In 1997 Eric Ferris wrote a book titled A Season With Coach Dick Bennett. It gave a great behind the scenes look at Coach Bennett in which he shared many thoughts on basketball, teaching and coach. Here are some of the ones that impressed me the most.""We must outlast the offense on every possession! Great defense takes consistent effort and a commitment to excellent, every second of every practice and every game."
"I can't sacrifice integrity for talent."
"I believe in the synergy of the group, believe that sum of the parts is greater than the individual talents of the members. Therefore, I have always tried to recruit players with great character, players who are selfless and committed to the team first."
"It is the process that counts, not the destination."
"I think motivation is the link that makes it all possible. There isn't anything more important."
"It is a paradoxial statement, but it takes incredible personal discipline to play with great freedom."
"Players who are committed to the team first will find a way to help when things are going bad, they will do whatever it takes. Kids that are more into themselves will not do that. They will take care of themselves and get more individual when things are touch."
Five Key Components to Coach Bennett's Philosophy:
HUMILITY: Know who you are
PASSION: Do not be lukewarm
UNITY: Do not divite our house
SERVANTHOOD: Make teammates better
THANKFULNESS: Learn from each circumstance.
"We cannot accept in victory what we would not accept in defeat."
"Every team must have one thing that it tries to be great at."
Dick Bennett's What To Do To Keep From Losing:
1. Prevent turnovers
2. Take good shots
3. Don't give up uncontested shots to the opponent
4. Make free throws
5. Don't foul, thus giving up free throws and negating pressure
6. Don't give second shots to the opponent, don't give offensive rebounds.
