Team Apostles... Leading a New Way

Team captains or co-captains are not enough anymore. It's something that is becoming more popular. The use of leadership "committees" is growing, particularly in college football locker rooms. Urban Meyer started the trend with his Leadership Committee and Champions Club at Florida. These committees are voted on by both the coaching staffs and players and are upheld to higher expectations, not just on the field, but off the field as well. In order to be considered to be apart of Meyers' Champions Club at Florida, you must excel in the classroom, in the weight room and be true to your personal values. What's the reward? Special treatment. Yes, that's right...according to Meyer, fairness or equality is not something that you see in the Florida football program. Urban Meyer is a big believer in rewarding achievement.

Similar to coach Meyer, I am a big believer in the old concept of "you snooze, you lose"! In a society today that follows the AYSO philosophy (don't even get me started on this one), where we reward kids for participation or where the runner-up is given the same type of recognition as the Champion, I am a strong believer that you should be rewarded for your performance and achievement. The fact of the matter is that life is not always fair and the person who puts in the most time & effort, is most likely the one to come out on top in most situations. Lets face it, the real world is nothing but competition, competing for the best school, competing for the best team, competing for the best business, competing for the best job!

The article below talks about the benefits of having more than just one or two "captains" leading the team. Actually, when you think about it, "leading by committee" is a very simple philosophy...the more leaders you have the better communication, commitment and buy in you have from your team. At Florida, Coach Meyer expects his leadership committee to to enhance team chemistry, police the team from within and exemplify what it means to be leaders, both on and off the field. When you give that responsibility to twenty of your players at all class levels (Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores & Freshmen), you have more players looking out for the best interests of each other.

Rich Rodriguez dropped the phrase Thursday, and ears perked up.
He
mentioned his leadership group, the one he'll consult often during the season,
to get the vibe of the team. And he referred to them as the "apostles," an idea
he has employed for years.
"It's not in biblical nature," Rodriguez said.
"The definition of an apostle is one that leads a new way. I'm not looking for
them to change the world. That's a description of it. ... I don't want anybody
to take it the wrong way."
He said the players voted and picked the group,
which is close to 20 individuals, including fifth-year senior cornerback Morgan
Trent.
Trent said he's glad the team has a larger voice to speak to the
coach, though the name is a bit unconventional.
"It's fine with me," Trent
said. "I don't think he thinks he's Jesus or anything. He broke down the word
and what it meant."
Having apostles is a longstanding routine with
Rodriguez.
"Since I was at West Virginia," he said. "I had a version of it,
too, at the small school, Glenville State. I've always had a group of leaders
that I let the players pick. We had a lot of fun with it. Sometimes it's as
simple as picking pregame music or that kind of thing. It's not like they're
making major decisions. They're not going to say, 'Coach, we're going to run the
wishbone this week.' They're making suggestions, not decisions."
As for when
they'll be implemented, Rodriguez made that very clear.
"I don't need the
leadership as much during practice -- that's what coaches are there for," he
said. "I need leadership more when the coaches aren't around, in the locker room
and around campus. That's where I need the leadership. When we're around, that's
our job."

You Get What You Put In!

To follow-up with the "Thought of the Day" that was included earlier this week,
below is an exerpt from another Blog, titled "Play the Right Way"
(http://playerdevelopment.wordpress.com/). This is a great blog to read on a daily basis that is geared towards players and player development. The exerpt explains how important the summer time is for developing and enhancing your fundamentals....your "game", if you want to take it to the next level. It comes down to one simple little thing...you get back, what you put in! In other words, as legendary coach John Wooden would say, "there is no substitute for hardwork!"
The post talks about a young player who has obviously commited himself to developing his skills over the summer by working out regularly and playing AAU ball, which provides a lot of great competition and exposure.

"While at home this week he said he gets up in the morning and works on his dribbling and shooting. At night he goes to his job for a couple of hours.
I asked him if he is playing too many games?
“No coach, not at all, I wish I was playing more.”
GET OUT THERE AND PLAY!

I think the quote, "you become what you think about most of the time", sums it up best! Everyone wants to be a champion, but not everyone wants to put the time into dedicating themselves to becoming a champion. The difference between winners and losers is that winners are willing to do the things that losers are not willing to do. I get discouraged when I hear about players complaining about the amount of time they have to put in during the summer at open gyms, summer leagues and team camps!

If you approach the summer time with the right attitude and understand that games are won during the season, but champions are built during the summer, those experiences will eventually become great memories with your teammates and coaches. When you put the time in during the summer and you see the end result when you accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a championship or just reaching your team goals, you create a bond between your coaches and fellow teammates because you commited as a group and experienced all of the sweat and hardwork together! That togetherness and bond you create provides a lifetime full of memories and wonderful opportunities.

Thought of the Day...

"Every man suffers pain...Either the pain of hardwork or the pain of regret"

Today's "thought of the day" comes from a slogan that is pasted on the wall of the Indiana Pacers' weight room in their practice facility.

I have experienced both types of pain as a player and as a coach. I would prefer to experience the pain of hardwork because regret is much more painful!

What's all the "Buzz" About?

MILWAUKEE -- The armchair athletic directors wanted a headliner, a front man to replace the one they'd just lost, a basketball coach who could generate off-the-bat buzz. Instead, they got Buzz.

