Pro Mindset Podcast

Tommy Lazzaro (former Central Michigan QB) shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his experiences as a college QB including his highs and lows. Craig was Tommy’s QB Coach in high school when Tommy was two-time state champion. Tommy graduated from Central Michigan in December (2019) and completed his final football season by scoring 9 TDs. Moving forward, Tommy was recently accepted into the Special Forces Training and Tommy shares his next goal is to kill the training and become a leader in the US Army Special Forces.
Tommy enjoyed lots of success in high school at Pine Creek High School (Colorado Springs) but had to go the junior college route as he went to Dodge City Community College. Tommy shares the challenges of adapting to a small town and a college about the same size as his high school. The silver lining for Tommy about his time at Dodge City is he learned to connect with so many players from different backgrounds from all over the USA. Tommy played at Dodge City Conquistadors for one season and lead his team to a conference championship before moving on to the Central Michigan Chippewas.
During his first season at Central Michigan, Tommy played behind former Dallas Cowboys QB and current New York Giants QB Cooper Rush. Before the NCAA changed the redshirt rule to allow players to play a max of 4 games and still retain their redshirt, Tommy played less than a handful of plays in one game his first season and lost a year of eligibility. Tommy again developed some very strong friendships with his teammates at CMU. Although Tommy scored 9 TDs this past season and lead the offense in the wildcat formation, Tommy was not the fulltime starter. He had different coaching staffs and several QBs he had to compete with during his time at Central.
Tommy thought about quitting football more than a few times during his college career but he did not want to let his teammates down so he stuck it out. Tommy was rewarded by his teammates at his senior football banquet when he was selected the most inspirational player and received the Kurt Dobronski Award. Tommy did it for his teams and he plans to attack the US Army Special Forces with the same mindset which is do it for the man on your right and on your left.

Sam Vines, Colorado Rapids Soccer Pro, was discovered by Pro Mindset host Craig Domann at his 3rd grade May Day! Craig was coaching his son’s soccer team and saw Sammy win every event at his elementary school’s May Day event and invited Sammy to join the “Strikers” competitive developmental soccer team.
Sam participated in the MLS developmental soccer program with the Rapids and signed his first professional soccer contract at 17. He is 20 today and a starting left back for the Rapids and this year received his “cap” for getting invited to US National Team and earning a roster spot.
Sam shares his high school to the pros experience. He has travelled the world on his soccer journey, and he is just getting started. Sammy aspires to and is on his way to playing in the next Olympics and representing the USA, as well as, playing in the World Cup for the USA.
Sam’s biggest dream is playing with the best in the world and playing in the English Premier League or as Sammy refers to as the “Prem.” Craig and Sammy discuss the mindset necessary to make those dreams come true.
Sam Vines honors include: Man of the Match honors after making his first-ever MLS start on April 13, 2019 and he earned Major League Soccer’s Team of the Week (Week 17) honors after his performance vs LAFC on June 28, 2019. He’s had 23 US Youth National Team call-ups and was named MLS Homegrown roster that took on Guadalajara’s U-20 team on July 30, 2019. Vines wore the captain’s band for the second half of the match and converted his penalty during the penalty shoot-out.

Ric Serritella shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his passion for scouting players in advance of the NFL Draft and his founding of NFL Draft Bible. The NFL Draft Bible was Ric’s brainchild that he started over 18 years ago and it focuses on player evaluations for the NFL Draft. He travels the country watching college games and scouting players. He shares his professional perspective on what separates the players who are successful in the NFL from the others.
Ric shares his viewpoint about scouting players, and he believes every scout and every team is unique in that scouting players truly is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Every team has a similar but not identical prototype of what it takes physically and mentally to make it and be successful in their system.

Kevin Robinson shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his experience as a 20-year veteran NFL player agent. Kevin mentors his NFL clients to exert their “will” on their opponents. He believes, as I do as well, that the sport of football is different from other sports because it is a game of WILLPOWER due to the physicality of the game.
Kevin offers his opinion that 90% of a player’s evaluation for the NFL Draft is his game film - this is consistent with what most NFL scouts/coaches will tell you as well. Kevin talks about game film serving as a video resume for college players as they go through the pre-draft evaluation process.
Kevin coaches his clients to control the controllables, master position techniques, develop great relationships with their coaches, take care of school, and treat people around the football program (trainers, equipment managers, etc.) as NFL scouts will do their research about every player’s off-the-field character.
Kevin is a very successful NFL agent who has a strong and recognizable client list. Kevin is excellent at connecting and relating to his players and negotiating top contracts.

Frisman Jackson shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his perspective as a former NFL wide receiver and current WR coach for the Carolina Panthers. As the title states, Frisman describes the biggest difference between playing in the NFL compared to college is an “Overtime” mindset. Players that build and sustain a NFL career are the ones that do the extra work all the time. Pros don’t punch the clock, they don’t have scholarships, and they are grown men fighting for their careers and their families.
Frisman also talks about the key to success for making a roster is keeping the main thing the main thing” instead of counting reps, thinking about roster spots, analyzing whether the coach likes you or letting your mind wander about things other than getting better every day and doing your job.
Frisman, a former college QB, coaches and teaches his receivers to learn the offense from the QB’s viewpoint. He tells his players that they must be involved in their own success meaning he as a coach cannot want it more for them than they want it themselves. Fris tells them they have to invest in themselves.
Frisman loves redheaded lefty quarterbacks – must listen to find out why!

