In this powerful conversation, Diamyn Hall shares his personal journey from a promising football star to a leading mental performance coach. After overcoming life-altering injuries, Diamyn discovered the mental side of performance, which became his calling. Together with Mike, they explore elite preparation, the true keys to resilience, building championship mindsets, and how young athletes can develop the habits that separate the best from the rest.
Key Topics & Estimated Timestamps:
(0:00) Introduction by Mike Huber
(2:10) Diamyn’s life-changing football injury at 14 and early adversity
(9:20) Transitioning from football to basketball to baseball—and adapting mentally
(16:40) Discovery of mental performance tools: Heads-Up Baseball and John Maxwell’s leadership lessons
(22:10) The role of mental toughness in elite sports performance
(26:00) Building systems for mental skills and leadership development at the college level
(30:30) "Relax to Get Results" – Key principle in mental skills training
(37:20) How to dominate the time between pitches in baseball
(42:00) Shohei Ohtani's goal-setting sheet: Preparation secrets of the elite
(47:30) Preparation and reflection: The habits that differentiate Hall of Famers
(52:00) Visualization and why it's a superpower for athletes (Mookie Betts' example)
(59:00) Convincing young athletes to invest in mental training
(1:03:40) Motivation: Internal vs. external drive at high school, college, and pro levels
(1:09:00) The importance of creating challenging and supportive environments
(1:14:00) Role acceptance, trust, and communication in team culture
(1:21:00) The importance of player-coach communication and meeting athletes where they are
(1:28:00) Self-coaching: Why mastering your inner voice is critical to success
(1:34:00) Awareness, reflection loops, and continuous self-improvement
(1:39:00) Closing thoughts: Watering your own "grass" and building the habits of champions
Resources Mentioned:
Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson
360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell
Relentless by Tim Grover
Body Mind Mastery by Dan Millman
Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Shohei Ohtani’s Goal Setting Sheet
Calm App (LeBron James)
Connect with Diamyn Hall:
Follow on Instagram @diamynhall
https://www.instagram.com/diamynhall/
Connect with Michael Huber:
Subscribe to The Freshman Foundation Newsletter: michaelvhuber.com/newsletter
Follow on Instagram @michaelvhuber.
https://www.instagram.com/michaelvhuber/