How Great Coaches Build Belief: Lessons from Mountain West Coach of the Year Jason Eck, Head Football Coach, University of New Mexico Lobos

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with University of New Mexico Head Football Coach Jason Eck to explore what it truly takes to build belief inside a team.

In his first season leading the Lobos, Coach Eck engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football—leading the program to nine wins, a bowl game appearance, and Mountain West Coach of the Year honors after being projected near the bottom of the conference.

But behind the wins is something deeper.

Coach Eck shares how leadership, culture, and mindset shape the foundation of a high-performing team. Drawing from more than two decades of coaching experience across Division II, FCS, and FBS football—including championship runs at Minnesota State and South Dakota State—he explains how leaders create environments where confidence grows and teams outperform expectations.

Throughout the conversation, Eck discusses how belief is rebuilt in struggling programs, how players develop mental toughness for high-pressure moments, and why culture must become player-driven rather than coach-driven for lasting success.

This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence and culture aren’t built overnight. They are created through daily standards, aligned leadership, and a mindset that prepares teams to perform when the stakes are highest.

You’ll Learn:

• How Coach Eck helped players build real confidence after a turnaround season
• What leaders can do to help teams handle pressure and rising expectations
• Mental habits athletes use to stay composed in high-stakes moments
• How leaders rebuild belief in teams that haven’t experienced success
• Leadership lessons from rebuilding multiple football programs

Episode Resources & Links

Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/

Follow University of New Mexico Football: (1) New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) / X

Follow Jason Eck on X: (1) Jason Eck (@Coach_Eck) / X

Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/

Download our Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/