We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Shelton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
There is no question that the key to our 22+ years of “success” is our people. We have a cadre of like minded folks who believe in some key tenets that permeate our daily approach.

1. A growth mindset is key. Our leaders understand we do not have all the answers and that continued improvement and personal growth are critical. It’s one of the things we ask from our players, we ought to do the same.

2. Our folks create a competitive environment. We do it through larger than typical roster sizes and a demanding level of expertise at the craft. It’s never “close enough”. Strive for perfection. Set the bar high.

3. A relentless approach. For our coaches – A focus on personal growth and thirst for knowledge. For our athletes – A dogged insistence on giving your best effort on and off the field. And for our leaders a never ending mission to recruit the best talent, both coaches and athletes as well as use the most effective tools to optimize all facets of preparation and in game performance.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My path has been an interesting one. I had the chance to do some really fun things. After graduating from Clear Lake High School, I was in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M and finished with a BS in Nuclear Engineering. I spent 8+ years as a submariner in the U.S. Navy getting a MA in Computer Information Systems along the way. After that I spent two years in Marketing at Procter & Gamble followed by 10 years at Frito-Lay/Pepsico in Marketing, Sales and Purchasing.

In 2007 I joined a small outfit that specialized in developing consumer package goods corrugated displays. It was a small firm, so we all worn many hats.

Along the way we started Texas Glory in May 2000 with no intention of creating a club. In August of 2007 we made some adjustments to create a pipeline of teams to help streamline training, team formation and cohesiveness.

In late 2014 I was asked to be the GM of a pro fast-pitch team based in McKinney. It was an amazing learning experience and lots of fun. That lasted for 2 years.

In the fall of 2016 we again made an adjustment to Texas Glory to allow it to grow outside of our geography of DFW. We quickly grew to over 50 teams, then over 80 and we continue to grow slowly.

Early on, we established some key tenets that are prominent on our website. The Glory Way and our Mission clearly spell out what we are about. To try to sum in up in one sentence: We want to help our athletes grow up to be independent, creative thinking, confident young women who know they can take their talents and make a difference in the world.

Three things we like to say:

Leave the World Better Than You Found It – hopefully facilitates a team mindset. A giving approach. Others before self.

Fail Full Speed – give best effort. It’s ok to fail. Go hard, adjust and keep attacking

Make the Routine Routine – do the right thing, take care of the fundamentals over and over and over. Excellence comes from executing of the boring details perfectly again and again and again. Steer clear of the superficial.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Would hope they came during HS and college softball season. I’d take them to the best HS and College games in the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The list of folks that have and continue to prop me and Texas Glory up is long. My Wife Lynette, who knows how to keep me grounded and humble deserves a ton of credit. Our Coaches, over the years who have been willing to give selflessly to help over 800 athletes achieve their dreams. Chief among them are Tracy Beard, Ed Naudin, Mike Miller, Cedric Coleman, Reed Robbins and Mariah Montgomery. There are many others, but these folks have been with us for years and have set the foundation. Other key players include Jason Gwyn and Keith Allen.

I am a big John Wooden fan. I routinely review his pyramid of success and its key precepts.

Our parents and players that buy into our approach have been key. Their are too many to name here.

A deep ceded faith in God, helps me deal with the constant negative bombardment and nay sayers. It’s easy to ignore or shake off the nonsense with a control the controllables attitude. A real belief allows me to have perspective, stay focused on what really matters and try to only spend my efforts on positive things, things that help our players reach their goals.

Website: www.texasglory.com

Instagram: @texasglory.fp

Twitter: @texasglory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TexasGloryFastpitch/

Other: www.texasglorygold.com

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