Last week I had the opportunity to talk with Duke Assistant Basketball Coach Jeff Capel. Jeff who had been highly successful as a Head Coach at VCU and had taken Oklahoma to the Elite Eight in 2009, returned this fall to Cameron Indoor Stadium (the sight of his great college career) to serve as an Assistant Coach for the Blue Devils. Interestingly Capel joined two other former Duke players (Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowki) on the bench next to Coach Krzyzewski. Many management gurus would question the idea of having such a homogeneous grouping making up your inner circle. Some would contend that having your right hand people having the same background is a bad idea because there is limited introduction of new ideas and/or different methods of operating.
Yet it is pretty hard to argue with the winningest coach in history of NCAA Division 1 basketball. Before I hired Jeff to be my head coach at VCU at the ripe old age of 27, we traveled to Durham and met with Coach K for 6 hours in his office. Having the opportunity to interact with him in that setting eliminated any concerns about Jeff Capel and demonstrated to me the amazing leadership ability of Krzyzewski. Displaying absolutely zero signs of arrogance, Coach K shared many of the values (that I am sure Jeff had heard many times before) that highlighted to me the reasons why his teams and players always performed to their potential. It was so evident that everyone affiliated with Duke basketball had a total commitment to K’s vision. The former West Point guard demanded that buy-in from his players, coaches, and staff. He assured the cohesiveness of the group by having a great deal of knowledge about every individual prior to accepting them as part of the Blue Devil team.
Coach K asks a great deal from his players but he returns even more to them. The loyalty that is created is a two way street. Because of this unique bond, it only makes sense that his inner circle would consist of individuals who have the same passion and core values as the leader. Each of his assistants has basically had a four year intensive job interview as players. Coach K emphasized to Jeff in our meeting, the importance of having great assistant coaches. Having an inner circle of loyal, committed, highly energized associates will trump the concept of differing backgrounds every time.
I have seen many very good head coaches fail because of assistant coaches who have a different agenda than the head coach. I have seen Athletic Directors be bogged down with disloyal staff. In any team (business, sports, education), if the inner circle is not willing to submit their own personal goals and desires for the good of the group, the result will be fragmented. Whether you love the Blue Devils or not, Coach K and his inner circle are a great leadership lesson. Loyalty to the leader and commitment to his/her goal will always be present in highly successful organizations
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Coach Paterno's Amazing Career---Teddy Roosevelt Answered His Critics
With the passing of Joe Paterno, what everyone should realize is that the world is a much better place because of Joseph Vincent Paterno. The recent disclosures of the Jerry Sandusky scandal should not detract from all the great things that JoePa accomplished in his life. Just hearing the comments from his players speaks volumes about the impact he had on lives. The good that this man did for many people in so many different ways can never be measured. Hopefully he will be remembered as an American icon who represented so many of the values of a great society. The big question, is how will the media and the spin doctors paint his portrait?
One key lesson to be learned from Paterno is that as a leader you will always be under constant scrutiny. The talking heads, print media and folks on the periphery, will all have better ways to do things. After the fact, they will have all the answers. For a coach they will have more knowledge of who should have played and what plays should have been called. For any leader, realize you will be second-guessed and criticized. However you need to understand two things:
1. You earned the right through your efforts to be in a position to make those decisions.
2. You had the courage to accept that leadership role and be willing to make those decisions.
So my advice to every leader is---- feel good about the fact that you are a leader and not someone who sits in the background and makes disparaging comments when the result is not perfect. Do not be one of those status quo managers who are afraid to make a decision because some outsider might question it. Did Coach Paterno make all the right decisions? No, but he did make a ton of great decisions that affected so many lives in a positive manner. Hopefully everyone will focus on all the great things he accomplished, not the media storm of the last three months. For me, I always want individuals with me who are not paralyzed by the thought of the outsiders’ criticism. Not doing anything is the sign of no leadership and no progress. Interestingly, Coach Paterno never relinquished his willingness to serve the role of leader.
I would encourage every leader to make a copy of this great quote by Teddy Roosevelt and keep it somewhere close to you so you can read it periodically. It probably more than anything perfectly brings into focus the reality of leadership and Coach Paterno's career.
