The BEST College Football Coach

This past Saturday, did you watch ESPN and see the best college football coach in the country lead his team to another National Championship?  What, you say?  Nick Saban had the weekend off...  Alabama didn’t play.  I am not talking about the Crimson Tide or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or any other BCS team.  No, I am talking about coach Larry Kehres and his Mount Union College Purple Raiders.  They won their 11^th NCAA Division III National Championship to complete their 20^th undefeated season.

I had been working on this post for a few days, but apparently I was scooped by Grantland.com (the former “Page Two” on ESPN.com).  Author Michael Weinreb is a former Akron Beacon-Journal writer (the major newspaper that would cover Mount Union).  I can’t believe that someone else (a professional writer on a website with millions of readers, no less) would dare write an article saying the same thing.  Actually, they aren’t saying the same thing.  They say that Larry Kehres is thebest coach you’ve never heard of (which is, no doubt, true).  What I am saying is that he is the best football coach, period (whether you’ve heard of him or not).  The other difference between the two posts (mine and Grantland.com’s) is that theirs is better.  I love reading Grantland.com.  It is always intelligent; often humorous.  But, you'll have that...maybe you'll enjoy my perspective on Coach Kehres, as well. 

The Influence of a Leader

With the recent death of Rick Majerus (25 years as a head coach at Marquette, Ball State, Utah, St. Louis and only had one losing season), story after story was devoted to retelling his life story and what kind of impact he had on others.  It certainly got me thinking again about what kind of influence we have on those around us.

Bechler Shares Tale of Last-Minute Delivery

This story originally appeared on www.GoRedHawks.com on November 19, 2012

Usually, five days is more than enough to prepare until a big game is played, a paper is due, or a special anniversary or holiday.

But how about having only five days' notice that you will be a first-time dad?

That was exactly the scenario Martin Methodist women's basketball coach Jamy Bechler encountered three years ago as he and his wife, Tabitha, received the call from Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency based in Nashville, Tenn., that they would have the opportunity to become parents.

"We had gone through the whole interview and background process that the agency puts couples through," Bechler said. "It normally lasts about a year so we were just waiting for a birth mother to like our profile and pick us. I had heard of crazy adoption stories of people having a day's notice and having to come back from vacation."

As fate would have it, however, that was not the case for Jamy and Tabitha.

"Tabitha assured me that we wouldn't be one of those crazy stories," Bechler said. "She was right. We had a whole five days' notice."

In addition to all of the logistical preparations for the baby's arrival, Bechler also had to shuffle plans in the middle of the season as head coach at Bryan College.

"When we got the call, I did a quick calculation and realized that we had a game on the day the baby was due and we had a conference game two days later. Luckily, I had a good assistant and we ended up winning those games. We also had nothing ready at home for a baby. Our Silverdale Baptist Church family was awesome in helping us at the last minute. They gave us so many things and provided help in preparing the baby's room."

On November 16, 2009, Jamy and Tabitha welcomed Jaylen into their lives. They had the great fortune of being on hand for the delivery. They spent that night and the next day with Jaylen at the hospital before being cleared to take him home. Former RedHawks assistant coach Cori Jones, then a player at Bryan, was the first of Coach Bechler's players to hold little Jaylen.

"When we met with the birth mother prior to birth, she mentioned that she choose us in part because she had just seen 'The Blind Side' and thought it'd be a great thing for her little boy to be adopted by us and be around sports and athletes all the time."

Jaylen celebrated his third birthday this past Friday surrounded by all of his big sisters on the RedHawks basketball team as the RedHawks wrapped up play in the Bethel University Classic. Players, coaches and parents all sang "Happy Birthday" as Jaylen blew out his candle on top of his birthday cupcake.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and the RedHawk Women's Basketball team is raising awareness by wearing bright yellow "Superman was Adopted" shirts during pre-game warmups. The team is also selling these shirts and corresponding bracelets to raise money for Bethany Christian Services, an adoption agency that has locations throughout the world, including Nashville.

Shirts and bracelets will be available during Tuesday's home game against Crowley's Ridge College and the Nov. 28 contest against Talladega College.

Tipoff in both games is set for 6 p.m.

