Building Team Culture and Overcoming Adversity with Ozzie Parente

Building Team Culture and Overcoming Adversity with Ozzie Parente

In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, we sit down with Ozzie Parente, head boys soccer coach at the Taft School and associate dean of students. Ozzie shares his journey from growing up in Connecticut to becoming a multifaceted leader in a boarding school environment. He discusses the importance of building team culture, forming meaningful relationships with players, and redefining adversity. Ozzie also covers his coaching experiences across different sports and how these have informed his approach to coaching varsity soccer. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the values of selflessness, humility, and community in sports.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:08 Ozzie's Early Life and Passion for Sports
01:57 College Years and Initial Career Path
03:25 First Job at Taft School
04:22 Mentorship and Early Coaching Experiences
05:53 Life in New Haven and Taft School Culture
07:38 Coaching Philosophy and Evolution
11:58 Balancing Multiple Roles and Family Life
16:29 Experimentation and Learning as a Coach
19:07 Challenges and Realizations as a Head Coach
22:24 Exploring the Concept of Culture in Teams
23:20 Building a Strong Team Culture
24:36 Traditions and Practices that Unite Teams
26:56 The Importance of Recognizing Individual Contributions
32:01 The Role of Coaches Beyond the Field
40:05 Redefining Adversity and Team Support
43:43 Concluding Thoughts on Team Culture and Support