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so this place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
One key lesson to be learned from Paterno is that as a leader you will always be under constant scrutiny. The talking heads, print media and folks on the periphery, will all have better ways to do things. After the fact, they will have all the answers. For a coach they will have more knowledge of who should have played and what plays should have been called. For any leader, realize you will be second-guessed and criticized. However you need to understand two things:
1. You earned the right through your efforts to be in a position to make those decisions.
2. You had the courage to accept that leadership role and be willing to make those decisions.
So my advice to every leader is---- feel good about the fact that you are a leader and not someone who sits in the background and makes disparaging comments when the result is not perfect. Do not be one of those status quo managers who are afraid to make a decision because some outsider might question it. Did Coach Paterno make all the right decisions? No, but he did make a ton of great decisions that affected so many lives in a positive manner. Hopefully everyone will focus on all the great things he accomplished, not the media storm of the last three months. For me, I always want individuals with me who are not paralyzed by the thought of the outsiders’ criticism. Not doing anything is the sign of no leadership and no progress. Interestingly, Coach Paterno never relinquished his willingness to serve the role of leader.
I would encourage every leader to make a copy of this great quote by Teddy Roosevelt and keep it somewhere close to you so you can read it periodically. It probably more than anything perfectly brings into focus the reality of leadership and Coach Paterno's career.
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so this place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
Friday, January 20, 2012
Harbaugh Takes a Page Out of Coach Wooden's Book
This week I was listening to a sports talk show and one of the talking heads was commenting on the great job that Jim Harbaugh had done with QB Alex Smith. Apparently Harbaugh had instituted a communication style that I would call the “Awesome But” method. Smith who apparently has lacked confidence over the years has flourished under the tutelage of the former Michigan quarterback. Simply put, the coach has a style where he starts with an ego builder and then introduces the learning statement. A typical Harbaught interaction would be, “Alex you are throwing the ball awesome, but make sure you make that 3 step drop faster so you can see the defense quicker.” This communication strategy has worked wonders with the 2005 number 1 draft pick. This interaction builds on the success with no negative effect while getting the point across loud and clear. Without question, Harbaugh’s handling of Smith who was pretty much written off by former staffs and the media, has resurrected Smith’s career and made him a viable MVP candidate and provided the 49ers a leader who can make the big plays in clutch situations.
Not coincidentally, John Wooden was famous for this same style of interaction with his players and called it pre-correction. Wooden’s theory was that the initial positive statement would more completely acquire the total focus of the player and then the second statement would allow the player to visualize the total movement correctly with no negative implication. During the 1970’s UCLA had a 7 foot player named Ralph Drollinger who would get the rebound but not outlet the ball quick enough for the Wizard of Westwood. By not making the pass quickly enough the defense would have time to react and the Bruin fastbreak would be susceptible for turnovers. So Wooden would holler every time Drollinger got a defensive rebound, “Good Rebound, Pass it to somebody short!” By the start of season Drollinger became a very effective defensive rebounder who was good at initiating the UCLA famous fast-break that led to easy baskets for future NBA stars Marques Johnson or Dave Myers.
As a coach, leader or manager I would encourage you to implement Harbaugh’s “Awesome But” style or Coach Wooden’s pre-correction strategy as part of your communication with your team. Those styles paid huge dividends for two super successful leaders and my guess is, it will work for you. I encourage everyone to study the masters and then not copy but identify specific concepts that fit into your personality and then adapt those concepts so they becomes part of your leadership portfolio.
Do not be surprised this weekend when we hear from Coach Harbaugh, “ Our guys played great and our victory over the Giants was awesome, but we are going to have to really get focused these next 2 weeks if we expect to bring home the Lombardy Trophy.”
Not coincidentally, John Wooden was famous for this same style of interaction with his players and called it pre-correction. Wooden’s theory was that the initial positive statement would more completely acquire the total focus of the player and then the second statement would allow the player to visualize the total movement correctly with no negative implication. During the 1970’s UCLA had a 7 foot player named Ralph Drollinger who would get the rebound but not outlet the ball quick enough for the Wizard of Westwood. By not making the pass quickly enough the defense would have time to react and the Bruin fastbreak would be susceptible for turnovers. So Wooden would holler every time Drollinger got a defensive rebound, “Good Rebound, Pass it to somebody short!” By the start of season Drollinger became a very effective defensive rebounder who was good at initiating the UCLA famous fast-break that led to easy baskets for future NBA stars Marques Johnson or Dave Myers.