Jerel McNeal's return from the NBA draft waters, along with the presence of classmates Wes Matthews and Dominic James, gives new coach Buzz Williams a Big East contender.
Three months later, Marquette athletic director Steve Cottingham still hears it from alums who wanted him to make a big-splash coaching hire after losing Tom Crean to Indiana. Guard Jerel McNeal still gets asked about the little-known coach who will steward his senior season with the Golden Eagles.
"It's funny," McNeal said. "You see somebody and they're like, 'So who's this Buzz guy?' They don't really have a clue about who he is."
Here's Clue No. 1 about Brent "Buzz" Williams: He has never let name recognition stop him before, and he has no plans to start now.
When Williams enrolled as a freshman at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, his path to a coaching career seemed littered with potholes.
"Couldn't play, had no relationships, had nobody in my family in college coaching," he said. "Had to pay my own way to college, so that restricted where I could go."
Determined to make it in coaching, he began to form a network, working as a student assistant at Navarro. Each week, he wrote letters to every coach he met, regardless of their rank or affiliation.
He contacted every Division I coach, asking whether he could work at their summer camps. A "very small percentage" replied, but the lack of responses didn't stop the letters from coming.
"I didn't know what to say. I just knew I wanted to be a college coach," Williams said. "It was your typical 17, 18-year-old's handwritten note."
Coach X,
Hope you're doing good. Hope recruiting's going good.
Have a good day. I'll send you a note next week.
-Buzz
The name at the bottom of the page didn't mean much back then, but Williams' persistence built relationships that helped launch and accelerate his career. Don't be fooled by the buzz cut. Williams got his nickname for his energy.
After an extended tour as an assistant coach and a star-crossed season as head man at the University of New Orleans, Williams takes over a program that reached five NCAA tournaments in Crean's nine-year tenure. Promoted to head coach after a season as Crean's aide, the 35-year-old Texan inherits a likely preseason Top 25 squad led by seniors McNeal, Dominic James and Wes Matthews.
Despite working on successful staffs and making waves as a recruiter, Williams is a relative unknown outside coaching circles. But he refuses to get caught up in the name game.
"If it's a challenge, I don't see it," he said. "I'm not concerned about my reputation. I'm only concerned about my character. Character is what I can control."
***You can tell a lot about Williams before he opens his mouth. The coach leaves quite a paper trail.
A pile of color-coded pages sits on one end of his desk. Game charts, Williams explained, from his season at New Orleans. The colors serve little purpose other than to keep him organized.
"That's more my OCD problem," he said. "Just how I operate."
On the other side of a container of Copenhagen pouches dipping tobacco, Williams has daily to-do lists for himself and his assistants. The lists have calls to make and e-mails to write, and also include recruiting depth charts for 2009 and 2010.
Williams never skips an item.
"If that No. 3 thing out of 10 on Monday isn't done, his day is in a tailspin," said Lorenzo Watkins, a former assistant on Williams' staff at New Orleans who holds the same post at Campbell University. "He's the greatest organizational guy I've ever seen, down to the colors of pens and colors of pieces of paper. It's to that extent."
Williams' organizational skills will be tested as he takes on a new role in a new environment.