5-Year Old Boy Punished by School for Wearing Michigan Shirt

A five-year boy in Oklahoma wore a University of Michigan shirt to school and was forced to turn the shirt inside out.  It seems that the Oklahoma City public school district has a policy against wearing shirts that promote any schools other than Oklahoma schools.  Apparently this may stem from some gang-issues.  Seriously though!?!  A five-year wearing a Big-House t-shirt is probably not much of a threat to society, yet.   I thought that kind of stuff only went on in that state that is a four-letter word (O***).  There is a ray of sunshine to this story, however.  Dave Brandon, the Michigan Athletic Director, has offered young Cooper Barton tickets to an upcoming home Michigan game.  This kind of rule is probably something that the school district should look at changing (or at least revising) so that it is more realistic. Anyway, here's hoping to little Cooper continuing to "Hail to the Victors" and wearing his Maize and Blue shirts proudly.

Star Athlete Gives Back

Athletes often get a bad reputation for being selfish or doing stupid things so it is always refreshing to hear about an athlete that sets a good example, gives back or is a genuinely good dude.  Pittsburgh Steelers' linebacker (and former Michigan Wolverine) Lamarr Woodley is one such guy.  This week, he donated $60,000 to the Saginaw, Michigan school system to cover "Pay-for-Play" fees that all district athletes must pay.  For high school athletes, that amounted to $75 for the year.

Even though Woodley makes a lot of money doesn't mean that this is not a big deal.  The mere fact that it is news means that not enough athletes are making a difference and giving back.  Having 7 cars, 3 houses, 4 baby-mommas and a huge entourage seems to be the normal way for an athlete to spend their money.   An athletic director at the arch-rival school of Woodley's Saginaw High believes that "there are a lot of millionaires out there who make no impact on their community, but Lamarr Woodley has gone out of his way to make a tremendous impact on his community."

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day

Long lines of customers along with protestors converged on Chick-fil-A restaurants all across the country today.  The unusual attention was in response to former presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, calling today (August 1st) "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day".  This came after Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A's president and son of founder Truett Cathy, made comments about traditional marriage and same-sex unions two weeks ago.  I have stated before that I am a huge fan of Chick-fil-A.  I believe that they are the absolute best fast-food restaurant for customer service.  Their business model and example should be followed by other restaurants and businesses. They also make a pretty good chicken sandwich.  This is not a blog post on the merits of gay rights or traditional marriage.  Rather it is an essay on how we need to be more civil in our responses to other opinions and beliefs.  Too often in our present-day society, people use polarizing speech and go to extremes to push their agenda or make their argument. 

Stupid is...as Stupid does

This is the first installment of "Stupid is...as Stupid does", which will highlight individuals who have been "empty heads" (as my soccer coaching buddy, Gerry Cleary, likes to say).  Athletes doing immature or stupid things give other athletes a bad name.  The following are this week's things that make you go hhhmmmm and shake your head.  There are also lots of links to other articles about these topics to further entertain you.  In honor of the huge event starting up this week--NFL Training Camp--we will highlight a trio of diva wide receivers.  Oh, and for the other minor event starting up this week, we'll lead off with an Olympian.

HOPE SOLO 

(USA Women's Soccer Goalie)

After their 3-0 win over Colombia this week during the Olympics, Hope Solo blasted Brandi Chastain. She said that Chastain should "lay off commentating about defending" and goalkeeping "until you get more educated" and "the game has changed from a decade ago."  Well played Hope...You are absolutely right...The game has changed in the last decade...in large part BECAUSE OF Chastain, one of the most decorative women's soccer players in history.  She also happened to be a defender, so I guess she might know a little bit about playing defense at the international level.  Evidently, Solo is standing by her twitter comments concerning Brandi Chastain.  Chastain has so far reacted the way you'd like someone to react.  Instead of calling Solo a spoiled self-entitled snot-nosed brat, she has said that she will just continue to do her job which is to be objective and honest.  I guess Hope Solo has not learned from her past bouts with immaturity (criticizing coaches and teammates and I guess there is that time that she was drunk on THE TODAY SHOW).  She appears to have fallen in love with her own 140-character voice.  She needs to grow up and start being a leader that her teammates and a nation can rally behind.

• Sally Jenkins of THE WASHINGTON POST has an insightful commentary on Hope Solo and her immaturity.