As a coach, leader or manager I would encourage you to implement Harbaugh’s “Awesome But” style or Coach Wooden’s pre-correction strategy as part of your communication with your team. Those styles paid huge dividends for two super successful leaders and my guess is, it will work for you. I encourage everyone to study the masters and then not copy but identify specific concepts that fit into your personality and then adapt those concepts so they becomes part of your leadership portfolio.
Do not be surprised this weekend when we hear from Coach Harbaugh, “ Our guys played great and our victory over the Giants was awesome, but we are going to have to really get focused these next 2 weeks if we expect to bring home the Lombardy Trophy.”
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Louisville 18 Marquette 2---Buzz Was Familiar With The Situation
Yesterday while flipping channels I happened on Marquette versus Louisville on ESPN. Shockingly the Cardinals had jumped to a 18-2 lead that would have made most viewers hit the remote looking for something a little more interesting. However, I was very interested in this game as I have known Marquette Coach Buzz Williams for a number of years and was pretty sure with his personality and coaching style and leadership, the Golden Eagles would never give in. Amazingly by halftime, Williams’ squad had gained the lead and by the end of the game had a relatively easy 11 point victory. Teams clearly manifest the personality of the Head Coach and this game told the story of Brent “Buzz” Williams and his total commitment to his vision.
Buzz has always focused on his vision of being a major Division 1 Head Basketball Coach and never gave up regardless of how tough the road to success might have been. Unlike many coaches of today, Williams did not come out of one the famous “coaching trees”. Not having a Coach K, Pitino or Izzo to open doors and help with potential jobs, Buzz did it the old-fashioned way with hard work and unbelievable determination. Starting as a student manager and quickly being given the role of student coach, Williams began his career at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas (hardly the cradle of coaches). After graduating from Junior College, the college coaching career of Williams advanced through a steady progression of better opportunities and remarkable success. Amazingly every stop on his long journey had one thing in common, quality players and great seasons. Progressive moves starting in 1992 at Oklahoma City University, through UT Arlington, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Northwestern State, Colorado State and Texas A&M set the stage for his first head coaching job at UNO in 2006. Amazingly Buzz had to deal with post-Katrina issues (no home court, no dorms, no money ) and managed to notch 14 victories, the equivalent of the win total for the last three years of the program. Tom Crean came calling and a great marriage began in Milwaukee.
Williams’ journey sets a great example for all leaders of having the vision and determination to reach a goal. I was always so impressed with him in that he is totally committed to his vision and has never faltered. He never lets barriers or intermediate setbacks get in the way of his goals. His work ethic is second to none and his followers quickly pick up on that. Great leaders and winners do not look at barriers as obstacles but rather opportunities. Of all the coaches I have gotten to know over the years, Buzz Williams has persevered and achieved and done it through his positive attitude, sheer determination and gargantuan work capacity with a single-mindedness that does not accept failure. All great leaders reject failure and learn from the setbacks that they incur. Coach Brent “Buzz" Williams has succeeded through his own efforts and leadership skills.. I congratulate him and the Golden Eagles.
I can assure you one thing, his teams will never give up. Just ask Rick Pitino.
Buzz has always focused on his vision of being a major Division 1 Head Basketball Coach and never gave up regardless of how tough the road to success might have been. Unlike many coaches of today, Williams did not come out of one the famous “coaching trees”. Not having a Coach K, Pitino or Izzo to open doors and help with potential jobs, Buzz did it the old-fashioned way with hard work and unbelievable determination. Starting as a student manager and quickly being given the role of student coach, Williams began his career at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas (hardly the cradle of coaches). After graduating from Junior College, the college coaching career of Williams advanced through a steady progression of better opportunities and remarkable success. Amazingly every stop on his long journey had one thing in common, quality players and great seasons. Progressive moves starting in 1992 at Oklahoma City University, through UT Arlington, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Northwestern State, Colorado State and Texas A&M set the stage for his first head coaching job at UNO in 2006. Amazingly Buzz had to deal with post-Katrina issues (no home court, no dorms, no money ) and managed to notch 14 victories, the equivalent of the win total for the last three years of the program. Tom Crean came calling and a great marriage began in Milwaukee.