He's a tireless worker, but most importantly, he cares about the people he's involved with. • He'll do well there. It's a great situation.
--Billy Gillispie on Buzz WilliamsBefore joining Crean's staff last July, Williams had been to Milwaukee only once. After his freshman year at Navarro, he'd worked the camp of former Marquette head coach Kevin O'Neill. His Texas drawl seems ill-suited amid the elongated vowels of Wisconsinites, but he's doing his best to fit in.
Marquette lost two recruits during the coaching change, including standout guard Tyshawn Taylor, who landed at Kansas. But Williams retained Chris Otule and Joseph Fulce, both Texans, and added Fulce's junior college teammate, Jimmy Butler, this spring.
The 2009 class is also shaping up. Williams went into Wisconsin's backyard and landed Jeronne Maymon from Madison Memorial High School, the same school Crean mined for Matthews four years ago. Williams has made good impressions on several local AAU coaches and is pursuing Jamil Wilson, the state's top prospect.
"He's a tireless worker, but most importantly, he cares about the people he's involved with," said Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie, who had Williams on his staff at Texas A&M from 2004 to '06. "He'll work hard enough, he'll be organized enough. He'll do well there. It's a great situation."
***Before Marquette's game at Connecticut on Jan. 20, Cottingham was chatting with his UConn counterpart Jeff Hathaway when the subject turned to Williams. Hathaway knew Williams from their days at Colorado State, when Hathaway served as athletic director and Williams an assistant coach.
"We both agreed he'd be a high-major coach soon," Cottingham said. "Of course, I didn't expect it to be at Marquette. The issue was, how long are we going to be able to keep him as an assistant?"
Cottingham's priorities changed after Crean left for Indiana on April 1. The next day, he met with Williams to discuss the top job.
Big names like Washington State's Tony Bennett and Xavier's Sean Miller came up, but Cottingham chose Williams after just a six-day search and awarded him a six-year contract. Skepticism greeted the hiring. Many thought the school could have hooked a higher-profile candidate to succeed Crean, whose name constantly had come up for other jobs since the team's Final Four run in 2003.
Crean's pre-Marquette credentials mirrored those of Williams -- thirtysomething rising star, gifted recruiter, assistant for a successful program -- but he was a Midwesterner who had cut his teeth at Michigan State, not faraway ports like Texas A&M and Colorado State. Williams' familiarity with a team stung by Crean's departure was seen as a benefit during the transition, but Cottingham insists he wasn't looking for a stopgap.
Tom Crean was a well-liked figure at Marquette for nine years, making five NCAA tournaments and one Final Four.
"I don't get paid to just pick a name off a list that the alums are, in the short-term, going to pat you on the back and say, 'That's a great hire,'" Cottingham said. "In my heart, I would have felt I did that out of being chicken. Buzz is the guy that's right for Marquette.
"When you've got that, you have to have the fortitude to say, 'He's going to get it done, so that's who we're going to hire.'"
There was the issue of Williams' lone prior head-coaching stop, a one-year stint at a program still recovering after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Williams maintains that his decision to resign from New Orleans last July was based solely on personal reasons, not professional ones, adding that the situation there was "not unstable." But he filed a lawsuit last year claiming the school breached his contract by failing to fulfill pledges relating to facilities, academic support and basic assurances such as meal money and transportation. The school's hurricane-damaged home facility, Lakefront Arena, didn't reopen until May 2.
"[Williams] told me certain things that were promised to him didn't get done," Watkins said. "His word is, 'Hey, I'm going to work no matter the situation, but you've got to give me something to work with.'"
Added Crean: "He took a real leap of faith. He did not believe in the way things were going there, and he was excited about what we were doing. I looked at it as we'd be fortunate to have him for two, three years at the most, and then he'd be a head coach again."
New Orleans has been seeking a $300,000 buyout from Williams for leaving the school. Athletic director Jim Miller, through a spokesman, declined to comment for this story.
Williams knew there was risk in giving up a Division I head-coaching job.
"I actually discouraged him," Gillispie said. "I thought he would be better off to make the most of his opportunity there. I said the only reason he would leave is because of family considerations, and obviously that was the reason.
"He got into a great situation at Marquette. He's very grateful, and he understands he got a little bit of a lucky break, but the lucky break was made by his hard work."
Williams had first met Crean when the coach spoke at a Nike consortium for top assistants. The charismatic Crean struck a chord with Williams, then an A&M assistant, who reverted to his "old ways" and wrote Crean a letter.
"It was the only letter I received other than the thank-you from the Nike people," Crean said. "It makes you root for that person. I sure paid a lot more attention to what he was doing."
The two stayed in touch and began discussing an opening on Crean's staff last June.
"I wasn't working or plotting or scheming, trying to figure out how to be the next head coach at Marquette," Williams said. "God had a plan. He's the author of my story. I'm not smart enough or good enough to dream of something like this."
*** Taking a dip of snuff, Williams recalled his first coaching job. He was a 22-year-old assistant at Texas-Arlington in 1994, making $400 a month -- $330 after taxes -- and living in a dorm room smaller than his current office at the Al McGuire Center.
He had school-issued furniture and splurged on a 20-inch TV. And he loved it.
"I thought I was rollin'," he said. "I thought I was the richest guy in the world."
Williams has never undervalued his coaching opportunities: the student assistant positions at Navarro and Oklahoma City University, the assistant-coaching posts at six schools, the year in New Orleans.
But there's no doubt this is different.
"He's one of those guys who will never forget where he's from," said DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright, who began exchanging letters with Williams in the early 1990s. "He had no free passes. There's no question Buzz was a la carte, and now he's got one of the entrée jobs in the country."
Williams' prior knowledge of Marquette's personnel will help, and he plans to run an offense similar to Crean's.
But there will be differences, as Williams brought in a completely new staff -- and a new approach.
"His personality is a big change," McNeal said. "He's always himself, and he gives everybody a chance to be themselves a lot more. In some situations, he understands the players a lot better.
"I'm just happy we've got somebody who understands the culture of our program. The things that didn't need to change stayed the same."
One thing that won't change, despite his more public role, is how Williams relates to others.
He plans to reply to every e-mail and letter he receives from alumni, supporters, maybe even detractors. They might not know his name, but they'll know he cares.
"I'll do it the same way I've always done it -- treat everybody important," he said. "It's kinda like Oprah says, 'Everybody has their own story.' I try not to judge anyone's story. I want to know their story."
In time, he hopes fans will come to appreciate his own.

Two Simple Questions to Becoming a CHAMPION:

Are You Interested or Are You Committed?
Are You a Dreamer or An Acheiver?

Now that summer is upon us, student-athletes will be busy performing their off-season workouts, attempting to develop their individual skills and becoming stronger, faster and quicker. It all comes down to one simple little phrase: Games are won during the season, but Champions are built in the off-season. However, athletes should not be the only ones preparing themselves for the upcoming seasons, coaches should be preparing themselves and their staff as continuous learners. Ask yourself these two simple questions: Are you Interested or Are you Committed? Are you a dreamer or an achiever?

There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it when it is convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses.

What does it take to be a Champion? It takes commitment. It's a personal commitment to develop your skills and abilities on your own, during open gym and in the weight room. It's working hard each and every day to the best of your ability, not just because it's "convenient", but because you will not accept any excuses! It's also a team commitment to develop as a team by each team member taking personal responsibility to working hard in the off season and commiting themselves to the team...not because everyone else is doing it, but because the team is not accepting any excuses!

Think about the level of commitment you are putting forth towards developing as an individual and as a team member. Are you working out on your own? Are you working hard at open gyms? Are you running the floor, hitting the open man, making the extra pass, finishing strong at the basket, diving on the floor for a loose ball? Are you the first to arrive and the last to leave, taking some additional jump shots and free throws? Are you working hard in the weight room?

Or, are you quick to leave the gym to go hang-out with your friends? Are you worried about the voicemails and text messages on your cell phone? Are you late to arrive at open gym? Do you complain about the amount of time you have to put in during the summer? Do you only work on your game when its convenient? If this is the case, then you are not committed! You are not committed to yourself or the rest of your team and you will most likely be willing to accept excuses for not being successfull.

Ask yourself why you are doing these things, why you are playing basketball? A CHAMPION is someone who who trains even when nobody is watching! Everyone wants to be great, everyone wants to be a player, everyone wants to win games, everyone wants to win a championship, everyone wants to be all-conference. But, the difference between a dreamer and an achiever is that an achiever is somebody who is willing to put in the time and the effort towards making those dreams become a reality. Achievers are Champions...they are committed to getting better. They have a vision of what they want to be and have the commitment to preparing for how they will get there. Right now, it's not too late to start working towards being a CHAMPION!

