2025 Conference Schedule & Speakers
Inspiring Collective Leadership
We are thrilled to welcome you to the 20th annual Play Like a Champion Conference!
Browse this year's Conference Schedule and read more about our featured speakers below.
2025 Conference Schedule
*All Times Eastern Daylight Time
Wednesday, June 18th: Faith
Location: Foley's in O'Neill Hall
11:30 AM
Daily Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Optional)
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
12:00 PM
Tour of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Optional)
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Pre-Conference Retreat
12:00 PM
Conference Registration and Lunch Available
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
1:00 PM
Opening Prayer Service
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
1:30 PM
Retreat Session 1: The Neuroscience of Connection
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
3:00 PM
Retreat Session 2: Surrender
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
3:45 PM
Retreat Session 3: Striving for Holiness
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
5:30 PM
Closing Prayer Service
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
Opening Conference Dinner & Social
6:00 PM
Cocktails & Appetizers
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
6:30 PM
Dinner
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
7:15 PM
Opening Remarks
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
Play Like a Champion's Executive Director Dr. Clark Power and Program Director Kristin Sheehan welcome attendees to the 2025 Play Like a Champion Today Sports Leadership Conference, the 20th anniversary of this annual event! LaVonte Stewart will frame our conference theme of “Inspiring Collective Leadership” as we embark on this exciting experience together.
Dr. Clark Power
Kristin Sheehan
LaVonte Stewart
7:45 PM
Trivia Night!
Foley's in O'Neill Hall
Join Play Like a Champion's Peter Piscitello as we begin the 2025 Conference with time for play! Attendees will join together to compete for prizes in this friendly team trivia competition. Whether you're a sports trivia aficionado or can't remember the name of your favorite team, we promise there will be fun for everyone!
9:00 PM
Compton Family Ice Arena Tour
Compton Family Ice Arena
Take a short walk across the parking lot for a tour of the state-of-the-art Compton Family Ice Arena, home to Notre Dame Hockey. Get a behind the scenes tour of the facility and learn about how Notre Dame develops some of the best hockey players in America.
Thursday, June 19th: Hope
Location: McKenna Hall
7:30 AM
Registration, Breakfast & Networking
2nd Floor McKenna Hall
8:15 AM
Opening Prayer w/ James Driessen
McKenna Hall 215/216
Begin the second day of our conference with prayer, led by musician and opening keynote speaker James Driessen.
8:30 AM
Icebreaker
8:45 AM
Accomplished mental performance coach and team consultant James Driessen unpacks the "Four C's of Leadership" - Culture, Connectivity, Confidence and Creativity - as essential pillars for developing resilient teams, fostering collaboration and inspiring long-term success.
James Driessen
9:30 AM
The 2 Minute Drill
McKenna Hall 215/216
Play Like a Champion partners are changing the lives of children in awesome ways through sport. This session highlights unique efforts taking place across the country in a series of quick-hitting presentations that are sure to inspire attendees with ideas for their own communities.
10:15 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Gerard Gioia
Dr. Gioia is Director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) program at Children's National Hospital, as well as a professor at George Washington University School of Medicine. In this session, he provides a practical understanding of concussions, ways to identify suspected injuries and support student-athlete recovery.
11:15 AM
Coaches Jeff Jackson & Brock Sheahan with Mike McNeill
A Conversation on Coaching
McKenna Hall 215/216
Join two generations of Notre Dame hockey coaches as they sit for an armchair conversation on coaching and athlete development in the modern game. The conversation will be led by Mike McNeil, Programming and Instruction Manager at Notre Dame's Compton Family Ice Arena and a former professional hockey player. Jackson retired in March 2025 as the active Division I leader in wins, having achieved remarkable team success and sent numerous players to the NHL. Sheahan starred as a defenseman for the Irish and Coach Jackson from 2004-2008, now he succeeds him as the program's head coach.
Jeff Jackson
Brock Sheahan
Mike McNeill
11:50 AM
Kevin Love Foundation on Mental Health Resources
McKenna Hall 215/216
Representatives from the Kevin Love Foundation join via video to share important resources to promote the mental health of young athletes.
12:00 PM
Lunch
2nd Floor McKenna Hall
1:00 PM -
5:00 PM
Play Like a Champion Coach Clinic Training
New Youth Coach Clinic
McKenna Hall Room TBD
New High School Coach Clinic
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Join Play Like a Champion trainers for a journey through our acclaimed Coach Clinic.