Williams’ journey sets a great example for all leaders of having the vision and determination to reach a goal. I was always so impressed with him in that he is totally committed to his vision and has never faltered. He never lets barriers or intermediate setbacks get in the way of his goals. His work ethic is second to none and his followers quickly pick up on that. Great leaders and winners do not look at barriers as obstacles but rather opportunities. Of all the coaches I have gotten to know over the years, Buzz Williams has persevered and achieved and done it through his positive attitude, sheer determination and gargantuan work capacity with a single-mindedness that does not accept failure. All great leaders reject failure and learn from the setbacks that they incur. Coach Brent “Buzz" Williams has succeeded through his own efforts and leadership skills.. I congratulate him and the Golden Eagles.
I can assure you one thing, his teams will never give up. Just ask Rick Pitino.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Two Most Influential Leaders in Sports Today---GB2 and CB
One of the most recognized and respected authorities on leadership is John C. Maxwell. While many “experts” have gone to great lengths to define leadership, Maxwell contends “leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less”.
If that is the case then who on the American sports landscape are actually the most significant leaders and influencers of public opinion? Who currently has the most influence on the daily lives of individuals across the board? In my mind the two most influential sports figures of today are about as different as different can be, yet they both have similar endearing qualities that support their popularity.
One is a rising star while the other retired from active play in 2000. One is a Hall of Famer and the other is trying to hold on to a starter’s position. One is respected for spending his time with his family and friends at home while the other is more likely to spend his off time at Las Vegas casinos. One is always pictured on one knee in a reflective pose while the other is pictured on the golf course with an almost comedic golf swing. I can go on and on about the differences but you can probably guess who I am talking about.
Yep, today I believe that Tim Tebow and Sir Charles are the two most influential personalities in sports today. While initially thinking they are very different, they are amazingly similar. Both of these guys are one thing ---AUTHENIC. While many question Tebow’s dedication to his religious belief, he has not wavered in his own personal commitment. With Charles, no one is more honest in conveying his thoughts that range from politics to role models. Tebow favorite quote is, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." The greatest 6'5 rebounder in the history of the game said, "When you guys criticize me, it made me play better. I didn't get on TV and whine about it." Everything these two do have become the focus of the media. From the sports record of 9,420 tweets per second after the Steelers game to Jimmy Fallon’s portrayal of the former Florida Gator to Charles hosting the Saturday Night to becoming the National spokesman for Weight Watchers, individuals love these two guys. One of the other similarities between the two is that they love people and have done some amazingly charitable things. Seeing Tim interact with disabled and disadvantaged kids before games is truly heart-warming. Being with Charles and seeing him make major donations to the Jimmy V Foundation and other charities while investing significant time and effort to raise money for worthy causes speaks a great deal about the quality of the person.
Getting back to leadership I would encourage all leaders to take a page out of GB2 and CB’s book. BE AUTHENIC or as Chuck shared, “People respect honesty. There are a lot of athletes out there who are walking P.R. Firms." Also have the courage to believe in your own thoughts and beliefs and do not cower because some of the so-called experts question you. Both of these leaders have stayed the course under some pretty heavy criticism and now they are the two most influential sports figures in this country. Realize that every leader’s style may be different but the great ones have the same foundation as Tebow and Barkley: courage, confidence and authenticity.
If that is the case then who on the American sports landscape are actually the most significant leaders and influencers of public opinion? Who currently has the most influence on the daily lives of individuals across the board? In my mind the two most influential sports figures of today are about as different as different can be, yet they both have similar endearing qualities that support their popularity.
One is a rising star while the other retired from active play in 2000. One is a Hall of Famer and the other is trying to hold on to a starter’s position. One is respected for spending his time with his family and friends at home while the other is more likely to spend his off time at Las Vegas casinos. One is always pictured on one knee in a reflective pose while the other is pictured on the golf course with an almost comedic golf swing. I can go on and on about the differences but you can probably guess who I am talking about.
Yep, today I believe that Tim Tebow and Sir Charles are the two most influential personalities in sports today. While initially thinking they are very different, they are amazingly similar. Both of these guys are one thing ---AUTHENIC. While many question Tebow’s dedication to his religious belief, he has not wavered in his own personal commitment. With Charles, no one is more honest in conveying his thoughts that range from politics to role models. Tebow favorite quote is, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." The greatest 6'5 rebounder in the history of the game said, "When you guys criticize me, it made me play better. I didn't get on TV and whine about it." Everything these two do have become the focus of the media. From the sports record of 9,420 tweets per second after the Steelers game to Jimmy Fallon’s portrayal of the former Florida Gator to Charles hosting the Saturday Night to becoming the National spokesman for Weight Watchers, individuals love these two guys. One of the other similarities between the two is that they love people and have done some amazingly charitable things. Seeing Tim interact with disabled and disadvantaged kids before games is truly heart-warming. Being with Charles and seeing him make major donations to the Jimmy V Foundation and other charities while investing significant time and effort to raise money for worthy causes speaks a great deal about the quality of the person.