"Are You a 3-to-6 Player or a 6-to-3 Player?"

Below is an article from ESPN.com on the late Wake Forest coach, Skip Prosser. This serves as a great question to young basketball players, aspiring to be great and achieve at a high level. As a coach, you can ask yourself the same question...are you a 3 to 6 coach or a 6 to 3 coach? If you want your players to commit, be dedicated, work hard and buy into your teachings, then you must serve as a good example. This is a great thing to always keep in mind. Are you putting in the time necessary to allow yourself and your team to achieve greatness? Effort, Energy, Execution equals Excellence!

A photo hangs near the front door in Josh Howard's Dallas-area home, a shot of Prosser and Howard from an ACC tournament game with Josh in full emotive mode. "You can see the look on my face like I'm wanting to win," the Mavericks' small forward says. "And the look on his face is like 'Calm down.'" Howard likes to look at the photo every day when he wakes up and to think about the distance the two men traveled together. "I just try to keep his memory alive," Howard says. "That was my guy."

Josh Howard was a unanimous choice for ACC Player of the Year in his final season at Wake Forest.Howard was among the players Prosser inherited when he took over the Wake Forest program in 2001. And though he was friends with West, having played a year with him at Hargrave, Howard didn't initially share the former Xavier standout's appreciation of Coach. "With any new coach, you're going to have guys that rebel," Howard says. "I was one of those guys."
Prosser never forgot his days as a high school history teacher in Wheeling, W.Va. Before every practice, he would read something, be it a philosophic aphorism of Ralph Waldo Emerson or a newspaper story Prosser felt was instructive. And though he was known for treating every player equally, certain sayings he would repeat when addressing specific individuals.
Howard might have been Wake's best player in Prosser's first year in Winston-Salem, but the coach thought he could be better. "Are you a 3-to-6 player?" he'd constantly ask Howard about the hours he was willing to invest in the game each day. "Or a 6-to-3 player?" Howard admits he was one of the last guys to practice and the first to leave. He wasn't devoted enough to the game. He says it came down to a matter of trust, of knowing Coach and his teammates had his back. "Coach taught me how to trust. I had trust issues when it came to playing like I wanted to play," Howard says. "I remember him sitting me down in the office after my junior year and telling me I was going to have to lead next year's team. That showed me he saw something in me."
J-Ho's senior year couldn't have gone much better. Behind his 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, the Deacons won the ACC regular-season title by two games. Prosser was named ACC Coach of the Year, and Howard became the first player to be unanimously selected ACC Player of the Year since David Thompson in 1974-75. He also became the first person in his family to graduate from college.
But the coach-player connection didn't stop after Howard was drafted by the Mavs and became an All-Star last season. A product of a single-parent household, Josh says he saw Prosser as a father figure. He valued the phone calls from Prosser. Not just the preseason wishes of good luck that Coach would make to all his NBA players, but the monthly calls when the two could just rap. That's why Prosser's unexpected death was so hard on Howard. "I'm still tripping that, you know, he's gone," he says. And it's why Howard decided to make the grand gesture of giving up some space on his right arm to honor his guy. While West is true to his school with an "X" tattoo on his left arm, Howard had "trust" inked on the inside of his right wrist and "Skip" on his right biceps. "I know Coach was the reason I got to the NBA," Josh says. "I'm always playing for him. He made the biggest impact on me."
The Miller Center, Wake Forest's practice facility, is awash with Skipisms. In the basement where players collect their clean practice unis a sign reads: "Playing time is not like Halloween. Just because you have a uniform doesn't mean you're going to get any candy." On the steps that lead to the floor a sign on the first landing asks Howard's favorite question, "Are you a 3-to-6 player?" while a sign on the second landing asks, "Or a 6-to-3 player?" And near the entrance there is a simple reminder: "The gym is the best place you'll ever be."
Words can't quite capture what Skip Prosser meant to Paul, West and Howard or to the game itself. But they do have a power all their own. In the end, Prosser's words are still heard in Winston-Salem, where this past season the Deacons had two players make the ACC's all-freshman team. And next fall, Prosser's final recruiting class will enroll. Considered to be a top-five class, it includes two 7-footers and one of the nation's best small forwards, Al-Farouq Aminu. "My dad wanted desperately to take a team to the Final Four," says Mark Prosser, an assistant coach at Bucknell. "I think they'll have the talent in a year or two to do that. The foundation is there. It will be their team. But he had something to do with it, and he'll be watching."
Until then, three of his favorite players will carry the banner in the Mavericks-Hornets series. They'll battle it out in the first round without receiving any pregame call from Coach, knowing he would have tried to catch a couple of the games in person. They play for New Orleans. And Dallas. And yet, still, they play for Skip.

Congratulations Coach Dawkins!

Former Duke Associate Head Coach, Johnny Dawkins has been named the new head coach at Stanford University. Congratulations and good luck! Here are some quotes from coach Dawkins' press conference:

April 28, 2008
Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby
Opening Comments"Thank you everyone; appreciate the wonderful turnout. We have lots of our staff and friends from the university here. It's a great day for us. We are very excited for the start of the Johnny Dawkins era at Stanford. As we began this process, we were certainly looking for someone that was a great fit at Stanford University. A coach, an educator, a community citizen. Someone of high integrity and with a high level of expectations, and the energy for the task. Even with all those traits, you also have to have somebody who has had the requisite experiences to bring it all together and produce something that is extra special. It is a daunting task. Many times when one takes over a program, it is because there was a change in coaches and the program was down. That certainly is not the case at Stanford, so the fit was even more important. As soon as we began visiting with Coach Dawkins, it became apparent that he fit hand and glove at Stanford University."
"Last Friday, Johnny and Tracy came all the way across the country on relatively short notice to talk with us about the head basketball job at Stanford University. They caught a very early flight, flew all day and because Johnny had commitments back in Raleigh at an event where he was being honored, he made darn sure that he got back there in time so he didn't foul up their plans. He then turned around and came back to Phoenix to undertake his role on Sunday as one of our United States Olympic coaches that will take the team to Beijing. So to say that he's had a bit of a whirlwind would probably be an understatement and it sure hasn't been a whole lot better for Tracy. We're glad to have the whole family here and welcome to Stanford."
"As I mentioned from the outset, fit is really an important thing at Stanford. Johnny, Tracy and their family are wonderful additions. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men's Basketball Johnny Dawkins."

Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men's Basketball Johnny Dawkins
Opening Comments"I am really thankful for the opportunity that has been presented to me by Stanford University. For me, as such an elite program athletically and academically, this could not be better. I want to thank my family, as they are here to share this moment with me. You don't get anywhere by yourself, so their support has been greatly appreciated and we're going to do something special here. I also would like to thank our athletics director Bob Bowlsby, as well as our President John Hennessy, for providing me with this opportunity." "In doing so, I would also like to pass on some thanks to Duke University and coach Krzyzewski for mentoring me and bringing me along as a young player, as a coach and now moving on to a head coaching position. For us to do something special here and continue with the standards of excellence that Stanford has started and have been around for years, it takes ownership from everyone."
"The one thing I believe is that this is our program, it's not Johnny Dawkins' basketball program. It's our program, and you only do things special when we are all in it together. And I would like to continue that because I know from watching everyone here and spending time with guys this week, how close everyone is and how much of a family atmosphere exists. I'm excited to be a part of it."
"As I huddled together with the players today, it was pretty special because we put our hands up and I was anxious to see what they were going to say. Guys say a lot of different things, like `together' and whatever you may say. And we put our hands in and they said, `coach we have a saying that we already use.' So I said, `well let me hear what it is guys.' And I said `on three', and they said `family.' That's what I have sensed ever since I stepped foot on this campus- a wonderful family. I couldn't be more happy and thankful for the opportunity that you guys have presented me."
On his first contact with Stanford"I was contacted last week and in doing so, I was very excited to hear from them. I have always admired the program and when I received word that they were interested in speaking with me, I tried to make it happen as soon as I possibly could...For me it was exciting because I have always had strong feelings about the university."
Once the job was offered, how long did you think about it?"Actually when the job was offered, my wife was with me. So I looked at her and asked how she felt about it and she felt very good. So I would say about 10 minutes (everyone laughs). That may be too long."
On what interests you about Stanford"There are a lot of similarities between where I have been and where I am now. I think Stanford is one of the best schools in the world. I think the school I just left is one of the best schools in the world. There are a lot of things that mirror what I was already involved with, so I felt very comfortable and knew it would be a great fit if I ever had an opportunity to come out here and coach the team."
On his coaching style"I believe in an up-tempo game. I believe in man-to-man defense. I believe in an offense that is predicated on good ball movement and player movement. Some semblance of the motion offense, along with some sets. I have been fortunate to be around a lot of great coaches and the thing that I have learned over the years is you have to fit your system to your personnel. As we go forward and we understand exactly what our personnel is, we will devise a system and scheme that will suit our players and give our guys the best opportunity to be successful."
On his most important priorities in the weeks ahead"One was to meet with the team, which I was able to do today. We had the opportunity to meet and start scheduling meetings, as well as individual work sessions. Part two of that for us right now is that I have to get on the road briefly. The (recruiting) period ends on Wednesday. I will leave tonight and be on the road for a few more days until the period ends. When I return, we will have individual player meetings where we can get to know each other a little better. It's a very exciting time."
On the process of assembling a coaching staff"I would like to take some time and do my homework and make good decisions. The recruiting period will end Wednesday, so that will give me some time to settle down and make some observations, evaluate some guys and determine which direction we are going to go in."
On running a program for the first time in his career"Well I no longer make suggestions, I'm now a decision-maker (everyone laughs). So life has changed. There will be a number of things that pop up that I don't expect at the moment. But you know what, that's part of the process. That's part of the growth you go through. I think I'm prepared for it, as I have worked with Coach Krzyzewski for over a decade. I've also played for or worked with some of the greatest coaches to play this game. So I have a real good feeling from that regard and am excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."
On Coach Krzyzewski's reaction when he heard the news"He was excited and very happy for me. He hugged me. It was a special moment. I was with him in Phoenix, meeting with USA Basketball, and he hugged me on the way out the door again. He said `go get them, it's your time.' He was excited for me."
On whether he is still planning to go to Beijing (Dawkins is concluding a three-year stint as Player Personnel Director for the USA Basketball Senior National Team that runs from 2006-08)"As of now, I am still planning to go to Beijing. Timing is a factor there but I had a three-year commitment with them prior to everything. There is no higher honor in my book than working for your country's team and trying to bring the gold medal back to the United States. It's a priority so I am excited about that opportunity."
On his impressions of the Pac-10 during the 2007-08 campaign"The Pac-10 is a great conference. It's very, very competitive and this year was no exception. I thought there were a number of teams that played extremely well. Of course, UCLA has had an amazing run. Teams are tough and we have to be prepared for that. Those are some of the things we talked about when I met with the players."
On what else he discussed in his brief meeting with the team"I talked with the guys about the things that help define what we want to do. That includes always having integrity as a student-athlete and as a program. We talked about trusting one another, because for us to do anything good, we have to know that we are telling each other the truth. We have to be very, very competitive- individually and collectively- so we can pull the best out of each other. That's something I will demand we do on a daily basis. If we can follow those three things, I think we can go to sleep at night knowing we are always putting our best foot forward."

