THOUGHTS ON EXTENDING YOUR CAREER

Last night I was talking to a colleague about our profession.  At times it can certainly seem like a roller coaster.  He wanted to know what the key was for having an extended career in coaching.  I was reminded off a presentation I gave a few years back at the A Step Up Assistant Coaching Symposium.  The topic given to me by Felicia Hall Allen was "The Art of Extending Your Career."

I opened with this:

THE GOAL IS NOT THE GOAL

"While I am assigned to talk to you about extending your career, I'm going to go a different direction saying that extending your career should not be the goal.  The goal is to become the best assistant coach you can become on a daily basis and an extended career will follow."

I think the first thing we need to decide in coaching is what is our "Why."  We must have an overriding purpose for coaching -- it has to be the centerpiece of our culture and what we stand for.  For me, the growth of the student-athlete has to be #1 on the priority list.  

"It doesn't matter where you coach,

it matters why you coach."
-Don Meyer

I spoke about studying Nick Saban and the philosophy he has in regard to the process.  The process is keeping focused on the task at hand -- executing as well as you can with what directly lies in fornt you at that very moment.   Coach Saban does not want his players looking at the scoreboard.  His belief is that the time and score have absolutely nothing to with the intensity and concentration you need to utilize on the very next play. 

I believe the same is true with our careers.  If we are getting up in the morning thinking about extending our career or looking ahead at that next job than we are taking away energy that we need to utilizing on what is really important -- today!  The absolute best way to move of the ladder as well as extend are career is to own and master that which has been given to us at this very moment.

One of the areas that I spoke about was Professionalism.  I firmly believe that ethical choices are a full-time job.  It must be character over victory.  Don't let a short-term gain for a win be overshadowed by a poor choice you made to try and get an edge.  

THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING

Of course, our biggest obstacle is winning.  We are expected to win immediately and constantly.  And don't get me wrong, winning is important as the following thought from Vince Lombardi points out:

"No leader, however great, can long continue 

unless he wins battles.  The battle decides all."

-Vince Lombardi

It's true.  If we want to continue to impact young people through coaching...if we want to have a positive contribution to our communities -- we have to win -- to keep our jobs.

I gave the example of a coach being hired at a BCS program and having a record of 38-47 after his first three years.  The last home game of his third season, he lost to his rival by 24 points.  He then went to his conference tournament and lost by 43!

I asked the coaches at the clinic "What do you think the athletic director did the next week?"

Of course, the all answered "Fire the coach."

They were stunned when I told them the AD gave the coach an extension.  I then told them the AD was Duke's Tom Butters and the coach was Mike Krzyzewski.

Those days are over.  The days when an administrator can see through the losses to see that a coach is doing the right things and building something.  I've heard Coach K speak at clinics and he even admits that if he were hired today and got off to the same start that he'd never see his fourth year.

Still, we can't let winning be a conflict of interested.  We can't be overly consumed or blinded so much in trying to win that we turn our head to discipline and our culture.  The best coaches are willing fight for the culture even if it might cost them a victory.

That's not to say winning isn't important.  Certainly we have to teach winning to our teams.  As a young student at Marshall University, the basketball coach at the time, the late Stu Aberdeen spoke about the importance of winning.  As he explained, when we are on the operating table fighting for our life, we better hope that the doctors and nurses have a strong desire to win.  Coach Aberdeen explained that should we ever be falsely accused in a court of law, that we better hope our attorney has driven to win.

As I mentioned earlier, ethical choices are a full time job -- and I do believe there is a right way to win and a wrong way to win.  If you are a principled person that means a great deal.  I posed the question to the coaches at the symposium -- "are you willing to lose your job?"  Do you believe so much in the principles of integrity that you would walk away from a job that did not share in your beliefs?

BE A CONTINUAL LEARNER

The second part of the process of staying in this business is becoming a continual learner.  There must be a fire within to constantly be searing knowledge to help you grow as a person and a teacher. 

My suggestion to the coaches in the audience was to become an expert at something in the game: post play, shooting, zone defense, etc.  Pick something and learn it at the highest level.  I think it is always important to be a good recruiter but don't be labeled as such because you don't excel in other areas.

