In his second season at the helm, coach TJ Gillespie has guided Maumee boys basketball to a dramatic turnaround — doubling last year’s win total and bringing playoff basketball home.

But this conversation goes far beyond the scoreboard.

Coach Gillespie shares what defines a “TJ Gillespie team”: family first, relentless energy, accountability and daily commitment. He discusses how having a full year under his belt allowed the program to move beyond foundational teaching and into culture-building.

We dive into:

• The impact of mental health check-ins with players
• The importance of coaching consistency with assistants Tia Crape and Jim Richardson
• The leadership growth of Ben Kubicz and Will Kubicz
• Owen Kennedy’s transformation through relentless offseason work
• The progression of sophomore point guard Dom Poellnitz
• The unsung heroes whose practice roles fuel Friday night wins
• The midseason turning point that changed the team’s energy
• Learning from tough losses at Lake and Genoa
• What it means to host a playoff game in Maumee

This is a conversation about development, trust, culture and doing things the right way.

Panther fans — this is one you don’t want to miss.

Adversity didn’t break this team — it built them.

In this episode of Inside Maumee Athletics, host Jeremy Schneider sits down with Maumee girls basketball head coach Brad Kuron to break down a remarkable first season at the helm.

Coming into the year, the Panthers had to replace a First Team All-Ohio player in Lucy Porter. Then, early in the season, injuries sidelined team leader Taylor Smith and key contributor Lyric Pratt. For many programs, that would have been the turning point in the wrong direction.

Instead? Maumee finished 14–8 overall and 8–4 in conference play — good for third place.

Coach Kuron talks about:

• How players like Reign Hurt, Taryn Pyle, Myla Jordan and Miriam Findling stepped into expanded roles
• The leadership impact of injured players still showing up every day
• Why practice habits — not game nights — built this team’s success
• The moment he knew this group had “figured it out”
• What it means to be playing their best basketball at tournament time
• And the surprising postseason draw that sends Maumee two hours away to Celina despite earning a No. 2 seed

It’s a conversation about resilience, standards, accountability and a team that refuses to make excuses.

If you want to understand how culture wins games — this episode is for you.

In this episode, we sit down with Maumee wrestling head coach Pete Schlegel to reflect on his first year leading a program that means more to him than just wins and losses.

Pete talks about what it’s been like stepping into the head coaching role after years of success in the Maumee wrestling room as an athlete, and how that history shapes the way he leads today. We dive into his coaching philosophy, the challenges and rewards of taking over a program with high expectations, and how he balances tradition with building his own identity as a head coach.

From developing relationships with his athletes to setting long-term goals for the program, Pete shares what drives him—and where he wants Maumee wrestling to go next.

In the first episode of Season 2 of Inside Maumee Athletics, we sit down with Panthers football coach Evan Karchner. Maumee had a return to glory last year with eight wins and a home playoff game. That success has made the Panthers hungry for more! We talk with Evan about the differences between last year and this year's team, the players and units to watch out for in 2025, and how he feels about the job heading into his third season.

Stay up to date on Maumee athletics news all year by visiting insidemaumeeathletics.com.

Contact the show by emailing insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com.

On this episode of Inside Maumee Athletics, we sit down Jim Shaw, a Big Ten football official and board member of the National Football Foundation. Jim has been a football official for 30 years, starting with high school games before moving on college football. We talk to Jim about becoming an official and why there is a shortage of officials today, what it's like to officiate at the highest level of college football, and some of his best memories. If you're a football fan, this is one interview you cannot miss!

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In this episode, we sit down with Maumee baseball coach Todd Ery to talk about the challenges and excitement of a fresh start. After finishing second in the conference last season, the Panthers graduated 12 seniors and are looking to reload with a new group. Coach Ery shares insights on kicking off the preseason training indoors, the vital role of his assistant coaches, and what fans can expect from the team this year. Plus, plenty more on leadership, development, and the future of Maumee baseball!

In this episode, we sit down with Maumee softball head coach Brian Jones as the Panthers chase their third straight district title. Coach Jones shares his insights on building a championship program, fostering strong relationships with his players, and what to expect this season. Tune in for an inside look at the culture and mindset that have propelled Maumee to success.

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Inside Maumee Athletics is joined by Jamie Naragon as the Maumee drama club presents "Mean Girls" at the Performing Arts Center on March 21, 22 and 23. We talk about the upcoming show, where the ideas for the different shows come from, and why it's important to have students involved in the arts.