Buying Into the Program

By Shane Dreiling
- Don’t ask too much until they are ready. (Mike Dunlap – build your drills to gradually reach your total expectations)
- "You gotta touch their heart before you ask for a hand.” There must be an emotional connection before you can make the physical demands necessary. We always talked a lot about our teams being family.
- When in doubt, don’t hire – keep looking. Make sure your best coaches are handling your biggest opportunities and not your biggest problems.
- If you want to motivate your people to go to a whole new level, get motivated to grow and develop yourself. Remember that people do what people see so be an example.
- Never pass negatives down. A team will always reflect their coach’s attitude. If you want a positive team, you have to show them that personality, especially during trying times. Be an energy giver and act like a winner!
- Be strong but not rude. Rudeness does not equal strength nor is it a good substitute. Rather, be confident in who you are and treat others with kindness and respect.
- Expect the best from those in your program. Don’t be afraid to be demanding.
- Teach your players a way of life. Don’t assume they already know the answers and don’t just say, “there are many ways.” Find one to emulate for your players that will help them develop as outstanding people.
- Have consequences for mistakes in behavior and judgment. The quickest way for a coach to lose his team is to allow a lack of discipline throughout the program. Teach your players to be responsible for their actions and to own up to their mistakes.

Building a Culture for Your Program

By Shane Dreiling

If you would carefully study any successful sports team or corporation, I would bet that you would quickly discover a specific culture that pervades the organization. The dictionary defines culture as “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a company or corporation.” This could just as easily be said for a basketball team. As a staff, we believe that it is absolutely critical for our players to know what our culture is. Our culture is what makes us unique and what makes who we are. It is our foundation and as our players like to refer to it as, “our home base”. The seven aspects of our culture are:
1. Family Environment – We support and love one another. 2. Definite Dozen – Our expectations for our players on and off the court.
3. Shared Learning - Coaches teach the players, upperclassmen teach the younger players, team teaches at the camp, players keep notebooks.
4. Defensive pressure / Stance – The hallmark of our system. We take pride in our defensive pressure.
5. Our Language – We value our system and we sell it.
6. Winners Run – With our program, the winners of our competitive drills are rewarded with a victory lap.
7. Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together – What we must do each day in practice and in games.

Knowing our culture gives the members of our program a sense of identity and pride. Our fans and area students have picked up on this “culture” as well. Another added benefit is found that by knowing and understanding what it is that makes our program what it is, our players, coaches and administration is able to sell and promote our program to the community. This builds support and an ever-increasing fan base and just as importantly, added revenue. This culture, at least in part, is responsible for a 500% increase in attendance in one year alone. Who wouldn’t want to see more fans in the stands?

Building Your Own Program

By Shane Dreiling
If you are like the majority of coaches, you either dream of the opportunity of building your own program, have already had that opportunity, or are in the process of such a daunting, yet exciting task. Here are some ideas that can help you tackle the challenges of building a program that can make coaching all the more worthwhile. To have a successful program, you must have:
A Philosophy Building a program begins by building your philosophy. Successful coaches have a philosophy or a system that is the foundation for their basketball program. This doesn’t mean that your philosophy won’t vary from one season to the next. However, the changes shouldn’t go from one extreme to another. How are you going to handle issues like discipline, playing time, as well as academic and social issues? Do you know how your practices will be organized and what responsibilities each coach has in regards to practice and the total program? Are you a fast break or a half court coach? Do you like the three-point shot or would you prefer to pound the ball inside.

A Plan Organization is the key here. A coach must understand how they can use the individual talent on the team and the resources that are available to the program to the program’s best advantage. A coach should communicate success to their players by having complete and structured practice plans, utilizing assistant coaches to help teach, and by giving timely input in all decisions.

Discipline It is imperative that teams have guidelines…basic expectations that every player should shoulder. We have three such guidelines:
Go to class daily
Be on time.
Do not embarrass the program or the school. In addition, discipline also touches upon work ethic.

Do your players know that they must work harder than their opponent to win the big prize? Are you willing to let a player slide by as long as they are your leading scorer? Do the staff and you, as head coach, set the example of how important work ethic is to the program?
Loyalty A team that is united and confident that their teammates and coaches truly want what is best for one another cannot be held down for long. Encourage and promote your assistant coaches. Make them feel important to the welfare of your program…they are!!! Show your players each day that you stand behind them and support them. Take an interest in their lives off of the court.

Leadership
Being an effective leader requires 5 essential traits…
-The ability to communicate and be honest with one another.
-Trust that is built upon honesty and prepares you for the inevitable crisis.
-Genuine concern for your players and support staff.
-Collective responsibility…find the positive in your failures. Successful programs win and lose together!
-Pride that is developed within your program. Play for the team, not the individual. Help your players gain these qualities while playing for you. Giving your team an emphasis of the day allows an excellent opportunity for a coach to start teaching vital leadership traits.

Positive Attitude
Positive attitudes come about when focused dreams and shared passions reach attainable goals. Do you come to practice each afternoon excited? Do you brag about your kids and go out of your way to promote your program and the direction you are headed? A head coach cannot allow negative attitudes into their program…like a cancer, those negative thoughts eat away at the fabric of the team. Make your players WANT to be a part of your program.

Team Concept
A challenge for any coach is to develop a program where the program is greater than any individual. How do you do this? You do this by talking about it as a team. Teach your players the importance of the word TEAM. Encourage the unselfish play, the hard work of the 12th man. Do not blame the failures of the team on one individual just as you should not credit one player for any win. You win and lose as a team. Remember, your players should play for the name on the front of their jersey, not the name on the back.

