3D Journey: Who Is Wes Simmons and What Is 3D

Welcome to the 3D Journey, Episode 1 of 12. In the first episode of our 12-part series with the 3D Institute, Rob Ramseyer sits down with 3D Institute CEO Wes Simmons to discuss the experiences that shaped his approach to coaching, leadership, and coach development.

Wes shares how two transformational coaches influenced his life, including legendary Missouri coach Vin Bonuchi and his college football coach at Northwest Missouri State Mel Tjeerdsma. Those relationships showed him what a healthy, demanding, and life-giving team culture could look like.

That experience eventually led Wes to create the Coaches Circle, an early online professional-development platform for coaches. After encountering Dr. Jeff Duke and the 3D framework in 2009, Wes recognized the structure that had been missing from his work. That relationship eventually helped lead to the official launch of the 3D Institute in 2014.

Rob and Wes also discuss why technical knowledge is necessary but insufficient for sustained coaching success. Coaches must understand their sport, but they must also know how to develop the mindset, relationships, identity, purpose, and character of the people they lead.

In This EpisodeWhy every athlete deserves at least one 3D coachHow Wes’s high school and college coaches shaped his lifeWhy the United States has historically lacked a consistent system for coach developmentThe challenge of learning from influential coaches without copying their personalitiesHow the Coaches Circle became the foundation for the 3D InstituteWes’s first encounter with Dr. Jeff Duke and the 3D frameworkThe difference between success and significanceWhy leaders cannot guide people into places they have never personally exploredThe three dimensions of coaching: skills, mindset, and identityHow coaches influence values whether they intend to or notWhy modern leadership requires a shift from power to influenceHow coaches cultivate motivation, confidence, emotional regulation, team cohesion, and purposeThe vision for the 3D Culture Summit 2027 in St. Joseph, MissouriThe Three DimensionsFirst Dimension: Skills and Strategy

The technical knowledge, tactics, physical training, and execution required to perform at a high level.

Second Dimension: Mindset and Relationships

Motivation, confidence, emotions, communication, team cohesion, goal setting, and psychological safety.

Third Dimension: Identity and Purpose

Character, values, significance, self-worth, purpose, and the deeper beliefs that drive behavior.

The strongest coaches work intentionally in all three dimensions.

Featured Quote“Every kid deserves at least one 3D coach in their life.”