Getting back to leadership I would encourage all leaders to take a page out of GB2 and CB’s book. BE AUTHENIC or as Chuck shared, “People respect honesty. There are a lot of athletes out there who are walking P.R. Firms." Also have the courage to believe in your own thoughts and beliefs and do not cower because some of the so-called experts question you. Both of these leaders have stayed the course under some pretty heavy criticism and now they are the two most influential sports figures in this country. Realize that every leader’s style may be different but the great ones have the same foundation as Tebow and Barkley: courage, confidence and authenticity.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
How A Sport Can Change A University---The Gonzaga Paradigm
If we were going to give an award to the most surprisingly consistent individual program in college sports since the turn of the century, we would be shipping the trophy to Spokane, Washington. How does a school with a little over 4,700 undergrads and no NCAA appearances until 1995, all of a sudden become once of the most successful programs in college basketball over the last twelve years. The success of Gonzaga under the direction of Mark Few is incredible. Twelve consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament and an overall record of 328-85 (a winning percentage of 80%) has made the Zags both the darling of the nation and the desired model for every non-BCS program in Division 1. I wish I had a dollar for every time a college administrator or coach was quoted as saying we are going to make our program “the Gonzaga of the East (or North, South, Midwest, Southwest, fill in the blank, etc.).
How did a small Jesuit University in the great Northwest build a program that has dramatically changed the brand of the entire University nationally and so positively impacted the future of the institution? The answer is the leadership made a wise decision to allocate their limited resources to an area that could provide the most benefit to the program and the University. This concept is one called “selective excellence” and allows athletic programs, business or organizations to compete in pre-determined areas rather than spread available resources totally across the board and be mediocre in all of them. So often leaders try to give everyone everything they want so they allocate dollars without establishing priorities. In Athletic programs that do not have unlimited resources, that strategy (everybody gets the same) is a sure way to be middle of the pack in everything. Interestingly by focusing on men's basketball the other Zag programs have becoming tremendously successful as the Gonzaga brand became a huge recruiting tool. Women's basketball has made postseason appearances in 6 of the last 8 years with an surprising run to the elite 8 in 2011. Men's and women's soccer and baseball have all made recent appearances n the NCAA Championships. Each sport now has new quality facilities that can be tied to the success of men's basketball. Rather than be envious of men's basketball, each of the other Gonzaga coaches understand how basketball has benefitted their team.
Athletic Director Mike Roth (in his 15th year at the helm) invested in men’s basketball in many ways but most significantly he created consistency in the program by retaining Head Coach Mark Few. When the BCS programs came calling, the investment by Roth of strategically allocating resources to the Bulldogs’ most productive area (men’s basketball) paid huge dividends as Few never wavered in his desire to stay with the Zags. When I asked Mike why Coach Few stayed, he simply stated, "He has a great job."
A new arena, great travel arrangements, amazing financial support and a national presence for the University are the most significant benefits from Mike Roth’s vision. Additional admissions applications, new buildings and dormitories have become the rule because of a great leadership decision by Mike Roth and the loyalty and great coaching of Mark Few. The next construction on the Gonzaga campus should be a statue of Mike Roth and Mark Few shaking hands.
How did a small Jesuit University in the great Northwest build a program that has dramatically changed the brand of the entire University nationally and so positively impacted the future of the institution? The answer is the leadership made a wise decision to allocate their limited resources to an area that could provide the most benefit to the program and the University. This concept is one called “selective excellence” and allows athletic programs, business or organizations to compete in pre-determined areas rather than spread available resources totally across the board and be mediocre in all of them. So often leaders try to give everyone everything they want so they allocate dollars without establishing priorities. In Athletic programs that do not have unlimited resources, that strategy (everybody gets the same) is a sure way to be middle of the pack in everything. Interestingly by focusing on men's basketball the other Zag programs have becoming tremendously successful as the Gonzaga brand became a huge recruiting tool. Women's basketball has made postseason appearances in 6 of the last 8 years with an surprising run to the elite 8 in 2011. Men's and women's soccer and baseball have all made recent appearances n the NCAA Championships. Each sport now has new quality facilities that can be tied to the success of men's basketball. Rather than be envious of men's basketball, each of the other Gonzaga coaches understand how basketball has benefitted their team.