Kristin Sheehan
Peter Piscitello
Andrea Perales
1:00 PM
Breakout Sessions #1
Returning Youth Partners Roundtable Conversation
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Returning High School Partners Roundtable Conversation
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Returning partners will enjoy roundtable discussion with updates on material and best practices, as well as discussion on important topics in their communities.
Collective Impact Roundtable
McKenna Hall Room TBD
This session provides an introduction to Play Like a Champion's collective impact work in Chicago, South Bend, and Los Angeles, as well as an introduction to work being led in Indianapolis, IN.
2:15 AM
Break
2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions #2
Re-Designing Youth & High School Sports
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Play Like a Champion's Peter Piscitello will lead a discussion with youth and high school leaders focused on new ideas for "re-engineering" sports to better serve participation and development. From an in-depth look at age-appropriate development and the American Development Model, to innovative ideas being put into practice across the country, this interactive session will educate and energize leaders.
How the Academy Meets the Local City
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Join this panel featuring Notre Dame's Sport, Media and Culture (SMAC) Minor, Tutor-ND, Foundry Field and members of Notre Dame Athletics and the South Bend Community for a discussion on how institutions and community organizations can work together to positively impact children.
Peter Piscitello
3:30 PM
Break
3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions #3
Bill Matthews
The ACT Matrix: Managing Anxiety and Aligning Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors with Values for Student-Athletes
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Licensed Professional Counselor Bill Matthews will take attendees through the ACT Matrix, educating and providing resources to help leaders promote positive mental health in student-athletes.
Developing Sustainable Funding
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Join this discussion with civic leaders, funders and program directors to discuss solutions for developing sustainable programming and securing the funding needed to operate for years to come.
Collective Impact Roundtable
Meeting the Needs of Student-Athletes
McKenna Hall Room TBD
A panel discussion with first-time coaches shares their impressions of the needs of student-athletes and how we can better provide for them.
Bill Matthews
5:00 PM
End of Day Community Meeting
McKenna Hall 215/216
Stay in the main room as we wrap-up the day's discussions with takeaways and action items.
Dr. Clark Power
Kristin Sheehan
5:30 PM
Experience Sitting Volleyball
McKenna Hall Lawn
Sitting Volleyball has been an official Paralympic sport for 45 years, with athletes playing a version of volleyball that has some key rules changes in a seated position. Engage in this experience with fellow conference attendees to learn about this exciting game and consider how you can bring similar adaptive sports to your community.
6:15 PM
Dinner, Drinks & Thursday Evening Keynote Featuring Jill Bodensteiner
Collective Impact in Athletics
Downes Club in Notre Dame Stadium
Jill Bodensteiner
Jill Bodensteiner is the Vice President and Director of Athletics at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. A national leader in college athletics, she'll share about the initiatives St. Joseph has undertaken to make a difference beyond the field of play and inspire attendees to make an impact in their own schools and communities.
9:00 PM
Grotto Walk
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
Bring Thursday to a close with a short candle-lit walk to the beautiful Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto on Notre Dame's campus. This special experience will be led by Rev. John Conley, CSC, the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish at the University of Notre Dame.
Friday, June 20th: Love
Location: McKenna Hall
8:00 AM
Daily Mass
O'Neill Hall
A Catholic Mass will be celebrated for those who wish to attend.
8:00 AM
Tour of the Notre Dame Campus
New around here? Meet at the entrance to McKenna Hall and join fellow conference participants on a 45 minute tour of the University of Notre Dame campus.
8:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
2nd Floor McKenna Hall
8:45 AM
Opening Prayer
McKenna Hall 215/216
Begin the final day of our conference with prayer!
9:00 AM
An inspirational leader who has changed the lives of countless children, Stewart will guide attendees in discovering how we can act in our local communities to build on the collective impact model we have discussed through the conference.
LaVonte Stewart
9:30 AM
Dr. Paul Putz
Playing the Long Game: Lessons in Sports Leadership from the Past
McKenna Hall 215/216
Paul Putz
Historian Paul Putz draws on key insights from significant sports leaders in American history, highlighting principles and practices that can be applied today to build sustained cultures that flourish in our teams, leagues and organizations.