Today there are so many ways to improve.  We had just came off of a Final Four season at LSU and one summer I went to Oklahoma to watch Sherri Coale and her Sooners practice for three days in preparation to go overseas.  The next year we again made it to the Final Four and I headed to Duke to watch Gail Goestenkors to again observe several practices before she took her team overseas.  

Today there are so many clinics to attend: Coaching U, Nike, PGC/Glazier.  There are tons of great blogs and Youtube loaded with information.  Have you attended an NBA or WNBA practice session? If not, you are missing out on some of the game's best teachers.

One other factor in being a continual learner today is the not just accept but to embrace technology.  Whether it's social media, apps for our phones and iPads or every improving methods of watching and breaking down video -- it's all there in front of us to help us improve.

FIND BALANCE

The next part of extending a career is to find balance.  I spend a great deal of time in my office -- always have and always will.  But I find a way to incorporate my wife with our program.  She has always been a big part of our culture.  Whether it's having the team over to decorate our Christmas tree, throwing a Mardi Gras parting in February or just having them over for an occasional home cooked meal, Sherie has always been active in helping us serve our student-athletes.

It's also important to plan family time.  Schedule time for your spouse and children though out the season -- an honor those commitments.  I learned most of this the hard way.  I once coached eight consecutive summers without a vacation.  I stayed up all night in the office two nights a week during the season watching video and getting scouting reports ready.  Then my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer!  It was an amazing paradigm shift for me and give me instant perspective.

Coach Don Meyer also talking about having "your time," where it is just you.  It can be a time of meditation or reflection.  For me, I like to do it early in the morning while everyone is still asleep.  I can catch up on some reading or spend some time writing in my journal.

Yet another example of helping you with balance is creating a circle of influence.  A handful of people that your believe in and trust.  Most importantly, these people need to be someone that love you enough to tell you the truth. Someone that can tell you your full of crap when you are.  Some can be coaches but it's always good to have some non-coaches in your circle.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCES

Part 4 of an extended career is the handling of your finances.  I shared with the coaches, and especially tried to get through to the younger ones that my biggest regret in coaching wasn't a decision on the floor but it was not getting involved with a financial planner early in my career.  I have had one the past 20 years and the results (and security) are amazing!  Many young coaches don't think they make enough money to work with a planner -- that's actually all the more reason you do.  One of the first things that Kay Martin of Ameriprise was talk to me about short-term and long-term goals.  Part of that process was to create an emergency fund that would pay into gradually to where we would have three months worth of salary to live on should anything happen.  Well, we have far more than three months now and its a great feeling to have that type of security -- not just for me but for my family.

I also have a special tax accountant that understands my profession and helps to keep that organized and more importantly, helps me maximize all of the possible exemptions and write offs available to me.

"You must gain control of your money

or the lack of it will forever control you."

-Dave Ramsey

BE FLEXIBLE

Next on the list of theories for having a long career is your ability to be flexibility.  It is a game, no a world, that is constantly evolving and changing. As assistant coaches we have to adjust to changes on our staff...we tend to change jobs a couple of times we must adjust to head coaches...we must adjust to administration...we must adjust to the times.  The best way to adjust is to stay open minded -- be a good communicator (which means a lot of listening as an assistant coach).

We must also adjust to the players.  This does not mean give in and allow the players to dictate policy.  But I firmly believe every player has a story and it is our job as coaches to learn that story.  Our ability to know them at a deeper level is critical for us to help them.  At UCF, we utilized Bill Rogers (who worked with Pat Summitt's Lady Vols along with some professional teams) in order to learn about their personalities.  What was their leadership potential? What were the primary motivators for each individual?  How did they best learn -- were they audio, visual or physical learners?  And then we adjust how we teach to meet them in the middle, where they can best be taught.

BE A PROBLEM SOLVER

Whether at clinics, via email or phone conversations, I often get the question "what are the attributes for being a successful coach?"  There are several in my opinion, most of them are obvious.  But one that is critically important is that you must be a problem solver.  Coaching is about solving problems.  

Not enough resources? Solve it.
Not enough post players or shooters? Solve it.
Lacking in facilities? Solve it.
Team chemistry problems? Solve it.

