Welcome to a new season of the award-winning Hill Country Authors Podcast, sponsored by Stoney Creek Publishing. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with authors who live in and write about the Texas Hill Country. Tom Fox interviews Texas educator and longtime coach Heath Hamrick about his books, including Worse Than You Think and Play Like He Would.
Hamrick describes growing up in a multigenerational Texas coaching family and moving across the state and explains how Play Like He Would was shaped by witnessing his father coach and by a small-town tragedy in which a player, Jason Yancey, died on the field from an undetected enlarged heart. He contrasts his emotions then and now as a father, discusses coaches as surrogate fathers or big brothers who lead through care rather than yelling, and reflects on educators who change lives by sparking interest and truly seeing students. He argues real-life “how we move forward” stories matter more than Hollywood endings, defines legacy as lasting impact on students, and praises Stoney Creek Publishing’s support while describing revisiting decades-old drafts with a new perspective.
Key highlights:
- Life as a Texas Educator
- Tragedy on the Field
- Discipline Without Yelling
- Coaching for Leaders
- Teachers Who Matter
- Real Life, Not Hollywood
- Legacy of Teaching & Writing After 20 Years
Resources:
Order Play Like He Would on:
Follow Heath Hamrick on:
Stoney Creek Publishing Profile
Podcast Cover Art
Tom Fox