• Now that we covered some of the key ingredients to building a successful program, let’s go over some tips to help make sure that your program is the envy of the conference.
  Always emphasize the importance of the player’s education.
• Make your player’s aware that their credentials in the classroom will take them farther and last longer than any success that they might encounter on the court.
• Praise individual and team academic achievements to anyone and everyone who will listen…including your team!
  Promote your program to anyone who will listen.
• Get the local media to cover your games at every level. Speak at local clinics and service clubs.
  Have your players and coaches work camps…your own and others.
• Coaches and players that can get practice teaching the game become better coaches and players once the season starts.
  Dress up your locker room, uniforms and warm-ups whenever possible. Teams that look good play with confidence.
  Develop fundraisers that add revenue to your program that help a program make #4 happen. Free throw shooting fundraisers, for example, are a great way to generate cash while improving skill.
  Develop promotions that make your game the place to be come game night.
  Get the feeder schools involved in your program.
• Invite coaches to work your camps, speak at your clinic and attend your practices.
  Make the faculty a part of your program. Remember, academics are why your players are in school…a faculty that is involved in your program is a faculty that will want to help make your program the best.
  Visit local hospitals and develop community programs when possible. We all need to be appreciative of what we have been blessed with and give back to those who haven’t been as fortunate.
  Love what you do!!! Don’t let your ambition take away your love of the game.

Building a Program with Communication

By Shane Dreiling

One of the common questions our staff gets when we speak at various coaching clinics throughout the country has to do with communication. How do we get our players to communicate with each other and with the coaches so well? As a staff, we pride ourselves on our communication level with our players and enjoy seeing them learn how to do so with one another. How does this work? For starters, we are constantly striving to learn new techniques from coaches across the country. We want to know what works for other programs and we try to take something from each coach and apply it to our own situation. Secondly, coaches who visit our practices and attend our notebook lessons will tell you, WE PRACTICE IT!!! Every day, we talk about communication. I believe that a team cannot be successful on the court or off if they simply don’t know how to communicate with those around them. In our program, we have several key strategies we use to help our team grow in our ability to communicate with each other.
Be in great physical condition, particularly versus man-to-man pressure.

Notebook / Handouts –
Each of our players keeps a notebook during the course of the season. Part of the notebook is made up of the usual fare. However, the value of the notebook is found in the handouts that are given out during the course of the week. These handouts range from motivational stories and poems to things that pertain only to our program. An example of the latter is the handout we give our players on our defensive anchors and our team terminology. Regardless the handout, our players know that we will discuss the handout the next day in our pre-practice meeting. We find that it is not enough to just pass along a good message found on a piece of paper. We follow up with conversation, which helps improve our communication throughout the program but helps the coaching staff relay to the players the values and principles we find are important to our program.

Show & Tell –
When the team first comes back after Christmas break, the players and coaches hold a Show & Tell day after practice. Every member of the program brings something from home that has meaning to him/her and each of us then explains the importance of the item that we are showing. Why? It helps us build communication but it also helps each of us to learn a bit more about those we compete alongside.

Thought of the Day (TOD) –
Before practice, I hang the practice schedule up on the locker room door. At the top of this schedule is our thought of the day. This thought can come from coaches, leaders, and poets…anyone who has a message that has value. Our TOD rarely involves the sport of basketball, but the message is one that is always applicable to our program and players in some way. Players are expected to have the TOD memorized before practice so we can discuss it as we go through our stretching exercises.

Terminology –
One of our handouts is a listing of our terminology. Our players and coaches take pride in our terminology. It is one of the many things that make our program unique. However, it also helps save time in practice and in games. For instance, a simple phrase like “high on the hip” lets our players know where they need to be defensively and where our help side needs to be without going into specific detail time and time again. During games, our players have started using our terminology in the game and on the bench…all in an effort to remind each other what needs to be done for our program to be successful.

These are some of the things that have allowed our program to grow in the art of communication. As stated earlier, our program takes a lot of pride in this area and it comes at a price…. a lot of work and attention to detail. I have found the results to be well worth that investment and I think you will as well

How to Get Your Athletes to Play Hard All the Time

Ever watch UNC men's basketball National Player of the Year candidate player Tyler Hansbrough play?
You'll soon notice that he goes hard on EVERY play. He crashes the boards on EVERY shot. He pressures his player ALL over the court. He dives on the floor EVERY time there is a loose ball. He fights through screens on EVERY possession. Tyler has never taken a play or practice off in his three year career as a Tar Heel.
Why does Tyler go so hard on EVERY possession? And, more importantly, how can you get your players to play as hard all the time?
Well, certainly much of it has to do with Tyler's mentality and approach to the game that he developed growing up in Poplar Bluff, MO. But, another reason why Tyler and the rest of his teammates go hard on every possession is that Carolina meticulously tracks and rewards players for their efforts and results on EVERY possession on both ends of the court.
The Carolina men's basketball program uses a unique charting system for practices and games that focuses on all the little things that need to be done to create a winning team.
The charting system and accompanying Awards Board helps the players focus on the key processes of being successful and rewards those players who consistently contribute in a multitude of subtle yet important ways to the team's success.
Carolina men's assistant basketball coach Jerod Haase recently shared with me the details of how the system works. So I am passing it along as an idea that you might be able to use or adapt with your program.
Charting the Team's Progress
Usually within hours after the game, the entire staff sits down together to watch the film of the game. They examine each offensive and defensive possession in great detail. Defensively they record charges taken, deflections, boxouts, close outs, and a whole host of 37 subtle, yet important categories.
Offensively they record the quality of screens a player sets, the times when a player loses the ball even when he doesn't turn it over, and tally passes that would have been assists had the player made the shot or was not fouled.
All of these in-depth stats create a ratio of positive plays to negative plays. This ratio then is also one of the categories that Carolina uses to provide feedback to their players.
The players are given the information at the next team meeting following the game. As Coach Haase said, "When we have an 9:00 pm game during the ACC tournament, sometimes we are up until 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning grading the tape, so that the players have the feedback the next morning at the team breakfast."
Coach Williams wants the players to have the feedback when the game is still fresh in their minds. He fondly remembers a teacher he had growing up who always had the tests graded for them the next day of class - all in an effort to help the students effectively learn the material. He too feels he owes it to his players to provide them with timely feedback.