Be a Hero to Someone

Everyone has a chance to be a hero to someone.  You don’t even have to be dead to be a hero.  With Memorial Day approaching, it got me to thinking about those in my life that I have looked up to as heroes.  Unfortunately, holidays like Memorial Day and funerals seem to be the only times that we really stop and think about the impact that someone had on our lives.  These are the times that we remember, or better yet, celebrate their life and their lasting legacy on those that they touched.   

December 2, 2001.  That is when my mentor and high school basketball coach, Bill Dunn, died of colon cancer at the much too young age of 48.  He was in Michigan and I was in Texas coaching.  I was too busy to visit and figured he’d come through and I’d have a chance to see him again.  That didn’t happen.  I never got a chance to tell him what he meant to me.  Actually, strike that last statement.  I had plenty of chances.  It just never seemed important or urgent enough. There would be time for that some other day. There’s always another day, right? Well, that day never came. 

11 Interview Tips to Give you an Edge

“How would I describe myself? 

Three words: hard working, alpha male, jackhammer … merciless … insatiable“ 

(Dwight K. Schrute at an interview)

 

In a previous post, I talked about the do's and do not's of applying for jobs.  Today, I'll give you some ideas on how to give yourself an edge during the interview process.  I'll try not to give you the normal advice that you can find anywhere on the internet.  In my career, I have been on 11 interviews for coaching positions at 4-year universities.  Of those 11 interviews, I have been blessed to have nine job offers.  Through my personal experience, as well as being a member of search committees, I am going to present a few tips that may put you in a slightly different frame of mind from the other candidates.  An additional resource for you is the article "15 things I look for when I interview people".  Anyway, follow my 11 tips and you'll be guaranteed to get the job.  No, not really.  Actually the only thing I can guarantee is that doing these things will give yourself a better than average chance to get the job.   Every job and every interviewer is different but with these tips, who knows, maybe they'll be just the difference you need to set yourself apart from the crowd and give you an edge.  Why 11 tips?  It's because ten is normal but we want to always do a little extra.  Also, if you truly want to dive into all of this stuff, I suggest you check out any of Harvey MacKay's books ("Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt", "How to Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive", etc...).  

(1)  Research and Be Prepared.  Seriously...do your homework!  If this job is important to you then act like it.  It's not enough to know that the boss used to work at such and such company or that he belongs to a certain civic organization.  Find out as much as possible about the person(s) that will be making the hiring decisions.    Use your contacts.  Talk to people who know people.  Do more than just look at the first page of Google to find information.  You can't always control the interview.  If you know 3 or 4 key things, you might not be able to tailor the conversation to include those facts.  The more you know, the more likely you'll be able to work some of that into the interview.

Solution to NCAA's Transfer Problems

Wisconsin's Bo Ryan
has come under fire
 recently for the
stipulations he
placed on a player
looking to transfer

This is the NCAA's lucky day because I have the solutions for their transfer policies, which have come under considerable fire in recent weeks and months (e.g. Maryland Football, Wisconsin Basketball, St. Joseph's Basketball).  To set the stage before I give you the solution, below are a few articles that should provide further insight on the topic.

• Bo Ryan Uproar Sheds Light on NCAA's Faulty Transfer Policy (Seth Davis)
• Coaching Changes and NCAA Transfer Rules:  Is the Current System Leaving Athletes Abandoned? (Research study at Williamette University)
• Time to Change Transfer Rules (Dick Vitale)
• College, player divorce in basketball can be messier than the marriage (Terry Hutchens) 
• Transfer Rules Won't Be Easily Lifted (espn.com)
• A Saner Solution to Basketball's Transfer Problem (Brad Wolverton)

Mark Emmert, the NCAA's President, appears to be a very sensible and practical person that talks about his desire for reform in college athletics.  This includes the issue of student-athletes transferring from one school to another.  Depending on who you talk with (coaches, administrators, student-athletes, fans), you will probably get varying opinions on the topic.  In fact, you may even get a different opinion from each person based on their situation.  There is no fool proof or perfect solution. Compromise is needed because neither side is right in all situations and neither side is always innocent. However, I have provided a simple solution to the problem, as well as some remarks in response to the most heard comments.  No doubt, there will be some differing opinions about what I write.  That is fine.  The bottom line is that the NCAA's transfer policies are not working as optimal as they probably could be.  There needs to be some rational and objective discussion about how the student-athletes, the coaches and the institutions can all co-exist as best as possible without taking advantage of each other in this area.