10:15 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Breakout Session #4
Coach/Athlete Panel
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Enjoy a discussion with this distinguished panel of coaches and athletes. Learn how we can best serve our student-athletes as well as the men and women who coach them.
Parent Like a Champion Workshop
McKenna Hall Room TBD
Join Play Like a Champion's Kristin Sheehan as she takes attendees through the Parent Like a Champion program, a one-hour workshop that has transformed the culture at youth sports organizations across the country.
Kristin Sheehan
Peter Piscitello
11:45 AM
Closing Community Meeting & Ceremony
McKenna Hall 215/216
Let's wrap-up the conference experience with takeaways discussing how we will each use the information to inspire us to impact our local communities.
Dr. Clark Power
Kristin Sheehan
12:15 PM
Lunch Available in McKenna Hall or To-Go
McKenna Hall 2nd Floor
Digital Handouts
Connect with fellow attendees and check out these important resources referenced during the conference!
Featured Speakers
Speakers Listed in Alphabetical Order
Jill Bodensteiner
Vice President, Director of Athletics
Saint Joseph's University
Jill Bodensteiner is completing her seventh year as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Saint Joseph’s University in 2024-25, leading the Hawks’ 20 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s varsity sports and the University’s Campus Recreation Department. Since coming to Saint Joseph in June of 2018 after an accomplished 20-year tenure at the University of Notre Dame, Bodensteiner has helped St. Joe’s develop a holistic approach to college athletics with a focus on the field, in the classroom, on campus, and as an industry leader. Over her first six years, Bodensteiner has overseen the genesis of an exciting era in St. Joe’s Athletics, defined by competitive excellence, transformative student experiences, facility upgrades, and creating a premier destination on Hawk Hill. Under Bodensteiner’s direction, Saint Joseph’s created the Beyond the Hill program to develop student-athletes in the areas of academics, leadership, diversity and inclusion, spirituality and service, and career. In 2021, St. Joe’s used funds from a $100,000 grant it received to design and implement a recess curriculum, with dozens of student-athletes volunteering to support neighboring Gompers Elementary students during recess. Bodensteiner currently serves on the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, the Committee on Academics, and the Division I Council's NIL Working Group, having previously served on the Committee on Women’s Athletics, the Federal and State Legislative Working Group (charged with evaluating issues related to name, image, and likeness), and the Division I Legislative Solutions Working Group (charged with crafting legislative proposals related to NIL).
James Driessen
Founder, Bullish Drive
James Driessen is an accomplished mental performance coach and consultant with a wealth of experience in psychology. Holding a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology, he has acquired certificates in various fields, including developmental psychology, criminal psychology, play therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Driessen served as the head coach for the Rochester High School Rugby Club, leading them to four consecutive state championships and has acted as a coach consultant for several other teams. In addition to his coaching endeavors, Driessen has excelled as a mental skills coach and scrumhalf specialist for the University of Minnesota. Over his extensive career as a player-athlete, Driessen held the role of starting scrumhalf for several other esteemed men's clubs. Through his expertise in mental skills coaching, psychology, and rugby coaching, he has helped coaches, athletes, and teams enhance their mindsets, boost their meta skills proficiency, and achieve remarkable levels of performance. Driessen is also an accomplished musician, playing piano, violin, guitar, bass and drums. His unwavering passion for helping individuals and teams elevate their mindset, enhance their skills, and unlock their fullest potential shines brightly in every facet of his remarkable journey, working one on one from 8 year old athletes to NBA players and everything in between.
