Tennisjj 2025/03/20
Encouraging and honest
This podcast has given me a renewed sense of community in the tennis world. Grateful for the men and women that Chad has brought on to share their sto...
slamajamabama 2024/04/17
Get a lot out of this!
Enjoyed the episode with coach Jamie Hunt. Super cool to hear the priorities of a Christian in the college tennis world. Great questions from Chad!
mgolba1985 2024/03/28
Christ is “Centre Court”
This is a great podcast that values tennis but cherishes Christ. Each Pod is Christ focused sprinkling in bits of Tennis here and there. Faith and Fam...
CoachChadSimpson 2024/03/27
A blessing
I am blown away by coaches being open and vulnerable to share what is in their heart! Thanks to everyone tuning in. Share your feedback if you think w...
Rodrigo.Almeida216 2024/03/22
True blessing
Just getting started and already living the content. What a blessing, thank you.
Aunt DLH 2024/03/20
Walk Like a Champion
I am so blessed by Derek’s testimony and your heart for God Chad! I loved hearing Romans 8 - great job memorizing by Coach Derek. This is challenging ...
FlamesTennis 2024/03/18
Deep. Purposeful. Powerful.
Great job of organizing a strong and engaging podcast that shares the best news in the world, Chad.
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