I'm not sure that there is not at least one minor problem per day in coaching -- but you have to solve it.  Solving problems to me begins with attitude.  Working for Coach Dale Brown I learned that we were not to use the word "problem" but we were to use the word "opportunity."  Coach Brown would tell us not to come in his office with a problem unless we were ready to offer a solution.  When people ask me what made Coach Brown so successful, again there are several reasons.  But one was he was a solution-oriented person when it came to problems.  He would amaze me with his attitude -- almost excited that a problem has arose because he loves the challenge of defeating it.

HAVE A SYSTEM OF ORGANIZATION

The final area I touched on was to become organized and primarily I was talking about improving your ability to document everything.  All conversations I have I follow up with the person I was speaking to with a short email of bullet points.  I do this with my players as well.  If I meet with a player to go over video, we both take notes and I email them to her.  Of course discussions of behavior -- both positive and negative -- are followed up with an email.

I'm a big believer in writing handwritten notes -- even with all the technology today.  I love to write a handwritten note to a player and stick it in her locker.  I also screen shot text messages -- positive and negative with players for my files.  I want as complete a written file on dealings with players, coaches, administrators, media and anyone else on the professional level.

We live in a time where you need to have your bases covered.

The final suggestion for extending your career?  Enjoy the ride! Embrace the grind -- even the problem solving.  The best coaches I've been around get a rise our of solving a problem.  You must be passionate about what you do but you still need a plan -- the role of an assistant coach is never easy but it is important.  Accept that role and challenge yourself to be the very best your can be.

THE LAST DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This will be our last post until following Christmas -- and has become a tradition at Hoopthoughts. We come off of Christmas with three games in fives days so the next few days I will be breaking down tape and squeezing in some Christmas shopping. Below is a motivational passout that Coach Dale Brown would mail out each Christmas. It speaks to our ability to teach...not teaching subjects (or plays)...but teaching students (and players) -- and there is a big difference. Enjoy and may you all have a wonderful holiday season!

 

 

When Tony Campolo was in Chattanooga last week to speak at the annual “Gathering of Men” breakfast, the noted sociologist told a story that begs to be repeated, especially on this day:

It seems that there was a lady named Jean Thompson and when she stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the very first day of school in the fall, she told the children a lie.

Like most teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all the same, that she would treat them all alike. And that was impossible because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, was a boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed he didn’t play well with other children, that his clothes were unkept and that he constantly needed a bath. Add to it the fact Teddy was unpleasant.

It got to the point during the first few months that she would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold ‘X’s and then marking the ‘F’ at the top of the paper biggest of all.

 

Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, nobody else seemed to enjoy him, either.

Now at the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s records and--because of things--put Teddy’s off until last. But when she opened his file, she was in for a surprise.

His first-grade teacher had written, “Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does work neatly and has good manners … he is a joy to be around.”

His second-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student and is well-liked by his classmates--but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”

The third-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy continues to work hard but his mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class. His is tardy and could become a problem.”

By now Mrs. Thompson realized the problem but Christmas was coming fast.

It was all she could do, with the school play and all, until the day before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to focus on Teddy Stoddard on that last day before the vacation would begin.

Her children brought her presents, all in gay ribbon and bright paper, except for Teddy’s, which was clumsily wrapped in heavy, brown paper of scissored grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents and some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet, with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of cologne.

But she stifled the laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and she dabbed some of the perfume behind the other wrist.

At the end of the day, as the other children joyously raced from the room, Teddy Stoddard stayed behind, just long enough to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to.”

As soon as Teddy left, Mrs. Thompson knelt at her desk and there, after the last day of school before Christmas, she cried for at least an hour.

And, on that very day, she quit teaching reading and writing and spelling. Instead she began to teach children. And Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they all called Teddy.

As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded and, on days that there would be an important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember the cologne.

By the end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the class and … well, he had also become the “pet” of the teacher who had once vowed to love all of her children exactly the same.

A year later she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers he’d had in elementary school, she was his favorite.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. And then he wrote that as he finished high school, third in his class, she was still his favorite teacher of all time.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, that he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and graduated from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still his favorite teacher.