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

(1) Allow the athletic program to scholarship the transfer.  This will probably eliminate a majority of the complaints, since oftentimes a player wants to transfer but find it difficult because of the financial hardship it will place on them. 

Applying for Jobs...Do and Do Not's

I have been involved in numerous search committees, as well as my share of job pursuits.  My most recent foray into the world of resumes, cover letters and interviews took place in the last few months as our men’s basketball coaching position became open.  Going through the process got me to thinking about the do and do not’s of applying for jobs. It is not just coaching jobs that have tremendous competition.  Nearly every job available will be a difficult up-hill battle to secure.  The odds are stacked against you, but there are some things that you can do to help you increase your odds slightly and give you a better chance. Obviously, not all administrators or jobs are alike, but there are some general rules that applicants should follow if they want to give themselves a fighting chance to get an interview.

1. Read the job posting and do what it says.   If it says “no calls”, then don’t call.  If it says “postal mail” or “email only”, then adhere to these requests.  If you have to fill out an institutional job application to be considered (normally a requisite at state schools), then do this.

"In The Big House"

As much as he loves Thomas the Tank Engine and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, my son Jaylen's favorite video in the world is "In The Big House" by Pop Evil.  Pop Evil is a rock band from Michigan with some Top-10 songs to their credit including "Monster You Made" and "Last Man Standing". As Michigan football fans, they wrote a song and made a video specifically for the Wolverines.  Yes, I have brainwashed Jaylen.  The first letter he learned was "M".  One of the first phrases he learned was "Go Blue" and his first three syllable word was "Michigan".  Nearly every meal is accompanied with a UofM bib and for his third halloween, he will be dressed like Denard Robinson.  The video pays homage to the winningest college football program of all-time and contains clips, both new and old.  I highly recommend it.  Today, Jeff Arnold wrote a piece on Pop Evil's song for ESPN.com.  Click on the link below to read the entire article.  Enjoy the article, as well as the video...and GO BLUE!!!

 "POP EVIL'S MICHIGAN ANTHEM PRECEDES THEM"

Change for the Better

Big Blue Nation and the University of Kentucky recently won its' 8th NCAA men's basketball national championship.  Head coach John Calipari and his much publicized dribble drive offense finally got his first national title after a near miss with the University of Memphis in 2008 against the Kansas Jayhawks.  Though Coach Cal added to his already spectacular career, the dribble drive did not really add a national championship to its resume.  The last two months of the season, including the tournament, saw the Wildcats run more set plays than many of Coach Cal's past teams.  This was not because it doesn't work.  It wasn't because the dribble drive was even bad for this group of talented players.  No, he went away from it because they were good running it but not great running it.  They were #1 in the nation running it, but there was some doubt that they would win a national championship in March running the dribble drive offense.  Like Coach Cal, I love the dribble drive.   My team runs it.  But, just like Coach Cal, I love winning even more. 

Why Pat Summitt is the Best

(editor's note:  published on April 18, 2012)
Today is a sad day not only in the state of Tennessee but across the nation.  Pat Summitt, all of 59 years young, 8 national championships, nearly 1,100 wins (most all-time, men or women) and countless branches on her coaching tree, stepped down from being the Lady Vol head coach.  Coach Summitt's associate head coach, Holly Warlick, will take over the reigns full-time.  Head Coach Emeritus is the new title that Coach Summitt has earned.  Just like everything else she has done in her career, I am sure that she'll be the best at this position.  What follows are just a couple of reasons why she may just be the best coach ever...in any sport.  I can hear the outcries now...what about Lombardi?  What about Wooden?  What about Bear Bryant?  No argument from me that if there was a Mount Rushmore of Coaches, they'd certainly be considered. However, I have no doubt whatsoever that Coach Summitt's likeness would be etched in stone...and not just because she is the best female coach or the best coach of a female sport.  