Athletic Director Mike Roth (in his 15th year at the helm) invested in men’s basketball in many ways but most significantly he created consistency in the program by retaining Head Coach Mark Few. When the BCS programs came calling, the investment by Roth of strategically allocating resources to the Bulldogs’ most productive area (men’s basketball) paid huge dividends as Few never wavered in his desire to stay with the Zags. When I asked Mike why Coach Few stayed, he simply stated, "He has a great job."
A new arena, great travel arrangements, amazing financial support and a national presence for the University are the most significant benefits from Mike Roth’s vision. Additional admissions applications, new buildings and dormitories have become the rule because of a great leadership decision by Mike Roth and the loyalty and great coaching of Mark Few. The next construction on the Gonzaga campus should be a statue of Mike Roth and Mark Few shaking hands.
Friday, January 6, 2012
#1 College Program in 2011-12---Look to Waco, Texas
With the bowl season practically over and basketball season reaching the half way point, one school stands out as being the most successful of the over 350 Division 1 programs. Amazingly it is not the traditional big budget state university but rather a private college with a rather small student population. Without question, the Baylor Bears stand head and shoulders above their competition. Playing in modest facilities of Floyd Casey Stadium (62 years old with 50,000 capacity) and Ferrell Center (23 years old with 10,284 seats) and having significantly less financial resources of the traditional huge programs (Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, George, Oklahoma, UCLA, etc.), the Waco-based Baptist University has far surpassed the “big boys” on the gridiron and the hardwood in 2011-12.
The football squad ran over big dollar program Washington and amassed an unbelievable 777 total yards and 67 points embarrassing the Pac 12 Huskies in the Alamo Bowl to finish 10-3. The Men’s Basketball Bears are currently one of four undefeated (13-0) squads in D-1 and ranked 5th by ESPN. Pretty impressive but the real star of this show is Women’s Basketball who are currently ranked numero uno as the Lady Bears have run off 14 straight wins including wins over #2 UConn, #3 Notre Dame and #6 Tennessee.
The question is how can this program that has less resources, facilities and tradition than the traditional super powers outperform these monster programs so significantly on the gridiron and the hardwood. The answer is great leadership that understands that you can do more with less if everyone is on the same page. Athletic Director Ian McCaw (formerly at Northeastern in Boston) has done a masterful job of identifying and hiring coaches who bought into his philosophy while also keeping successful coaches when the rich and famous tried to lure them away from Waco with big dollar offers . He has also done it without breaking the bank by paying outrageous salaries to those successful coaches. Instead he has built a culture where coaches appreciate what they have and the support they receive. While Art Briles (football), Scott Drew (MBB) and Kim Mulkey (WBB) won’t starve in the near future, their combined salaries are less than Alabama Head Man Nick Saban.
Clearly these coaches have not only bought into McCaw’s concept but built their programs by following McCaw's model by recruiting an important leader to build their teams around. In football, the national recognition afforded Baylor when RG III (Robert Griffin) was recognized as the best player in the country by winning the Heisman Trophy demonstrated the realization that Baylor had arrived on the national scene. Kim Mulkey’s Lady Bears with current superstar Brittney Griner burst on the scene in 2005 with a national championship and now (along with UConn) are recognized as the pre-eminent women’s program in the country. In men’s Basketball, Scott Drew has resurrected a program that was devastated by the Dave Bliss debacle that paralleled a bad soap opera with murder, academic fraud and lies everywhere. Drew has been able to recruit quality players and been able to keep them when the NBA came calling. Sophomore Perry Jones III, a projected top 5 pick in the NBA draft last year, chose to stay in central Texas with Drew and his teammates.
The Baylor Bears have it figured out under Ian McCaw. Have quality, loyal leaders of both coaches and student-athletes, who buy into the program and commit to the same goals and core values, and the victories will come. Bouquets to the Baylor Bears, it is great to see a program winning because of sound principles rather than winning because you have the most money.
The football squad ran over big dollar program Washington and amassed an unbelievable 777 total yards and 67 points embarrassing the Pac 12 Huskies in the Alamo Bowl to finish 10-3. The Men’s Basketball Bears are currently one of four undefeated (13-0) squads in D-1 and ranked 5th by ESPN. Pretty impressive but the real star of this show is Women’s Basketball who are currently ranked numero uno as the Lady Bears have run off 14 straight wins including wins over #2 UConn, #3 Notre Dame and #6 Tennessee.