Then four more years passed and another letter came.

This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. That she was still his favorite teacher but now that his name was a little longer. And the letter was signed, “Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.”

The story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said that… well, that he’d met his girl and was to be married.

He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering … well, if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not she wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing.

But I bet on that special day, Jean Thompson smelled just like … well, just like she smelled many years before on the last day of school before the Christmas Holidays begin.

SCOUTING THOUGHTS FROM STEVE BELICHICK (PART I)

I purchased a copy of the book "Football Scouting Methods" by Steve Belichick.  And as expected, it was extremely detailed.  And while it had an obvious tilt to scouting football, there were some takeaways for anyone that scouts.

I got my start in coaching by scouting for Ron Chambers and Doug McElwain at Winfield High School while attending Marshall University.  The junior high coach Brad Hodges took me early to show me the ropes, how to best scout and what RC and Mac were looking for.  I also spend some time with my junior high coach Allen Osborne and picked his brain on the topic of scouting. 

I learned so much from scouting -- in part because I was taught what to look for and also because I loved doing it.  While at LSU on the staff of Dale Brown, in-person scouting was still a part of the game and I rarely was on the bench for an LSU game as I traveled the country as an advanced scout.  Again, I learned so much from observing others.

Here is a great list from Coach Belichick:

What is Expected of the Scout

·         A scout should be static in his methods, since the frequent changes in football should cause him to re-evaluate his methods as well as seek ways to improve them from time to time.

·         The kind of information that the scout seeks should not be left entirely to his discretion, but should be spelled out in detail by the head coach, or those assistants entrusted with formulating game plans. It is not enough for the head coach to say, “Scout the game and bring back all the information you can.” Each head coach should have definite items that he wants to know about. Often, what is of importance to one head coach is of little or no concern to another. It is to be expected that every head coach will want to know the basic offense and defense used, and on the basis of this, what can be anticipated. However, the degree to which the offense and defense is to be analyzed for tendencies varies among the head coaches. Some coaches will want every analysis possible, while others will be content with the basic alignments and adjustments. Each head coach has his own requirements; these are dictated by his philosophy of the game.

·         In order for a scout to do a satisfactory job, it is important that he know thoroughly the head coach’s philosophy, as well as have a complete understanding with him as to what is expected in the scouting report.

·         In order to enlighten the scout as to what will be expected of him, some head coaches, at times with the aid of the rest of the staff, will prepare a check list for the scout to follow. This will enable the scout to have a complete understanding of what is expected of him insofar as his search for information is concerned.

·         There are other head coaches who will have a final report form prepared for the scout to use in determining what knowledge he is to seek.

·         Regardless of what type forms are used, it is important that the scout know where to place the emphasis in his work. Some coaches will want a detailed report on the personnel, while others will stress as complete a picture as possible of the offense and defense, along with the tendencies in each phase of the game.

LEADERS ARE READERS -- MAKE THE TIME!

Anyone that knows me knows that I love reading -- that I believe strongly in the value of reading.  As Coach Don Meyer would say, "Leaders are readers."  The amount of information available today is amazing.  Books and magazines -- hard copies or digital -- are so many subjects are available.  Blogs and internet sites are numerous. In the coaching profession there are so many great email newsletters. 

I personally utilize Google Alerts -- giving the specific names of coaches that I admire and want to learn from.  Each day at 10:00 am I get an email that list anything on the internet about those specific coaches.  For instance, Doc Rivers is on my list and I generally get 3 to 5 articles a day regarding Doc.

From my time working with Dale Brown at LSU, I learned how to fully use a book.  Coach Brown would be constantly marking his books with underlines and notes.  Afterwards his secretary would type the notes for his files for him to pull out utilize with his staff, team, media, fans or in his speech preparation for organizations.  This has been incredibly useful for me in allowing me to maximize my reading experience.  You can see an example of one my books above.  Coach Brown also assigned books to his staff to read and would annually give each player a team on the book to read as well, later having a conversation with them about what they learned.  I have took that on to the programs I work with having a book for our team to read in the summer (in which they must write a book report) and then have another book for our team to read during the season (in which is accompanied by worksheets).  The summer book usually steers away from basketball to broaden their horizons.   This year we gave each player a copy of "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou.  They will turn their reports in at the beginning of fall classes.  Our book for the basketball season will be "Toughness" by Jay Bilas.