1.  She Humbly Understands Her Importance--In meeting a new woman in the movie Anchorman, Ron Burgundy, proudly proclaims "I am what you call a big deal around here.  People know me!"  Like the anchorman, Coach Summitt may be a big deal but unlike the anchorman, she is humble in her actions.  I have seen Coach Summitt on multiple occasions working intensely trying to run a camp or evaluate a prospect at an event when somebody approaches her for an autograph or picture.  Not only does she grant the request, she does it with a pep in her step, a smile, and a genuinely positive attitude.  She didn't become the first millionaire women's coach just because she won.  She was also worth that money because she is a brand.  She is a larger than life figure that provides hope and an example to thousands of people per year (plus she is not afraid to don a cheerleader outfit on occasion). It is no coincidence that the Lady Vols are at the top of the nation year in and year out in attendance, as well as occupying quite a few seats on the road.  In addition, her players have become an extension of her in the community and the arenas.  They are well-mannered and always willing to show appreciation to fans.  This past October, we took a four-hour trip to Knoxville to visit the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (one of our players, Vee Young, has her jersey hanging up) and to watch a Lady Vol practice.  After the practice was finished, Coach Summit came over to our group and talked to them for a few minutes.  She then volunteered to take a picture with us.  This was a highlight for so many of our players that grew up Lady Vol fans.  This was after a tough early season practice and less than two months after the announcement of early onset dementia.  Why did she spend time with us?  Because Coach Summitt knows no other way to act.  Coach Summitt has that special gift of making fans of all ages, shapes and sizes feel a part of the program. 

2.  The Lady Was Tough--Coach Summitt's players were first-class and were certainly "Lady" Vols off-the-court.  However, on the court, Coach Summitt treated them like athletes.  They were competitors because she was a competitor.  She didn't have time for excuses and preached taking responsibility for actions.  It wasn't okay to miss a layup or turn the ball over just because you were a girl. Be a player. Be a champion. Arguably, the Lady Vols were the flagship program of women's athletics for the past 30+ years.  However, they rebounded and defended like they were backed into a corner and had to scrape and claw their way out.  For years, Lady Vol players demonstrated how you could be a female and at the same time still sweat, bleed, and compete at the highest levels of athletics.  I love the story about her being on a recruiting home visit when she went into labor.  Just the thought of working away from home that close to the due date is pretty incredible.  She was tough enough to not have the baby (Tyler) until she was back in Tennessee.  Some might roll their eyes as if she had anything to do with that, but anyone that has followed her career will know that with Coach Summitt, it is hard to discount any story about her toughness or business like approach. Additionally, think about her career at UT and how many teams she coached and how many players took to the court.  You would be hard pressed to find examples of idiots or criminals.  Instead you find example after example of Academic All-Americans, future coaches, fine citizens and first-class student-athletes.  That consistency is amazing and demonstrates why the Lady Vol brand has lasted and flourished for so long.

3. She Surrounded Herself with Winners--Think about the last few coaches that have been a part of her staff.  It has been a who's who of basketball coaching respectability.  Some may not be household names to the average basketball fan, but to the diehards, her staff have represented a sort of all-star team.  Coming into this year, her three assistants were Holly Warlick, serving more than 30 years as a Lady Vol coach and player; Mickie DeMoss, former head coach at Kentucky and Florida; and Dean Lockwood,  a  men's college head coach for 12 years, in addition to a men's assistant at Tennessee, Central Michigan and Army.  If you watch them practice or observe the behavior on the bench during games, it doesn't take long to notice that they know what they are doing.  They are not "yes" people; they are solution people.  They are successful people.  That is who Coach Summitt surrounds herself with.  My fellow Michigander, Dean Lockwood, once told me that there are few things out there that could pull him away from working with Coach Summitt.  He didn't say "for".  He said "with".  He couldn't say enough about her and the trust she bestowed upon her assistants and the loyalty that they felt from her.  And this was all before she gave them each a brand new Mercedes Benz.  When Stephanie Glance, the long-time associate head coach for Kay Yow was passed over for the full-time job at NC State, Coach Summitt hired her on staff.  She was overqualified, but Coach Summitt wanted another great mind around her and Coach Glance probably wanted to work for a great "boss".  Even the last few coaches to leave all did so for head coaching positions (Nikki Caldwell--UCLA; Stephanie Glance--Illinois State; Mickie DeMoss--Kentucky/Indiana Fever).

At the end of the day, what makes Coach Summitt the greatest is that she achieved unparalleled success on the court while doing it without even a hint of inappropriateness.  Nearly every positive leadership and coaching characteristic could and has been applied to her.  She is a model for so many people in some many walks of life.  Even the grace and strength of character she has shown during the last year has been impressive.  She didn't hang on like a pro athlete clinging to something that he once was.  Coach Summitt didn't embarrass herself or lose touch with the game.  Yes, this talented senior class did not achieve all that was expected of them, but in all fairness they were still very successful.  Losing to eventual national runner-up Notre Dame last year and this year, bowing out to the eventual National Champion, Baylor Bears, is not at all a failure.  Coach Summitt might not have won a championship in her last year, but she certainly went out as a champion.

