Behind The Lineup

About Behind The Lineup

Where Sports Meet Strategy. Behind The Lineup explores the strategy, systems, processes, and culture shaping baseball, hockey, and football. Hosted by Navy Veteran and College Baseball Coach Quinn McGrath, each episode covers professional and college sports, coaching philosophies, player development, leadership, and organizational decision-making. Through conversations with athletes, coaches, executives, and industry experts, the show uncovers the processes behind winning organizations and sustained success. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Publisher

Quinn McGrath

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 May 2025

Latest episode

6 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

50 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Aug 2026

   Episode 49: Building Processes and Systems with Justin Su'a

   In this episode of Behind The Lineup, we sit down with Justin Su’a, founder of Performance Advisory Group and an experienced advisor who has worked inside some of the most demanding environments in professional sports. Justin’s career has included work with the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Rays, WWE, and IMG Academy. Those experiences gave him a firsthand look at how elite athletes, coaches, executives, and organizations build systems, structure their decision-making, and create repeatable processes that hold up under pressure. Justin now works with individuals and organizations across the NFL, MLB, NBA, PGA, LPGA, ATP, and Division I athletics through Performance Advisory Group. During our conversation, we discuss his mission behind founding the company, the value of systems thinking, how decision-making science can improve performance, and what it means to serve as a process coach. Justin also explains what “the process” really is, why the phrase is often misunderstood, and how organizations can turn ideas into clear, consistent, and effective ways of operating. This episode offers a deeper look at how high-performing people and organizations make decisions, build better systems, and create processes that produce sustainable results. Want to learn more about GameRun? Check out the link below! https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath (https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath)

2. 

   23 Jul 2026

   Episode 48: Interview with Dane Fujinaka

   Dane Fujinaka joins the show to discuss his baseball journey and the process of rebuilding Hawai‘i Pacific University into one of the rising programs in the PacWest. Now entering his fifth season as the Sharks’ head coach, Fujinaka has established a program centered on player development, character, athleticism, and sustainable growth. He reflects on HPU’s historic 2025 season, which included 32 victories, an appearance in the PacWest Championship game, multiple program records, and the development of several nationally recognized players. Fujinaka also takes us through his path from growing up and playing baseball in Hawai‘i to becoming a standout catcher at Sacramento State and beginning his coaching career at Menlo College. He shares lessons from helping transform programs at William Jessup, Sacramento State, and Illinois State before entering professional baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. We also explore his experience managing the Blue Jays’ Dominican Summer League team to a championship, what professional baseball taught him about developing players from different backgrounds, and how he has incorporated those lessons into the college game. Fujinaka explains the vision behind rebuilding HPU, the standards that now define Sharks baseball, and the challenges and opportunities that come with recruiting and coaching in Hawai‘i. He also discusses the type of player who fits his program, the importance of versatility and character, and what it means to create a high-level college baseball pathway for players from the islands. Interested in GameRun? Check it out now!: https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath (https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath) Want to play for Hawaii Pacific? Reach out to Coach Dane Fujinaka on X: https://x.com/DaneFujinaka?s=20 (https://x.com/DaneFujinaka?s=20)

3. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Episode 47: 2026 MLB Draft Breakdown

   In this special MLB Draft breakdown episode of Behind The Lineup, we go beyond the names and draft order to examine what the numbers reveal about the current path to professional baseball. Using all 613 selections, we break down how many players were drafted from four-year colleges, high schools, and junior colleges. We also analyze the draft position by position, including how the demand for pitchers, shortstops, outfielders, catchers, and corner infielders changes between the high school and college levels. The episode also explores where college draft picks are coming from, comparing Power Four programs, mid-major Division I schools, junior colleges, Division II, Division III, and NAIA programs. Most importantly, we explain what these trends mean for players, parents, and coaches. Is college now the primary path to professional baseball? Why are high school shortstops drafted at such a high rate? How valuable is pitching versatility? Does a player need to attend a Power Four school to get selected? And where does the JUCO route fit into the modern development landscape? This episode turns the draft data into practical takeaways that can help players and families make better decisions about recruiting, development, exposure, and their long-term baseball futures. Check Out GameRun: https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath (https://partner.gamerun.ai/quinn-mc-grath)

Who has been a guest on Behind The Lineup

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Justin DiSanti
• Hadara Katarski
• Logan Scheider

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact Behind The Lineup

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Behind The Lineup