{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"What It Takes To Build a Championship Culture with JJ Gottsch","description":"What does it take to build a championship team, grow a nationally recognized brand, and create a lasting culture that performs under pressure? In this episode of The Athletics of Business, Ed Molitor welcomes back JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. They dive into the leadership, culture, and disciplined execution behind one of PBR Teams\u2019 most successful organizations. JJ shares how the Gamblers\u2019 success began with ownership that did more than set a bold vision. They backed it with trust, resources, and support, giving the team what it needed to build a year-round brand around a five-month competitive season and strengthen a locker room filled with world champions. JJ and Ed also dig into the moments when growth begins with seeing an opportunity others miss. From creating new opportunities for women in bull riding to expanding the team\u2019s international presence, JJ\u2019s stories show what can happen when leaders are willing to ask, \u201cWhat could this become?\u201d and then bring the right people together to make it real. One of the most powerful stories comes from the team\u2019s annual trip to Brazil. Navigating an unfamiliar language, culture, and daily routine gave the riders a deeper appreciation for what some of their teammates experience while living and competing far from home. What began as a team-building trip became an opportunity to build empathy, deepen trust, and strengthen the way they supported one another. Ultimately, JJ\u2019s stories point back to a simple truth: greatness is rarely complicated. It is built through consistency, discipline, trust, focus, and the willingness to keep showing up and doing the work. OUR GUEST After spending 25 years helping run Nolan Ryan's various sports holdings under the Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment Umbrella, JJ made a jump to professional bull riding in February of this year. He's heading up the Austin Gamblers, one of the eight founding franchises of the new PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series. JJ Gottsch is the longest-tenured employee with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment and has played a key role in the development of both the Round Rock Express (Houston Astros Triple-A) and Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros Double-A). He was promoted to his current position, COO, in January 2015. In this role, he oversees all business operations for the Express, RS3 Turf, RS3 Strategic Hospitality, as well as the company\u2019s growing entertainment division. Gottsch was president of the Hooks for the club\u2019s first five years, where his leadership and experience helped them draw more than two million fans in their first four seasons.  Prior to his position in Corpus Christi, Gottsch served as assistant general manager for the Express during the first six years of the organization\u2019s existence. Gottsch helped lead the franchise to record-setting attendance numbers, establishing a new Double-A home attendance record with 660,110 fans in the club\u2019s first year, eclipsing the old attendance mark that had stood for 20 years. The franchise would proceed to break its own attendance standard in each successive season with Gottsch on board as a steadying influence. A former player, Gottsch\u2019s professional career included time with the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer League and the Perth Baseball Club in the Western Australia Baseball League. At the collegiate level, Gottsch played for Creighton University as well as TCU, where he was a member of the Horned Frogs1994 Southwest Conference Championship and NCAA Regional team.  He transferred to TCU after spending three years at Creighton, where he was a shortstop on the 1991 Bluejay team that advanced to the College World Series.   WHAT YOU\u2019LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How the Austin Gamblers created a year-round brand around a five-month competitive season What it meant to represent the United States during America\u2019s 250th anniversary celebrations in Brazil How JJ recognizes opportunities and pressure-tests ambitious ideas before dismissing them Why great ideas depend on the people and resources needed to execute them How the growth of women\u2019s professional sports is creating opportunities across the entire sports ecosystem Why bull riding\u2019s courage, authenticity, intensity, and fast-paced format connect with modern audiences How consistency, discipline, loyalty, trust, and focused execution shape JJ\u2019s definition of greatness   RESOURCES & LINKS  JJ Gottsch LinkedIn: JJ Gottsch Facebook: JJ Gottsch Twitter: JJ Gottsch Website: Austin Gamblers Twitter - @Austin_Gamblers Facebook - Austin Gamblers   Ed Molitor LinkedIn - Ed Molitor Website - coeffex.com YouTube Channel - The Athletics of Business   Timestamps   00:00 \u2013 The ownership behind every championship team 01:16 \u2013 JJ Gottsch returns to The Athletics of Business 02:02 \u2013 Four years of growth across PBR Teams 03:28 \u2013 Why success starts and ends with ownership 05:38 \u2013 Inside the Austin Gamblers\u2019 championship culture 07:42 \u2013 Building stronger relationships through Brazil 10:49 \u2013 Representing America during its 250th anniversary 14:47 \u2013 The moment the significance finally became real 17:23 \u2013 Turning ambitious ideas into meaningful experiences 19:53 \u2013 Creating new opportunities for women in bull riding 23:57 \u2013 What professional bull riding gets right 27:43 \u2013 Building a niche sport versus promoting baseball 31:39 \u2013 Why bull riding must be experienced live 33:13 \u2013 Trading cowboy boots for dancing shoes 35:46 \u2013 The Austin Gamblers lightning round 38:13 \u2013 What greatness looks like today 40:58 \u2013 Why becoming elite requires focus 43:28 \u2013 Final thoughts and closing   ","author_name":"The Athletics Of Business","author_url":"https:\/\/www.themolitorgroup.com\/podcast-theathleticsofbusiness\/","html":"