All of the following books are highly recommended if you are a coach, leader or fan of Coach Summitt:  "Sum It Up", "Reach for the Summitt", "Raise the Roof"

Jamy Bechler is a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Speaker, Trainer and Coach.  Contact him at CoachBechler@CoachBechler.com to find out how you or your team can be more successful.   You can also subscribe to his leadership insights & newsletter by clicking here.

15 Best Books for Coaches

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
John Wooden

In a previous post, I talked about some of the best books for leaders, whether you are a coach or not.  Today, I will recommend the books that will help a coach in nearly any sport at any level.  A couple of the books may seem sport specific, but contain information and insight that can help you regardless of what you coach.  Even if you are not an avid reader, flip through some of these books and steal one or two ideas to implement with your teams or to strengthen your coaching philosophy.  These are 15 books that are different than my list for leaders.  However, I would definitely suggest looking at those books as well.

1. "A Season on the Brink"  (John Feinstein)
2. "The Bowden Way: 50 Years of Leadership Wisdom"  (Bobby Bowden)
3. "Coaching Team Basketball" (Tom Crean)
4. "The Men of March:  A Season Inside the Lives of College Basketball Coaches"  (Brian Curtis)
5. "Runnin' the Show:  Basketball Leadership for Coaches and Players"  (Dick DeVenzio)
6. "Catch Them Being Good"  (Tony DiCicco & Colleen Hacker)
7. "Education of a Coach" (David Halberstam)
8. "Sacred Hoops:  Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior"  (Phil Jackson)
9. "Inside Women's College Basketball:  The Anatomy of a Season"  (Richard Kent)
10. "Five Point Play"  (Mike Krzyzewski)
11. "The Winner Within"  (Pat Riley)
12. "How Good Do You Want to Be"  (Nick Saban)
13. "Raise the Roof"  (Pat Summitt) 
14. "They Call Me Coach"  (John Wooden)
15. "Practical Modern Basketball"  (John Wooden) 

 Jamy Bechler is a certified John Maxwell leadership coach, speaker and trainer.  You can contact him at Jamy@CoachBechler.com.  You can also subscribe to his leadership newsletter by clicking here.

Are You Growing?

“Do or do not...there is no try” the Jedi Master, Yoda, said to the young Luke Skywalker. I was a youngster when The Empire Strikes Back was in theaters. I loved that line then and I love it today. It can be used in a variety of settings.  However, as I have been thinking about leadership the last few weeks, it has become apparent that some of us get stagnant and don’t really commit to growth as leaders. We say we’ll try, but we don’t really.

Greener Grass?

In his book WINNING EVERY DAY, the former Notre Dame football coach, Lou Holtz, tells the story of the Trappist monk who was allowed to say only two words every three years. After the first three years, he met with the his order’s Brother Superior and  said, “Bad bed!” 3 years later, he came back to say, “Bad food!” After 3 more years of silence, the monk said, “No TV!” Another 3 years passed. This time, when the monk met with Brother Superior, he handed him his robes and sandals and announced, “I quit!” Brother Superior said, “Well don’t expect me to try to dissuade you. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!”

Complaints, excuses, envy, ambition...we’ve all been there.  Unless you are in a perfect place (which would make you an Angel), the grass may appear to be greener on the other side of the fence. The truth is that every job, every person, every situation has some flaws.  Until you own your circumstances, you will never truly maximize the potential of your situation.

What's Important to You?

In light of the recent Bobby Petrino debacle at the University of Arkansas, I thought it would be appropriate to reprint an article I wrote for the May 2011 issue of THE ENCOURAGING LEADER.

