jeff@nashvillecoachingcoalition.com

Jeff McGinnis grew up in a small central Florida town no stranger to the world of sports. He spent weekends either watching his dad play softball or making up games with his older brother to stay occupied and out of trouble. Being younger and smaller than his brother and older friends honed his competitive edge and work ethic toward any sport with a ball. It also created in him a performance-oriented, and often love-hate relationship with athletics. On the first day of high school, when a teacher asked him, “Are you as good as your brother in baseball?” he decided to focus all his effort and time on basketball. This led to a scholarship to play basketball at Central Florida Community College, where his college career took a completely different turn. A severely broken ankle on the second day of practice showed him there may be more to life than just sports. After crutches, healing, and rehab, he continued playing and eventually accepted a scholarship to Belmont University, where he was a member of one Elite 8 and two Final Four NAIA teams.

His success at Belmont reinforced equating good performance with attention, but thankfully, Jeff had coaches and professors who helped him see a different perspective on his athletic ability. While there he became a Christian and enjoyed the opportunity to travel overseas teaching basketball and sharing his story. The experience gave him a new meaning in life, allowing him to see that sports was about more than just gaining personal acceptance, it was an open door to impacting people’s lives for eternity.

Since then, Jeff has spent his career coaching and teaching on and off the court. He has worked in the banking industry and has served at several non-profit organizations in Middle Tennessee. His athletic claim to fame was once throwing a no-hitter, yet still losing, a high school baseball game. Now his win column includes smoking meats, dinner with friends, and most of all spending time with his wife Amy, daughters, Leah and Sydney, and son-in-law Caleb. “I’m excited to join the NCC staff and impact the lives of coaches and players throughout Tennessee. The thought of sharing my story and influencing coaches to impact the next generation feels like the right next step in my journey.”

scott@nashvillecoachingcoalition.com

Scott Hearon is a native Nashvillian who grew up playing youth sports in the gyms and fields all over Middle Tennessee. A remarkably average athlete, Scott did not make a big impact in the high school stat columns, but he found his niche as a gifted leader and communicator among his teammates and coaches. Scott attended Baylor University and earned a degree in Communications and a minor in Business. While at Baylor, he met new football coach, Art Briles, during football tryouts when Coach Briles informed him that his 5.0 second 40 yard dash time was not quite good enough to be a slot receiver for the Bears.

After returning from Texas, Scott took a ministry job working with high school students and their families and coaching in his spare time. He found a lot of success in his day job, but repeatedly watched his worst self come out on the playing field. One afternoon after a particularly detrimental exchange with a player, Scott came to the realization that his paradigm for athletics flowed from his own fear, shame, and performance based identity that was passed on from many of the coaches he played for. With a clear desire for something more for himself and the young people he led, Scott set out on a recovery journey to become a full-hearted leader and to develop opportunities to help other coaches come along and do the same. Scott co-found the Nashville Coaching Coalition in 2015 and begin as the Executive Director full-time in 2016 with the goal of creating a growth and support community where Middle Tennessee’s most important youth influencers, athletic coaches, can become the very best version of themselves.

Scott’s most rewarding and challenging roles in his life are being a husband to Allison, father to his son, Fisher, and daughter, Hart. In his spare time, Scott loves to sweat, read, or be outside learning something new…usually with his black lab, Ranger.