I remember at Coaching U listening to Kevin Eastman talk about his discipline of rising each day at 5 AM to get his reading in.  Kevin is some who understands the growth that comes from reading:

"No matter how much we know on any subject, there’s always more to learn. Make the time to read, to study, and to think; each of these is important to your development. We all need to keep up with what’s going on in our field, too. I’ve found that news and magazine articles can be as helpful as books in this regard. The key is to keep searching so that you stay gain knowledge, improve, and stay relevant!"

 

The following is an excerpt from a well-written article by Kelsey Meyer for Forbes Magazine titled "Why Leaders Must Be Reader."

 

Reading Reminds You

I make it a habit to re-read specific books every year because I need constant reminders of the good things they’ve taught me. After my third reading of Gary Vaynerchuk’s The Thank You Economy, I was inspired to work with our team to handwrite every one of our clients a thank-you note. Whether you re-read the same book or article to remind you of concepts, or read content on time management and organization as a constant reminder to work on these things, reading is valuable because it keeps important concepts top of mind.

 

Reading Challenges You

A female co-worker of mine, whom I respect immensely, recently gave me a book and said, “I disagree with about 80% of this, but you should definitely read it.” I loved that she was sharing a book that challenged her opinions, yet felt it was worthwhile reading for the 20% that was valuable. Reading something you disagree with can have a big impact on your ability to think, both creatively and logically.

 

Reading Gives You Opportunities to Interact with Others

I have referenced articles and books I’ve read in countless conversations, not to sound intelligent or cool (some of what I read would accomplish the opposite), but to relate to those with whom I’m speaking. Here are a few ways you should be making the most of what you’re reading:

 

Take notes and share them with your team.

• An investor in our company sends me, on average, five articles a day and I always put them in a file that says “To Read.” When I have 10 minutes at the end of the day, I read an article or two, knowing that I can discuss these pieces with him later. It’s a great way for us to share ideas and inspire action in each other.

 

Spark debates with your team.

• I also like using article topics to spark debate amongst our team members about how we should address a subject. I’ve heard of companies creating book clubs, where employees discuss topics in books that relate to their industry during lunch once a month. Sparking debate and sharing ideas is a wonderful way to use written content as a team-bonding tool.

Back up an idea you have or a decision you want to make.

• You can use an article/book/speech from a respected person in your field to back up a decision you want to make. I’m not saying you should make decisions based solely on what you read, but it does give you more leverage when you say, “I read in So-and-So’s book that he had success with X, and I thought that we could implement this idea in our company by doing Y.” It’s a little more likely to stick than saying, “Who knows if this has ever worked for anyone in the past? But heck, let’s be the first to see if it can work!”

 

If you’re one of those people who claim you don’t have time to read, then first, I question why you’re reading my measly little article. Second, I encourage you to make time. Time never “appears” for anything; you have to make it. If nothing else, learn how to multitask.

Listen to content while driving or walking to work (I suggest “This American Life” and “Intelligence Squared” on NPR – I’m obsessed with both). If you don’t have time to read an entire book, read short articles online. If you’re dying to read a book but honestly can’t find the time, then pair up with a friend and take turns reading and sharing the ideas through short descriptions, or find excerpts of the book online.

"If you are a leader, you should be striving to develop knowledge to improve yourself, your company, and the people who work for you. To do anything less is to shortchange your ability to lead." -Kelsey Meyer

 

 
 

THE BEST LEARN FROM THE BEST -- AND THEN PASS IT ON

I had the great honor of working for Dale Brown for 13 years but the privilege of calling him a friend and mentor for 30 years.  There are a lot of things I love and respect about Coach Brown and a ton of lessons I've learned. 

First, his constant thirst for knowledge.  He was an insatiable reader, constantly underlining passages to share with others.  He always searched out success people to generate conversation.  He was a great questioner -- always know what to ask of the person he was speaking with.  And the most important thing, he never stopped.  Long after leading LSU to Final Fours and SEC titles, he is the poster child for a "continual learner."

