A Leadership Lesson From 3 NCAA Tournament Coaches---Buzz, AG and John

With the NCAA Basketball Tournament first weekend completed, like always, there has been tons of interesting stories and sidebars to the actual competition. For me, I love to watch the coaches and see how they go about doing their business. It is so interesting because there are many different styles, strategies and concepts and while they are different, they all work for that particular coach and team. I always look for competencies or successful consistencies that can be applied in any leadership situation to get quality results.

In this year’s tournament, three of the head coaches (Marquette, Ohio and Alabama) actually were part of the first group of coaches to be involved in the Villa 7 coaching preparation program I created while at VCU. When I first met each of these individuals, I was certain they would have long and successful head coaching careers. In that first year I met the top assistant coaches at Ohio State (John Groce), Texas A&M (Buzz Williams) and Florida (Anthony Grant) and was so impressed that I mentally placed these up and comers on my list as the top potential successors to my coach (Jeff Capel) at VCU. While all of these great young coaches’ backgrounds were very different, they had one thing in common---INTENSITY.

Each was tremendously passionate about their profession and their desire to be great coaches and leaders. They each had an intensity that burned through every conversation and interaction. Each of these three had an incredible commitment to being the best that they could possibly be. They left nothing to chance and stayed on top of every situation. They were able to integrate very engaging personalities with a powerful focus on achieving their goals. After talking with them and being in their company, you would know immediately that they had tremendous futures.

One episode that I always share with young coaches was a social event that we held at the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon that included about 40 assistant coaches and 20 Mid-major Athletic directors. The intent of the event was to give coaches and AD’s an opportunity to interact in a social setting without much formality. Watching the dynamics of this event was truly enlightening. Many of the assistant coaches hung around with each other and never really made any serious attempt to connect with the AD’s. However Buzz, AG and John all used this forum to connect with as many AD’s as possible. Their behavior during that social event did not go un-noticed by many of the AD’s and actually became a topic of conversation at the AD’s forum. These three future leaders looked at every situation as an opportunity to enhance their leadership potential.

Great leaders like Williams, Groce and Grant, analyze every situation from a leadership perspective. As you are faced with challenges and opportunities in your everyday life, use a leadership filter to determine what your ultimate decision should be. Remember leaders are concerned with the big picture. That is why Marquette, Ohio University and Alabama are making national news on the hardwood. They have strong leaders that are totally focused on building successful programs and have instilled their same intensity into their teams. One final thought, do not mistake intensity for insensitivity. Insensitivity translates into a self-serving environment that ultimately falls apart. While Williams, Groce and Grant demand maximum effort, they do so in a manner that positively impacts each team member.

Crimson Tides' Anthony Grant's Best Call---Addition by Subtraction

Last night I had the opportunity to watch the Alabama Crimson Tide hoopsters take apart a pretty good Arkansas squad in Fayetteville. The interesting part of the game was that the Tide was playing without their two best players who have been suspended on and off for most of the season. While Jamychal Green and Tony Mitchell never made the trip to Bud Walton Arena, the remaining guys pulled together and dominated after a shaky start. In today’s world of instant gratification, it is highly unusual for any coach to make a decision that hurts the current situation for the benefit of the long term. However, most great leaders know that early pain and discomfort is often critical in creating the necessary structure for success down the road.

When I hired Anthony Grant six years ago I posed the question, “How will you know if your players buy into your system?” Interestingly he said that if they do not buy-in, they will quit because they do not want to put in the required effort or it will be so apparent that they will soon not be a part of the team. Sure enough the first year, his two tallest players both left the team and Coach Grant was left with short numbers and no starter over 6’6. While that might have seemed like a sure fire way not to succeed, just the opposite happened. Those who truly committed came together and embraced the system, the coaches and their teammates, and set a Colonial Athletic Association record for most wins in a season, won the conference tournament and beat Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Anthony Grant has a set of values and everyone in the program must understand the importance of those values. Remember that the reality of leadership is making decisions that are good for the entire group and accepting the responsibility for the success of the mission. It is about building a solid enduring organization or team. Sometimes leaders have to rid themselves of individuals who are destructive and bring the rest of the group down. It does not mean that they are bad people but it means that they are roadblocks to creating the correct culture. Coach Grant is always talking building a culture on his team. If you can build a culture where everyone understands and has focus on the same objectives, your chances are very good you will achieve at least to the ability of the individuals and you actually have a chance to achieve above the ability of the individuals. Some leaders (coaches) feel they can change anyone’s attitude and make them valuable contributors. The one thing to realize is that attitudes are formed over a lifetime and you may not be able to affect attitudes of some folks. When it become apparent that someone will not adapt to your value system, you may need to pull an Anthony Grant and cut loose the individual for the good of the group. Addition by subtraction may be most important play that you call to build a winner.