157: Ed Jones II - The Big 5 Mentorship Structures & Solving Real Problems
What happens when a former athlete takes his love for sports and turns it into a movement?
In this episode, Ryan sits down with Ed Jones II, founder of Beyond the Field, to unpack how a childhood filled with competition, community, and coaching evolved into a career centered around impact. Ed shares his journey from fast-footed kid in Houston to collegiate player, coach, and now thought leader in player development.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How a childhood moment with a football helmet and strong winds led to a lifetime love for sport
- Why Ed built a national summit for player development professionals, starting with a single Zoom call
- The five types of mentorship every athlete needs (this structure is gold)
- What most people get wrong about working in player development
- How missed opportunities shaped Ed’s mission to create resources for the next generation
- Why he turned down a quarter-million-dollar offer at age 17
- The mindset shift that came when he realized he wouldn’t go pro and how it freed him
- What makes a great player development coach beyond the sideline
- The importance of building community impact into athlete development
- The “solve-it mentality” that turned his passion into a movement
This one’s full of real talk, useful frameworks (especially if you’re in the player development space), and a powerful reminder: if the horse won’t drink water, maybe it just needs watermelon.
💎 GOLDEN NUGGET:
"The value is in being adaptable. If they need you to do something, you can do it." — Ed Jones I
Want support on your own pivot?
Visit www.2ndwind.io to learn more or book a session.
Let’s help you figure out what’s next and build a career that fits where you are now.
Links:
Check out Ed’s book The Player Development Guide on Amazon.