Below is an email he shared with me last week on his relationship with Coach Wooden.  It details his visits -- which became annual events.  I loved how each year he would go visit Coach, we would have his questions already written out -- he had a game plan and goals to meet each visit.

I appreciate Coach Brown for sharing the following with me and wanted to share it with you:

The moment I was hired at LSU in 1972, I knew that I needed to reach out to the very best people I could in all walks of life and ask them if I could visit them and ask questions about how they became successful and, more importantly, how they maintained their success.  I didn’t want to just talk to people in sports.  I decided to ask the very best from the worlds of entertainment, public speaking, positive thinking and, of course, basketball.

Several people were on each list, but when it came to picking the first person I’d send a request to I wanted people that had the greatest longevity in what they did.  In entertainment it was Lawrence Welk, and when I called Lawrence at his office in California he immediately said come on out.  So I went out and had a marvelous experience asking him how a man from a tiny and isolated town in North Dakota rose to the top of his profession.  We became close friends.  Then in the speaking business I had studied Bob Richards for years and years, watching him on old 16 mm Wheaties films and he was the best I had ever heard.  I called him, and he said come on.  I went to his ranch in Gordon, Texas and looked through his library and asked tons of questions.  We became soul mates almost instantly.

As a motivator and positive thinker there was none better than Norman Vincent Peale, the father of positive thinking.  Another mentor who became a life-long friend.

In basketball, there was no list.  If I wanted to learn, I needed to visit John Wooden the greatest coach of all time.

I called him and he immediately invited me to visit.  I spent 5 days with him.  So in preparation, I decided to take the alphabet and put a letter on each page of a notepad and ask questions about words that began with that letter.  So with that in mind let me give you a few examples:

A—Achievement.  What does he consider achievement?  The first thing he told me is “Don’t ever mistake activity for achievement.”  I talked to him about attitude—attitude of players, coaches, his attitude towards pressure of winning and problems that occurred with players off-the-court.

B—Box and one defense…did he like it?  What problems did it create for him when he saw it, and when he did see it, how did he attack it?  Bulletin boards, did he have them to motivate or instruct?

C—Coaches that he admired and why.  Correspondence, did he answer all of it or did he have someone to do this? 

D—Defensive drills.  What did he think were the best defensive drills and how long should you run them?  Did he practice defensive drills more than offensive drills and did he do them every day?   Diamond and one defense…did he like it and how often did he use it?  What was his favorite delay game?

E—Education.  Did he have study periods for the team and how did he encourage them to secure a college degree?  What penalties did he implement for them missing or being late to class?

F—Full court man to man press.  Did he run and jump, double team, or did he stay man to man?  Fundamentals…how many minutes a day?  What were the fundamental drills he used? 

H—Half court zone press.  Why didn’t he use it as much as full court and three quarter court zone press?  Half time organization – what were his thoughts on half time organization.  Did he and his assistants meet first?  For how long?  Once he addresses his team, what did he go into first?

M—Man to man defense.  Did he switch, fight over the top of the screens or jump the dribbler?  Motivation, how much did he do?  I knew he was low key but how did he feel about motivational tactics?

O—Offensive drills.  What were his favorite offensive drills?  Why did he use them?  How did he use them?  When did he use them?  How did he intermingle them into the rest of his practice?  I talked to him about officials.  Did he believe in getting up and staring them down?  Did he believe you can intimidate officials?  How did he work officials?  

The first day we started at 8 AM and about 6 PM I felt that I was imposing on him after about 10 hours so I said, “Coach I have taken enough of your time today and I’m sure you are tired.  I will see you tomorrow.”  He immediately responded by saying, “No I’m not tired, sit down and we will continue.”  He never seemed to tire and when I left at 10 PM I thought, wow he is a human dynamo.

P—Passing drills.  Were they stationary, with movement, with defense, and what type of passes?  I showed him our pressure release offense and asked him to critique it.

R—Recruiting.  Was it true that he seldom ever went into a recruit’s home?  Where did they do most of their recruiting?  Would you hire a coach to do just recruiting?  What was the first thing he looked for in a potential player?