Dr. Gerard Gioia
Director, Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) Program
Gerard Gioia, PhD, is the director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program at Children's National Hospital, as well as a professor at George Washington University School of Medicine. He directs the Neurobehavioral Core research laboratories for Children’s National’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center. He has been the Principal Investigator of several multi-site CDC-funded research studies of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a focus on the development of methods/tools for the evaluation of the executive functions and post-concussion neuropsychological functioning. He has developed several smartphone apps and works closely with the CDC on their “Heads Up” concussion educational programs. He is the team neuropsychologist for the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, school systems, and numerous youth sports organizations in the Baltimore-Washington region. He consults with the local and National Governing Organizations of ice hockey, lacrosse, football, rugby and soccer related to concussion management and is on the Medical Advisory Committee for USA Football and the National Advisory Board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Jeff Jackson
Former Head Coach, Notre Dame Men's Hockey
Jeff Jackson retired in 2025 following 40 years as a Division I hockey coach, with the last 20 seasons spent as the Head Coach of the University of Notre Dame Men's Hockey program. Jackson won two national championships at Lake Superior State in 1992 and 1994 before arriving at Notre Dame in 2005, where he proceeded to take the Irish to 12 NCAA Tournament appearance and 4 "Frozen Four" appearances. Having twice won the Spencer Penrose Award as the National Coach of the Year, Jackson finished his illustrious career as the NCAA leader among active head coaches with 601 wins. 25 of Jackson's players at Notre Dame went on to play in the NHL, establishing the Notre Dame as one of the top programs in the country and Jackson as one of the best coaches in the game.
Bill Matthews
Licensed Professional Counselor
Bill Matthews is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Michigan-qualified Counselor-Supervisor. Having graduated from Notre Dame, Eastern Michigan, and the University of Michigan, his general and athlete clinical practice focuses on the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD; and, the assessment and treatment of ADHD, among others. Bill is a certified EMDR trauma treatment specialist with advanced training certificates in Student-Athlete Mental Health from a Christian Perspective from Baylor University, the Psychology of High Performance from The Center for Health Education at Stanford University Medical School, mPEAK Mindfulness & Performance, user, and trainer/coach training from UC-San Diego, and EMDR and Performance basic and advanced training, from EMDR Professional Training (Fullerton, CA). He has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan, Concordia University, and Macomb Community College served as a youth coach, and has been a volunteer for the Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series for the past fourteen years, focusing on student-athlete mental health and program development.
Mike McNeill
Programming & Instruction Manager, Compton Family Ice Arena
Mike McNeill served as a captain of Notre Dame Hockey during his four years in the program, before being drafted in 1988 and playing 12 years of professional hockey, including time with the Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques. In 2011 he was named the Programming & Instruction Manager at the Compton Family Ice Arena, where he has served for 14 years.
Dr. Paul Putz
Director, Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor University
Dr. Paul Putz serves as program director for the Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies and as director for the Faith & Sports Institute, where he helps to lead and develop online programming and curriculum as well as assisting with communications and strategic planning. Paul received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Grace University, where he played basketball. He went on to get a PhD in history from Baylor. He has over a decade of experience as an educator in the high school and college classroom and his research and writing has been featured at Christianity Today, Slate, National Public Radio, Religion News Service, and more. His first book, The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports, was published with Oxford University Press in 2024.
Brock Sheahan
Head Coach, Notre Dame Men's Hockey
Brock Sheahan was named the Head Coach of Notre Dame Men's Hockey in March 2025 after serving each of the last two seasons as the program's Associate Head Coach. He spent the last two seasons involved in all aspects of the Irish program, working with the staff to develop a young roster; this development led to five graduates to sign professional contracts at the end of the 2023-24 season. Sheahan returns to coach his alma mater, where he starred as a defenseman from 2004-2008 and served as an alternate captain his senior year. After graduation he spent time coaching at Holy Cross, the USHL (where he won two regular season championships with the Chicago Steel in 2020 & 2021) and the American Hockey League.
LaVonte Stewart
Executive Director, Lost Boyz Inc.
LaVonte Stewart earned a degree in Computer Science from Chicago State University and his Master's in Public Administration from DePaul University. Having specialized in gang intervention and violence prevention for the Black United Fund of Illinois, he also worked for six years in the Illinois General Assembly. Stewart founded Lost Boyz Inc. in 2009 when he felt a call-to-action after witnessing how antisocial behavioral patterns and local violence were increasingly impacting area youth. Having experienced firsthand the profound impact baseball can have on a child’s development, he rallied the community around organized youth baseball. The organization added softball in 2014. Today, Lost Boyz provides sports-based youth development to help boys and girls ages 4-24 in Chicago's under-resourced neighborhoods develop confidence, resilience, and life skills.
Play Like a Champion Today Staff
Clark Power, Kristin Sheehan, Jim Power, and Peter Piscitello will be present to teach you Play Like a Champion's Character curriculum for coaches, sport parents and athletes. Our staff will welcome you and inspire you to join our community in kinship.