NFL Replay Official Randy Campbell shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his journey as NFL, College Football and Women’s basketball official/referee. He has officiated in a College Football Playoff National Championship game, Women’s Final Four game and many other pro and college football and women’s basketball games.
Randy talks about the Official Creed of “Start perfect and get better from there” and the mindset of NEXT play to maximize his success on the field/court and minimize any carryover from any mistakes/errors in his calls.
Randy shares stories of interactions with coaches like Urban Meyer and Pat Summit, as well as, inside scoop on officiating games involving Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey.
Randy is currently an official supervisor and mentors, grades and teaches a group of officials. He has had a stellar career on the field and on the court and is looking forward to the NFL season getting started so he can take his place in the booth.

Sports Marketing pioneer Mary McKay, President, Access Brand Management, shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann her entry into sports marketing with Walter Payton, her full immersion in representing Emmitt Smith, Tony Romo, Chad Hennings and several other Dallas Cowboys. Mary transitioned from working for Sears and looking for a spokesperson (Walter Payton) to working with famous motivational speaker Zig Zigler to working full-time with athletes helping them find the best fit for their passions off-the-field.
Mary shares her perspective on what the most successful athletes have in common – they make family a priority and they know who they are. On the other side of the spectrum, the players whose careers are headed to an end usually are the ones who believe their own PR and the hype.
Mary is very fond of her relationship with Sweetness Walter Payton and she says what make him special was he put others first and it’s no accident that the NFL Man of the Year Award is named after Walter.
She tells stories about Emmitt Smith and his zeal for learning about real estate and electronics and so she connected him with companies in those industries. She got Tony Romo his first marketing opportunity when he was still on the bench with the Cowboys. Lastly, she claims Sears paid Walter Payton more money one season than the Chicago Bears did as he exemplified the slogan “satisfaction guaranteed or your money back”.
Finally, Mary talks about Zig Zigler’s key to success was his ability to talk “to” his audiences rather than talk “at” them and this meant he spoke at a 7th grade level, as well as, he touched people’s souls.

Eric Warfield shares with Pro Mindset host Craig Domann his wisdom from playing in the NFL for 9 years, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs, and a two-time National Champion as a University of Nebraska cornerback (1995, 1997). Eric was a formidable talent and dominated at his position. He credits his coaches believing in him and showing him how to maximize his talent.
Eric shares his biggest challenges and pivot point in his career. He reflects on his mindset and biggest fears.
Eric Warfield finished his collegiate career appearing in 35 games and recording 107 tackles (48 solo). He also had four tackles for 10 yards lost, forced a fumble, blocked three punts, broke up nine passes, picked-off the quarterback five times and had two quarterback hurries. His success led to the Kansas City Chiefs drafting him in the 7th round as the 216 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Warfield would go on to spend the next nine years in the NFL; Chiefs (1998-2005) and New England Patriots (2006). He would wrap up his NFL career with 392 tackles, one sack and 20 interceptions.
After the NFL, he worked as a volunteer defensive backs coach for his alma mater, the Huskers, and Head Coach Bo Pelini. As he shares in this podcast he still has a close relationship with former Chiefs Head Coach, Dick Vermeil, and Huskers Head Coach, Tom Osborne. He currently lives in the Dallas metroplex and loves to play golf.

As Executive Director of a PGA Tour Tournament, Gary Sobba, Tournament Director for Wells Fargo Championships, shares his insight that confidence, passion, intelligence and competitiveness are the ingredients for a successful career on the PGA tour. He describes how the 156th athlete in the tournament has virtually the same swing and mechanics as the top 5 athletes. The difference, though, is their mindset.
After spending 15 years with Learfield Communications, Inc., as General Manager of Tar Heel Sports Marketing in Chapel Hills, NC, he shares that work ethic and intelligence are the primary reasons for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels winning three national championships.
The Kansas native and University of Kansas graduate has run the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship since 2017.

Helping pro athletes make the SHIFT and successfully navigate the process of transitioning to life after playing professionally, Jonathan Van Horn, Associate National Director, Athletes in Action shares his perspective with NFL Agent and Pro Mindset Podcast Host Craig Domann. Van Horn shares his mission to help “pro guys figure out a game plan” and clarify “their identity, their value and their significance.”
Jonathan Van Horn is from Michigan where he grew up playing multiple sports, but decided to play soccer, the game he loved, at a Div. III school -- Ohio Wesleyan University. There he was introduced to Athletes in Action and began his journey to integrate faith into competition. Jonathan joined AIA staff in 2002 on the campus of The Ohio State University where he ministered for 4 years before transitioning to focus on soccer. Jonathan is now the Associate National Director for the Pro Soccer Ministry of Athletes in Action and serves as the team chaplain for the Carolina Railhawks of the NASL (2nd pro division) as well as oversees ministries within the NASL and USL (3rd pro division) in N. America.