Episode 120: Looking for that "Edge" with Hall-of-Fame Basketball Coach Tim Meiss

In Episode 120 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Hall-of-Fame basketball coach Tim Meiss, a man who has spent over five decades leading, mentoring, and shaping athletes. With 51 years of coaching experience and more than 650 career wins, Coach Meiss has literally seen it all—but what makes him truly remarkable is his unwavering commitment to learning and improving at every stage of life.

This conversation zeroes in on what Coach Meiss calls the constant search for “that edge.” While coaches have long relied on physical training and skill development, he firmly believes that the next frontier in coaching lies in mental performance. Together, Coach Thomann and Coach Meiss unpack why mental skills—resilience, confidence, focus, and emotional control—must become intentional parts of every program if athletes and coaches are to reach their highest potential.

Always Learning, Always Growing

Despite his Hall-of-Fame accolades, Coach Meiss is not content to coach only from what he already knows. Instead, he actively seeks out opportunities to learn from others—whether attending clinics, visiting other coaches’ practices, or observing new approaches like the Passion for the Process camp Coach Thomann co-led with his son.

It’s that willingness to learn and adapt that has allowed him to remain relevant in the game for more than half a century. His message is clear: if you want your athletes and your program to keep growing, you must remain humble and keep learning yourself.

Faith and Identity in Coaching

One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is how Coach Meiss sees his role in the bigger picture. He doesn’t identify primarily as a coach. Instead, his identity is grounded in his faith and in being a man of God who also happens to coach.

This subtle but critical distinction has allowed him to approach the game with a healthy perspective. Wins and losses are important, but they never define him, his family, or his players. By keeping his identity rooted in faith, he models for athletes that they are more than their sport. That message is life-changing for players who might otherwise tie their worth to performance or scoreboard results.

The New Frontier: Mental Performance

As Coach Meiss explained during the conversation, basketball has evolved dramatically since he began coaching in the 1970s. At one point, weightlifting was considered harmful for basketball players. Today, no serious program would skip strength training. Similarly, he believes we are now entering a new era where mental training will be seen as non-negotiable in athletics.

Mental performance training isn’t just about “toughening kids up.” Instead, it’s about equipping athletes with tools to handle setbacks, challenge negative self-beliefs, control their emotions under pressure, and consistently compete at their best. Just as physical strength translates into success on the court, mental resilience unlocks performance when it matters most.

Why This Conversation Matters

Listening to Coach Meiss means hearing wisdom forged over decades of investment in athletes, communities, and teams. His humility, his faith-centered approach, and his relentless pursuit of growth are examples every coach can learn from—whether you’re in your first season or your fiftieth.

Episode 120 is a must-listen if you are:

• A coach looking for ways to gain an edge with your team
• An athlete who wants to better understand the role of mindset in success
• A leader who believes that identity and resilience matter as much as skill and strategy

Listen to the Full Episode

You won’t want to miss the insights from this conversation with Hall-of-Fame coach Tim Meiss. Tune in to Episode 120 of The Mental Mettle Podcast and discover how the game of basketball—and life itself—changes when you train the mind as intentionally as the body.

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