Episode 49: Mike DiGrigoli on Coaching, Thinking Positive, and Role Modeling to Your Athletes
/“The number one thing parents must do, in my opinion, to allow their son or daughter to be successful in extracurricular activities and sports is support the program.”
Mike was born in Pittsfield, MA in 1972 and raised in West Stockbridge, MA. He grew up playing sports with friends and cousins in Berkshire County and attended Monument Mount Regional High School in Great Barrington where he played three sports - football, wrestling, and baseball. He was also recently inducted into the Monument Mountain Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame! He has just finished his 10th season coaching at Golden Gate this year and 8th season as Head Coach. He made school history by leading the Titans to their first postseason playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012 and only winning seasons in 2013, 2014, and 2018. Mike began his coaching career in 1995 as a graduate assistant football coach for the State University of New York at Brockport where he coached linebackers in strength and conditioning for the Golden Eagles. After one year he took his second coaching assignment at American International College in 1996. At American he served for two seasons as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the Yellow Jackets and earned his master’s degree in Education from American International in 1998. Coach D and his wife Paula have been married since 2003 and reside in Naples, FL with their daughter Issa, and son Andreas. Kathy and Mike talk through understanding the importance of athletics and why students should be involved, how sports build character and work ethic, and the encouragement needed to teach athletes perseverance. They also discuss creating realistic goals and how to bring about awareness when parents live vicariously through student athletes. Coach D shares how the vital elements of gratitude, attitude, toughness, and effort dictate the success of his teams. We are excited to keep sharing from the expertise of coaches! If you enjoyed the show, please like, share it with sport families in your life, and rate us in your favorite place to listen. If you’d like to share any feedback with Kathy she’d love to hear from you! Connect with her on social media @sportpsychworks and through https://www.kafcounselingandsportperformance.com/contact.
