“Beyond Football: Saving Lives on and off the Field” with Coach Mike Mosby

In this episode, I sit down with Coach Mike Mosby from Oakhaven High, an inner-city Memphis school, to talk about what it means to lead beyond football. When a wealthy East Memphis school stepped in to buy his team 30 new helmets, the gap was on full display. Mosby shares hard truths about the community he serves—where father figures are scarce, crime is concentrated, and football becomes a lifeline for hope and belonging.

Episode Highlights

• Breaking the Cycle: From growing up fatherless to becoming the father figure his players never had.
• Hard Truths on the Ground: 50% of African American boys in his zip code are raised in single-parent homes.
• More Than Football: Belonging, safety, and opportunity matter as much as the scoreboard.
• Disparity on Display: An East Memphis school raised money overnight for gear the system couldn’t provide.
• The Weight He Carries: Coaching while counseling kids in a violent zip code.
• Looking Ahead: What it will take to turn community generosity into lasting change..