S—Scouting.  I remember reading and hearing that he never really scouted any opponent.  Why didn’t you scout anybody?   He said he felt if he taught his team properly and prepared them for all potential situations they might face in a game it is not necessary.  He said they obviously told players about individual characters of opponents.  We then talked about scheduling…how important did he think scheduling was?  Did he do his own scheduling?  Does he schedule easy games early in the year, or does he schedule tough games to get his team ready for the conference?

T—Time outs.  What was his philosophy on time outs?  Did he present just one offensive thought and one defensive thought?  Did he talk to his associates before he went into the huddle to talk to the players, did he let assistant coaches talk at time out?  Tournament preparation…how did he prepare teams for tournaments?  Did he prepare them differently?  What was the longest he ever practiced?  What was the average practice time?

W—Weight training.  Did he believe in it?  Did he hire a strength coach or have his assistants do it?  When did they lift, how long, and what type of program did they use?

Z—Zone defenses.  Seldom did he ever use zone defenses.  Why did he not use zone defenses?   Zone offenses.  Did he have a combination of zone offenses depending on the structure of the defense?

I remember one day we were on our way to his office before basketball season started, and some UCLA players were on the floor playing full court in Pauley Pavilion.  As we walked up the sidelines towards his office, I believe it was Larry Farmer who went in for a lay up and just laid the ball up over the rim.   Coach Wooden instantly came to a screeching halt.  Calmly he said, “Larry, lay the ball up on the back board as you were taught.”  That was all he said, that was all that needed to be said.  “Yes sir,” Farmer said.  Another example of his attention to detail.

Then the last day I was there, I went to his house and thanked him for being so gracious.  I was about to get in the car and leave when Coach said to me, “Well Dale, I’m really glad that you came out, and it’s been a delightful time.  However, really it wouldn’t have been necessary for you to waste your time and money and all those pages of notes you took because if you do the following three things, you will be successful in major college basketball.  If you don’t do the following three things, it will be most difficult."  Now remember he didn’t say it would be impossible, typical of John Wooden, he said it would be most difficult.

I was scrambling for my pen when he said, “Those three things are fairly simple:  Number one, make certain, you always have better players than anybody you play.  Now with that locked up, make sure you always get the better players to put the team above themselves, and number three, this is very important, don’t try to be some coaching genius, or coaching guru, or give the guys too much information, or too much stuff…he said always practice simplicity with constant repetition.”

I made sure that was not the last visit I made to learn from Coach.  In fact, I stayed in touch with him for 38 years.  I loved going out to sit and listen to him tell stories, recite poetry, you name it; and he remained so very sharp and giving of his time to help others till he passed away at 99.    

Coach Wooden and I were asked to speak at a convention in Mexico.  My wife said to Coach Wooden at breakfast one morning, “Has anybody asked you as many questions as Dale?   Every time Dale’s on the phone with you, he’s taking notes.  I see him writing you letters, he’s coming out to see you. Has anyone asked you more questions in your lifetime than Dale?”

Coach smiled and he said, “Let’s just say this, Dale has a lot of interesting questions and I always wonder where he gets them.”  Vonnie laughed and asked her follow-up”  “Well Coach, has he picked your mind more than anybody else?  He said, “Well, I suspect he has.”

“So with all he’s gotten from you,” Vonnie asked,” when you watch his teams play, do you ever sit there and think did he learn anything from me ?" Coach Wooden laughed in a way that I will never forget but was polite enough not to give my wife an answer.

I understood instantly that John Wooden would be among my life’s most significant mentors. I think John Wooden could have been just as happy teaching in a small school in Indiana and never coaching but just teaching.

He was a teacher.  He was a mentor.  I can remember many, many times sitting in his house and the phone would ring…it would be someone who had always wanted to meet him and he’d invite them over.  One day, it was the national basketball coach of Spain.  He’d say, “No, I don’t mind.  Come on over.”  His phone number was listed in the phone book and you did not have to be a celebrity to enter his house.

He wasn’t the kind of person who was trying to display his knowledge.  People from all walks of life and from around the world were seeking him out for his knowledge, simplicity, and sincerity.  

