The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

What does it look like to take deep-rooted discipline from your upbringing and turn it into leadership across sports and business?

In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with James Fisher Jr., General Manager of the Memphis Hound Dogs, to talk about a journey shaped long before titles ever came into play.

From growing up in Texas, where grit, discipline, and self-belief are part of the culture, to running track and pl...

Memphis has chased major league status for decades — from the Memphis Red Sox to the ABA and the World Football League. In the early 1980s, that pursuit led to the Memphis Showboats, one of the most memorable chapters in the city’s sports history.

On this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams, historian and author Dr. Keith B. Wood returns to discuss his new book The Memphis Showboats: The USFL Team & the City’s Fi...

 - In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline, Sandy Adams sits down with Dr. Sally G. Parish, Vice Provost at the University of Memphis and Superintendent of University Schools.

Dr. Parish leads a rapidly growing K–12 school district connected to the university, but her passion for developing confident young leaders was shaped much earlier in life.

Growing up in Pulaski, Tennessee, a difficult experience with a hig...

 - Larry O’Bannon Jr. made a conscious decision early in his career to plan for life after basketball—so retirement wouldn’t catch him unprepared.

In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Larry shares how thinking ahead while still playing at the University of Louisville helped him navigate a 15+ year professional career overseas—and transition smoothly into life after the game.

Coached by Rick Pitino, Larry learned resilience, me...

 What does it take to move 4,000 miles from home to a new city & school sight unseen and become a national champion? Gabriela Zych has the answer.

In this episode, Sandy Adams sits down with Gabriela Zych, University of Memphis rifle standout and the first national champion in Memphis rifle history. 

Gabriela shares her journey from Anchorage, Alaska to Memphis, how she discovered shooting in high school, and how mindset, consist...

Former soccer standout Jazzmin Mancilla opens up about resilience, reinvention, and life after sports.

After 15 years on the field, national titles, and two ACL tears, she’s now navigating motherhood, a big move to Tennessee, and launching her own soccer training business.

Highlights:

• 2× national club champion (Arsenal & Legends FC)
• Cal State Fullerton: multiple Big West titles
• Overcame 2 ACL tears & major injuries
• Coached cl...

What happens when your biggest passion leads you to unexpected places and the search for what’s next?

Dr. Kishi Smith-Rey’s journey started on the soccer fields of Southern California, where her love for the game carried her to Division I at Cal State Fullerton. Along the way, she faced injuries, setbacks, and the challenge of balancing athletics with academics as a first-generation college student.

After retiring from competitive so...

 - Former University of Memphis basketball player and overseas pro, Will Coleman, joins Sandy to share his inspiring journey from a late start in basketball to playing professionally in Europe—and now leading lower and middle school athletics at St. George’s Independent School in Memphis.

Will opens up about the mentors who shaped him, the challenges of balancing fatherhood with a pro career, the struggles he had along the way and h...

- On this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Jason Munz, the University of Memphis men’s basketball beat reporter for the Commercial Appeal.

Jason grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, got his first byline as a high school student, and has since covered everything from Friday night football to the Super Bowl blackout in New Orleans. Since 2019, he’s been the voice Memphis hoops fans turn to for Tigers basketball coverage...

 - Behind every game-day moment, there’s a team working off the field to make it possible.

In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline Series, we sit down with Duvante Lane, Director of Development for the University of Colorado Buff Club.

We talk about:

• His pathway into college athletics and the different roles that shaped his career
• Why development and fundraising matter for student-athletes
• How NIL is changing th...

 - In this episode, Angie Allen shares how she went from multi-sport high school athlete in high school—never having rowed a day in her life—to becoming one of the fastest rowers in Kansas history.

She opens up about:

• Growing up in a D1 football family and how that shaped her mindset
• The surprise recruiting journey that landed her on KU’s rowing team
• What it’s like to lose your sport to injury and find purpose in the unknown
• Pivotin...

 - In this episode of The 5th Quarter, Sandy Adams sits down with former college football player and first-generation college graduate Emmanuel Orange. Born in Haiti and raised in Florida, Emmanuel shares what it was like adjusting to life in a new country, learning English through experience, and finding his voice—and purpose—through football.

From his early years at Naples High School to his time as a team captain at Carson-Newman...

- Coach Courtney Burns, head coach women's basketball at Post University, joins The 5th Quarter Podcast to share her journey from athlete to coach and how she’s helping players grow on and off the court. From trust-building to teaching self-motivation and staying focused on the next step, Courtney opens up about the mindset behind her coaching and the resilience it takes to lead through change.

Her story is full of lessons for ...

- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Sandy Adams sits down with former NBA point guard and current Memphis Grizzlies color commentator Brevin Knight to talk about grit, belief, and finding your second act.

Brevin opens up about growing up with a chip on his shoulder, being overlooked in high school recruiting, and how a chance viewing by Stanford changed everything. His story is one of relentless confidence and quiet resili...

 - In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, Sandy Adams sits down with Geoff Mack, the public address announcer for the University of Memphis Tigers Football and Men’s Basketball teams.

From growing up in Wyoming to becoming the iconic voice heard at every Tigers game, Geoff shares stories of family, legacy, and what it means to own the mic.

In this episode:

• Following in his older brother’s footsteps
• What he wanted to be as a ki...

The Voice of Consistency: Jeff Brightwell on Longevity, Preparation, and Evolving in Broadcasting

In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast – On the Sideline, host Sandy Adams interviews Jeff Brightwell, a veteran play-by-play broadcaster and proud University of Memphis alum.

With a career spanning nearly 30 years across radio, TV, and digital platforms like ESPN and CBS Sports Network, Jeff brings a wealth of insight not just into ...

- In this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast, I sit down with Nate Brown—former college athlete, longtime coach, and now a leader in athletic administration. From the field to the front office, Nate’s career has been built on leadership, resilience, and helping the next generation of athletes grow into their potential.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:

 ✅ The transition from player to leader – How his experiences as a student-...

 - In this episode, we sit down with Grace Cave, a standout D1 athlete from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as she reflects on her record-breaking college career.

From growing up in Weeping Water, Nebraska, to winning a state championship, to navigating college basketball during COVID, Grace shares the highs, the struggles, and what’s next.

She also dives into the state of women’s sports, the challenges female athletes still fac...

In this episode, Sandy sits down with Gwendolyn Sanders Woods, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis.

Gwendolyn shares her incredible journey from growing up in Memphis, navigating childhood adversity, and discovering her passion for track & field through the mentorship of a middle school coach.

Episode Highlights:

• Overcoming childhood adversity in Memphis.
• Finding track & field through mentorship.
• Competing at...