The Jimmy Scott's High & Tight Interview: Life Coach Diana McNab

DIana McNab has twice been the wife of star professional athletes.  She's the Director of Wellness & Sports Psychology for the Professional Sports Wives Association.  She writes for Professional Sports Wives Magazine.  She has a degree in Sports Psychology and a Masters from Boston University in Education.  She's a mother.  She's an athlete (on the Canadian National Ski Team for 8 years).  She's a ranch owner.  She's a lot of things.  But most important to us, she is a life coach.

The first time I heard the term "life coach," I thought it was a load of baloney (was goint to say "malarchy," but I don't really know what that is).   I thought life coaches were regular people who thought they knew better than us and could, under their so-called "credentials," criticize other people and get away with it.  But after speaking over the summer with Kym Byrd, wife of free agent MLB pitcher Paul Byrd, I gained a newfound respect for the profession.  To be a good life coach, you need to be understanding, thoughtful.  You need education and great listening skills.  You need to be strong and have the ability to help others without making them feel like complete fools.  When Kym told us all about her Strong Marriages In Professional Sports study, I was fascinated.  When she told me I should speak with Diana McNab, I jumped at the chance.

This interview is a wonderful compliment to my interviews with Kym, Gabrielle Schoeneweis (Part I, Part II & Part III), and Dr. Tom Robbins & Nancy DeLaney.  All of these interviews get into the professional sports, and more specifically, the Major League Baseball marriage.  Diana doesn't just get into it.  She submerges us.

Why is the divorce rate so high in pro sports marriages?  How can these marriages be saved?  Can they be saved at all?  How can athletes change themselves so they can be successful on the field and in the marriage?  Diana lets us know the scoop with plenty of examples.  She explains how her background helps and where she takes couples for therapy, both in physical place and psychologically as a couple.  And, she spends time explaining about fear in a marriage.  You might want to read my post, Fear In A Baseball Marriage, written right after our interview, that gives you a primer for this discussion. 

So put on your headphones or turn up your speakers.  Diana's gonna wow you with her stuff.  And dig the soundtrack too.  I picked these songs just for you.

By the way, this interview is also available via iTunes.  Just go there, click on Podcasts, then in the search field type in Jimmy Scott's Media.  The Jimmy Scott's High & Tight Interview: Life Coach Diana McNab, will be there, waiting for you.

 THE MUSIC

 Men At Work - Overkill

The Who - My Wife

Toad The Wet Sprocket - Something's Always Wrong

Paul McCartney - Angry

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains

Risky Business Soundtrack - The Pump, The Dream Is Always The Same, No Future, Lana

Field of Dreams Soundtrack - End Credits, The Cornfield

Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick

Mark Knopfler - Speedway At Nazareth

The Eagles - I Dreamed There Was No War

Billy Joel - The Stranger

The Who - Eminence Front

The Eagles - King of Hollywood