Every time I left his presence there is something new I had learned.  Outside of Bill Walton, I believe I’ve heard more of his quotations and phrases than just about anyone, but I am constantly amazed by his memory and knowledge on a variety of subjects.

Unfortunately, many of the things I’ve learned from him I haven’t even remotely been able to do nearly as well as he did.  I told him one day when just the two of us were together that after 44 years of coaching I then clearly recognized my limitations, mistakes, and distance from the ideal.  Again vintage John Wooden, he said, “Did you try to do your best and if you did then you are a success and that is the most important thing.” 

The greatest lesson I learned from him was to love what you are doing every day and love people.  I can remember many times when someone was refilling his water glass for him in a restaurant, and everyone else at the table just keeps talking, Coach Wooden would stop and say “thank you.”  He is loaded with love.  He seldom brings up religion or spiritual things…He lives it.  He’s teaching by example.

Edgar Guest explained John Wooden’s mentorship method best.  Guest wrote:

“I’d rather see a lesson

Than to hear one any day.
I’d rather you’d walk with me
Than to merely show the way.
The eye is a better teacher
And more willing than the ear.
And counsel is confusing,
But examples always clear.
The best of all the teachers
Are the ones who live the creed.
To see good put into action
Is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
If you let me see it done.
But your tongue too fast may run.
And the counsel you are giving
May be very fine and true,
But I’d rather get my lesson
By observing what you do.”

John Wooden was truly an American treasure.  He was kind, caring, highly intelligent, vibrant, strong-willed, principled, humble, and one of the most fascinating men of this or any generation.

Why, is the greatest coach that every lived like this and not egotistical, selfish, arrogant, and greedy like so many that reach the pinnacle of what the world often defines as success?  It is because he firmly believed in what the first dictionary ever printed in 1806 described success as fortunate, happy, kind and prosperous.  However, the dictionaries of today define success as attainment of wealth, fame and rank.

Coach Wooden’s definition of success parallels that of 1806, he said that, “Fame, fortune, and power are not success.  Success is peace of mind, which is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” 

I have also heard him mention on several occasions that the four things mankind craves the most are freedom, happiness, peace and love.  He say’s none of these can be obtained without first giving them to someone else and oh, how he gave to so many for so many years.

Every time I left him I felt so much better about mankind and had a quest to strive to be a better human being.  Perhaps, a better way to define Coach is what Einstein said about Gandhi: “Generations to come, will scarce believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon the earth.” 

He is indeed a legend in basketball but more importantly he is a legend in serving mankind as a master teacher and mentor to so many of us.

I am eternally grateful to have had him in my life.

IT'S ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS

If you want to impact the life of your players, you have to care about much more than their jump shot.  In fact, caring about them off the court -- in the classroom and with their personal lives will allow you to teach them better on the court.  During my coaching career, I had no better example of coaches that care beyond the court than Dale Brown.  The following gives you just a small look at how Coach Brown cares about his student-athletes with a story about his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal:

"His thing was - go to class, get your education," Shaq said as he introduced Brown as the recipient of the Colangelo Award. "I wanted to test his theory out, so one day I didn't go to class.  About 4:30 the next morning I felt the hand of God on my chest. I looked up, and it was Dale Brown. I still don't know how he got in my room, but he did. Then he ran me from about 4:30 to 7:30 - and then I had to go to class. I said, 'You know what -€“ I'll never miss class again.'"

That tough love eventually helped Shaq believe in himself and conquer many demons, including forcing the now popular commercial spokesman for several national brands to attend speech class.

"I brought him in and showed him his schedule," Brown laughed.  "He said, '€˜Speech class - c-c-c-coach - I don't want to be in speech class.' I said 'Well, you're going to be.' To show you how conscientious he is - the first time he had to give a speech, he came to my office and asked 'Can you shut the door and turn off the phones? Will you critique the speech for me?' So I did. Next, he wanted me to go to class. He had the highest GPA on our team, which most people don't know."

"The heart of a coach - at least my heart - is the relationship you have with players," said Brown.

The above is are excerpts from an article at Fox Sports and was written by Jennifer Hale.  You can read the entire article here.