From a Miami University Legacy to a National Peacock Premiere Cradle of Coaches – Case Study

Legendary Coaches, Powerful Voices 

RESLV is proud to serve as the creative force behind Cradle of Coaches, a feature-length documentary celebrating the extraordinary football legacy rooted at Miami University. This project was more than just a film; it was a multi-year storytelling endeavor capturing the lives, leadership, and legacies of some of the greatest coaches in football history.

A project of this scale required more than cameras—it required access, trust, and deep relationships. RESLV worked tirelessly to cultivate and coordinate high-profile interviews that bring authenticity and authority to the Cradle of Coaches documentary. Through careful outreach, personal connections, and creative persistence, we’ve opened doors to conversations that might otherwise have remained closed. 

Streaming exclusively on Peacock | Premiered August 17, 2026

Watch on Peacock

The Purpose

Miami University’s Cradle of Coaches is one of football’s most influential coaching legacies, but awareness of the story extends unevenly beyond Miami alumni and dedicated football historians. With national distribution secured through Peacock, RESLV and Miami University faced a new challenge: turn a historic institutional story into a timely, culturally relevant launch capable of reaching football audiences nationwide.

The campaign also required coordination across Miami University, Peacock/NBCUniversal, featured coaches and athletes, media partners, event stakeholders and ambassadors while working within announcement and distribution timelines.

Featured Coaches and Voices Include: 

  • Sean McVay – Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams 
  • Lou Holtz – Hall of Fame Coach and motivational legend 
  • John Harbaugh – Head Coach, New York Giants
  • Chuck Pagano – Former Coach and Defensive Coordinator
  • Dan Dalrymple – Head Strength Coach, Denver Broncos 
  • Aaron Kromer – Offensive Line Coach, Buffalo Bills 
  • Mike Brown – Owner, Cincinnati Bengals 
  • Ben Roethlisberger – Super Bowl Champion QB and Miami alum
  • Andrew Whitworth – Super Bowl Champion and NFL Man of the Year
  • Aaron Donald – Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • Chris Shula – Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams
  • Frank Smith – Assistant Head Coach, Minnesota Vikings
  • Deland McCullough – Running Backs Coach, Oklahoma Sooners
  • Joe Bowen – Linebackers Coach and Run Game Coordinator, Pittsburgh Panthers
Pictured left to Right: Scott Thompson (Director), Troy Blome (Director of Photography), Sean McVay (LA Rams Head Coach), Jesy Herron (Producer).

Campaign at a Glance

RESLV led an integrated rollout spanning documentary production, public relations, social media, events, paid media, partnerships, and distribution to introduce one of football’s most influential legacies to audiences nationwide.

Project Leads 

Directed by: Scott Thompson, Founder of RESLV 

Produced by: Jesy Herron, VP of Client Partnerships at RESLV 

In Collaboration With: Alecia Lipton, Director of Media & PR at Miami University

DOCUMENTARY LANDING PAGE

John Harbaugh New York Giants

What We Tackled 

Documentary Development 

  • Led creative concepting, research, and story arc development 
  • Crafted interview questions and visual treatments to shape a compelling narrative 
  • Managed pre-production logistics including scheduling, scouting, and compliance 

Production Across the Country 

  • Conducted 84 interviews with NFL coaches, players, and sports journalists in stadiums, studios, and homes across 26 U.S. cities.
  • Captured high school football culture and behind-the-scenes footage across Ohio, from all four corners of the state.  
  • Shot game-day atmospheres, practices, and historic locations tied to the Cradle legacy 

Cradle of Coaches Production Travel

 

Cradle of Coaches Instagram Grid

Marketing & Promotion 

  • Supported university and donor engagement through video brochures and pitch materials 
  • Built and launched dedicated Cradle of Coaches Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube channels to grow early awareness and community engagement.
  • Total Impressions: 2,500,000+ 
  • Accounts Reached: 900,000+ 
  • Engagement: 100,000+ Interactions 
  • Top-performing posts: Official Trailer, John Harbaugh singing Miami University’s Fight Song, and Sean McVay’s statue

Post-Production & Editorial Strategy

RESLV laid the editorial foundation for Cradle of Coaches. After interviews wrapped and new footage from across Ohio’s high school football culture was captured, our post-production team shaped the narrative framework that brought the story to life. 

  • Organizing and logging hours of interview and b-roll footage 
  • Story arc development and editorial structure 
  • Prepped motion graphic treatments, archival layering, and title design 
  • Planned for original scoring and long-form editing, which began in late 2025 

This phase evolved through mid 2026, as we continued to collect the voices and visuals that define this documentary. 

Official Teaser

Collaborate with RESLV.

Have questions, ideas, or an interest in bringing this inspiring story to broader audiences? Whether you’re a fan, a storyteller, or a distributor looking for compelling, legacy-driven content, we’d love to hear from you. Prefer email? Reach out directly: [email protected].

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