As an avid Michigan football fan, I appreciate the following story.  An Ohio State student and U of M student were taking a graduate school entrance exam.  Afterward, the proctor called both of them into an office and proceeded to tell them that they both missed only one question on the test, but that the Michigan student was receiving an “A” and the OSU student would fail.  When prompted, the proctor replied that the UM student had answered “I don’t know” for one of the questions.  Ironically, that was the same question the OSU student missed.  Except the OSU student answered “I don’t know either”.  Lately, it hasn’t pained me to see Ohio State football in the news for apparently violating NCAA rules. But, I can appreciate Jim Tressel’s success as a coach.  He seemed to be a class leader that did things the right way.   Is Jim Tressel a cheater?  Is he a bad person?  I don’t know for sure.  However, I can say that it appears his moral compass was off, at least for a moment.

Another Leader "Crashes"

Joe Paterno, Jim Tressell, Bruce Pearl, the list goes on and on.  You can now add former University of Arkansas head football coach to the list of great coaches...great leaders, that fell short of their obligations as individuals of character.  As leaders of young men (or women), it is imperative that a coach abide by higher standards.  Character and integrity do go hand in hand with what a college (or high school) coach's expectations should be.  At these levels, a coach is expected to help develop character in their players.  It is a difficult task, made nearly impossible if a coach doesn't model an acceptable behavior themselves.

Defense Wins Championships

All of us sports fans have heard it said that "Defense Wins Championships".  Though that axiom has a lot of legitimacy, it is hard to say whether it is 100% true.  Lots of things go into winning a championship. However, I must say that this year, it seemed that I noticed more winning coaches praising their team's defensive efforts as the main reason for their success.  This has gotten me to thinking about my team and whether or not we should emphasize defense even more next year. It probably can't hurt. Regardless, here are some of the examples that I am talking about when it comes to defense helping a team win a basketball championship.

James Justice Wins College Slam Dunk Championship

Congratulations to James Justice, the 5'9 All-American guard from Martin Methodist College, for winning the 2012 State Farm College Slam Dunk Contest.  He beat out seven NCAA Division I players, including Miles Plumlee from Duke University.  If you didn't see it on ESPN, then I highly recommend it.  If nothing else, seeing the judges (including Bobby Hurley and John Salley) react after James' last dunk is priceless.  Here is the footage (courtesy of SBnation.com).

http://www.sbnation.com/2012-ncaa-tournament/2012/3/29/2913006/ncaa-slam-dunk-contest-highlights-gifs-final-four

15 Best Books for Leaders

"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."

ABE LINCOLN

As a basketball coach, I have a tremendous opportunity to lead and influence people every day.  Certainly leadership involves a great many things, however, I have found that constantly learning and re-learning methods, strategies, and insights gives me a better chance to lead in a positive manner.  Reading books is one of the key resources that I utilize in trying to sharpen my leadership skills.  Every once in awhile, I'll even read a book again because it was so good.  Below are some of the books that I'd recommend highly for anyone seeking to be a better leader. These are not necessarily coaching books, but a variety of books that hit upon a number of key leadership areas. With summer fast approaching, maybe go to your local library or go online and get a copy of any of these books that you haven't read.  You won't be disappointed with the valuable insights in these books.

1. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie) 
2. "Good to Great"  (Jim Collins) 
3. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"  (Stephen Covey)    

4. "Leadership Is An Art"  (Max De Pree)

5. "Leadership"   (Rudolph Giuliani)

6. "The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell"  (Oren Harari) 
7. "War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick & the Art of Building the Perfect Team" (Michael Holley)
8.  "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln"   (Doris Kearns Goodwin)
9.  "Leading with the Heart"   (Mike Krzyzewski) 
10. "Reach for the Summit"   (Sally Jenkins)
11. "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty"   (Harvey Mackay) 

12. "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"  (John Maxwell)
13. "Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners"  (Joe Torre)
14. "The Paradox of Power"  (Pat Williams)

15. "It's Called WORK For A Reason"   (Larry Winget)

Championship Lessons Learned at NAIA National Tournament

From March 10-20, I spent time serving on the NAIA National Tournament Committee.  It was a bittersweet experience.  Meeting all the coaches, watching all the games, observing many practices and helping the tournament run smoothly was great.  However, it was difficult watching the teams play knowing that we had been fairly close to qualifying ourselves.  If only we'd won 1-2 more games, we might have been one of the 32-teams that earned a bid.  I must say that Rob Edmission's Oklahoma City University team was extremely impressive throughout the entire tournament.  They beat Union University in the championship game, which is no small feat.  As I watched the games and thought about how to get my team to the tournament, I came up with some observations. In no particular order, I have listed them below.