The question is how can this program that has less resources, facilities and tradition than the traditional super powers outperform these monster programs so significantly on the gridiron and the hardwood. The answer is great leadership that understands that you can do more with less if everyone is on the same page. Athletic Director Ian McCaw (formerly at Northeastern in Boston) has done a masterful job of identifying and hiring coaches who bought into his philosophy while also keeping successful coaches when the rich and famous tried to lure them away from Waco with big dollar offers . He has also done it without breaking the bank by paying outrageous salaries to those successful coaches. Instead he has built a culture where coaches appreciate what they have and the support they receive. While Art Briles (football), Scott Drew (MBB) and Kim Mulkey (WBB) won’t starve in the near future, their combined salaries are less than Alabama Head Man Nick Saban.
Clearly these coaches have not only bought into McCaw’s concept but built their programs by following McCaw's model by recruiting an important leader to build their teams around. In football, the national recognition afforded Baylor when RG III (Robert Griffin) was recognized as the best player in the country by winning the Heisman Trophy demonstrated the realization that Baylor had arrived on the national scene. Kim Mulkey’s Lady Bears with current superstar Brittney Griner burst on the scene in 2005 with a national championship and now (along with UConn) are recognized as the pre-eminent women’s program in the country. In men’s Basketball, Scott Drew has resurrected a program that was devastated by the Dave Bliss debacle that paralleled a bad soap opera with murder, academic fraud and lies everywhere. Drew has been able to recruit quality players and been able to keep them when the NBA came calling. Sophomore Perry Jones III, a projected top 5 pick in the NBA draft last year, chose to stay in central Texas with Drew and his teammates.
The Baylor Bears have it figured out under Ian McCaw. Have quality, loyal leaders of both coaches and student-athletes, who buy into the program and commit to the same goals and core values, and the victories will come. Bouquets to the Baylor Bears, it is great to see a program winning because of sound principles rather than winning because you have the most money.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Coaching Carousel---Which Former Head Coach Will Win This Time?
With the bowl season coming to an end, the coaching carousel in college football seems to be slowing down after moving at a break neck speed in December. Currently in the FBS (formerly Division 1A) there has been 26 head coaching changes out of the 120 programs or 22% of all programs will have new leadership in 2012. What is really interesting is that six of these new coaches are coaches who were recently fired from high profile programs. The question becomes, If they were unsuccessful in their previous opportunity with significant resources, why would they be successful with less resources?
I have been trying to think of some hugely successful coaches who have achieved that success after being let go from another position. In some situations the fit is just not right. Steve Spurrier was certainly a bust with the Washington Redskins but resurrected the program at the University of South Carolina following Lou Holtz (Holtz had 33-37 record in 6 years). Frank Solich has had a nice run at Ohio University after being let go at Nebraska. However it appears that most of the second chance guys have not had any major success. Ron Zook at Illinois, Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, Butch Davis at UNC and Rick Nueheisel at UCLA, all flunked again.
Of the six high profile coaches who are getting a second chance, which have the best chance to be successful. Based on some leadership principles, here is my guess as to how each will do:
1. Mike Leach----Leach will have success at Washington State when comparing W and L’s to his predecessors. Leach’s offensive system loaded with California Juco’s will make an impact in the Pac 12. His eccentricities will play well in the Great Northwest (at least for a short time). Throwing conventional wisdom out the window and embellishing change are two leadership strategies that will be part of Leach’s program.
2. Rich Rodriguez----Coach Rod will get things going in Tucson. His tenure at Michigan fraught with NCAA issues will not be a factor at U of A. The ghost of Bo Schembechler will not always be on his shoulder for the Wildcats and his success will parallel his tenure at West Virginia. At Tucson, he will implement his program rather than be concerned about how to do things the Michigan way. Greg Byrne, the Arizona Athletic Director, will assure NCAA compliance.
3. Jim L. Mora (formerly Jim Mora Jr.)---Mora who was terminated after one year with the Seahawks with four years remaining at $4 million a year, has earned the reputation of a player’s coach who is a great motivator. While his coaching acumen and experience as a head coach was questioned, he should be able to recruit the talent rich Southern California landscape and get his guys to perform to their talent level. Competing with USC’s Lane Kiffin will pose an interesting challenge for the two-time NFL head man.
4. Charlie Weis---Weis’ main claim to fame was offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Unfortunately Weis and the Kansas Jayhawks need a Tom Brady clone to be successful. If you can’t get it done at tradition rich Notre Dame and not be able to build an offense at Florida, I question if Weis can make Jayhawk football more than something to do until Bill Self rolls out the roundballs.
5. Bob Davie---The Lobos have struggled in football and have invested a ton of resources and still have not been able to compete at a level that is commensurate with their other programs. Davie had Notre Dame’s power and the benefit of being a “hot property” when he took over the reigns of the Fighting Irish. He will have to re-invent himself and figure out a way to build a program from the ground up. Over the years the Lobo faithful has not had much patience. Davie will have to show improvement pretty quickly.
6. Terry Bowden---The difference between the Akron program and the Clemson program is light years from each other. Will the limited resources of a Mid-American program be a problem or will being away from the limelight allow Bowden to coach with no pressure. The Bowden family has had plenty of success and knows how to win in the right situation, the question, is this the right situation?
I think if you are engaging someone to lead any of your initiatives make sure you understand why they were successful or why they were not successful in their previous efforts. Then make sure those traits fit well into your situation.
I have been trying to think of some hugely successful coaches who have achieved that success after being let go from another position. In some situations the fit is just not right. Steve Spurrier was certainly a bust with the Washington Redskins but resurrected the program at the University of South Carolina following Lou Holtz (Holtz had 33-37 record in 6 years). Frank Solich has had a nice run at Ohio University after being let go at Nebraska. However it appears that most of the second chance guys have not had any major success. Ron Zook at Illinois, Houston Nutt at Ole Miss, Butch Davis at UNC and Rick Nueheisel at UCLA, all flunked again.
Of the six high profile coaches who are getting a second chance, which have the best chance to be successful. Based on some leadership principles, here is my guess as to how each will do:
1. Mike Leach----Leach will have success at Washington State when comparing W and L’s to his predecessors. Leach’s offensive system loaded with California Juco’s will make an impact in the Pac 12. His eccentricities will play well in the Great Northwest (at least for a short time). Throwing conventional wisdom out the window and embellishing change are two leadership strategies that will be part of Leach’s program.
2. Rich Rodriguez----Coach Rod will get things going in Tucson. His tenure at Michigan fraught with NCAA issues will not be a factor at U of A. The ghost of Bo Schembechler will not always be on his shoulder for the Wildcats and his success will parallel his tenure at West Virginia. At Tucson, he will implement his program rather than be concerned about how to do things the Michigan way. Greg Byrne, the Arizona Athletic Director, will assure NCAA compliance.
3. Jim L. Mora (formerly Jim Mora Jr.)---Mora who was terminated after one year with the Seahawks with four years remaining at $4 million a year, has earned the reputation of a player’s coach who is a great motivator. While his coaching acumen and experience as a head coach was questioned, he should be able to recruit the talent rich Southern California landscape and get his guys to perform to their talent level. Competing with USC’s Lane Kiffin will pose an interesting challenge for the two-time NFL head man.
4. Charlie Weis---Weis’ main claim to fame was offensive coordinator of the Patriots. Unfortunately Weis and the Kansas Jayhawks need a Tom Brady clone to be successful. If you can’t get it done at tradition rich Notre Dame and not be able to build an offense at Florida, I question if Weis can make Jayhawk football more than something to do until Bill Self rolls out the roundballs.
5. Bob Davie---The Lobos have struggled in football and have invested a ton of resources and still have not been able to compete at a level that is commensurate with their other programs. Davie had Notre Dame’s power and the benefit of being a “hot property” when he took over the reigns of the Fighting Irish. He will have to re-invent himself and figure out a way to build a program from the ground up. Over the years the Lobo faithful has not had much patience. Davie will have to show improvement pretty quickly.
6. Terry Bowden---The difference between the Akron program and the Clemson program is light years from each other. Will the limited resources of a Mid-American program be a problem or will being away from the limelight allow Bowden to coach with no pressure. The Bowden family has had plenty of success and knows how to win in the right situation, the question, is this the right situation?
I think if you are engaging someone to lead any of your initiatives make sure you understand why they were successful or why they were not successful in their previous efforts. Then make sure those traits fit well into your situation.
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