Coach Williams reads off the names of the players who were the winners for each of the categories. Then their names are listed on the Awards Board that is positioned right outside the locker room door in the Smith Center (see photo). Not only do the winners of the categories get acknowledged on the Awards Board, they also earn Plus Points, which they can use to get out of sprints at the end of practice.

In talking with the Carolina coaches and players, they cite five primary benefits of the charting system and Awards board.

1. Emphasizes the process of winning.
The system puts the focus on the process rather than the outcome of winning. The primary emphasis is on doing all the little things that make the outcomes of scoring and winning much more likely to happen.

2. Pride for winning category.
Players take great pride in winning categories and seeing their names up on the board to appreciate their hard work. It does serve as a great incentive system, especially when they can also get out of sprints at the end of practice.

3. Appreciate all the roles.
The charting system allows role players to get more attention and positive strokes for the key things they bring to the team. While the stars get all the accolades for the glamorous stats like points and rebounding, the role players get their due on the Awards Board for doing all the necessary dirty work like setting screens, taking charges, and diving on the floor for loose balls.

4. Credibility of coaching staff enhanced.
The credibility of the coaching staff is enhanced because the players see that they coaches are serious about the process of winning. They are willing to dedicate the time (sometimes in the wee hours of the morning) to meticulously break down the film and provide the players with key and timely feedback.

5. More objective criteria when playing time is questioned.
Finally, the charting system helps to more objectively quantify a player's contribution on the court. If someone has a dispute about playing time, the numbers are a great resource to help the player see why he isn't playing, and what specifically he needs to do to earn more time.

As you can see, the charting system and Awards Board has several benefits. It is something I encourage you to think about adapting and adopting with your program.
Think about it...
What seemingly little, yet massively important subtle stats are you charting and rewarding for your team?
Sit down with your coaching staff and make a list of all the little things you need your athletes to do that the casual fan might miss, but are vitally important to your team's success.
Talk about their importance with your athletes and let them know that your staff/mangagers will be recording them in their upcoming competitions. You too can create an Awards Board to acknowledge and reward the winners of each category.
It is a simple yet effective thing you can do to reward the behaviors you want to see repeated. And it is an effective way to encourage your players to go hard on EVERY possession. Remember, that which gets recorded and rewarded, often gets done and done well.

Tough Love!

Sometimes when you have too much success, players and coaches get comfortable. They start feeling like things should be given to them because of past success. However, that's not the case for Billy Donovan. How do you get players to understand that especially today, you must work hard to get what you want. Success must be earned, it is not given to nobody! Sometimes tough love will change that attitude. Change your mindset, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out there and work hard for what you want! The article below explains how head coach Billy Donovan felt that his players were not deserving of the state of the art facilities and fringe benefits that come along with being apart of a program such as Florida, who has won the last two Men's NCAA basketball championships. Sounds like a little bit of tough love went a long way for the players at Florida.

Florida’s Donovan Kicks Players Out of Practice Facility
By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer Mar 17, 4:18 pm EDT
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—When the Florida Gators lost in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, they knew it knocked them out of the NCAA tournament field.
They had no idea it also would get them kicked out of their practice facility.
Coach Billy Donovan, feeling like his players had settled into a state of complacency and entitlement, banned them from Florida’s $12 million facility. He also told them they couldn’t wear any Florida attire.
“Probably in some respects the confetti is still falling down around them,” Donovan said Monday. “When you have great success like we’ve had, I think it’s very, very easy to become complacent and to lose sight of how good things are around here and to have an attitude of, ‘I’m at Florida. This is just what’s going to happen.”’
The two-time reigning national champion Gators (21-11) lost eight of their final 11 games, including the last four, and missed out on the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998. They became the first defending champion to not make it back to the tournament since probation-stricken Kansas in 1989.
Florida settled for a spot in the NIT, where they will host San Diego State on Wednesday night.
The Gators also found themselves fighting to get back into their state-of-the-art facility, which houses the team locker room, the practice court, the video room, the weight room, both national championship trophies and pieces of both floors on which Florida won it all.
Players spent the last four days shuffling between the O’Connell Center practice floor and the antiquated Florida Gym.
“He just wants to teach us a lesson that it takes time to earn stuff,” freshman guard Nick Calathes said. “He’s really going to make us earn it. I like that. I don’t see that as a problem at all. I think it will help us in the long run.”
Added freshman Jai Lucas: “When he feels we’re ready and playing like the University of Florida should play, then we’ll move (back) in.”
It might not happen anytime soon.
Football coach Urban Meyer, who has developed a close relationship with Donovan, pulled a similar move in summer 2005. Meyer barred players from the locker room and told them they couldn’t wear orange and blue or anything with the Gators logo on it.
He also removed the large replica gator head that was on display between the locker room and Florida Field. Players typically rub the head for good luck before games.
Meyer’s players responded by winning nine games for the first time in four years. They won the national title the following season.
Donovan can only hope for similar results from a team he has criticized for not having enough dedication, passion to win and willingness to play defense.
“One of the things that creates a tremendous level of complacency in anybody is after something very, very big happens,” said Donovan, who has used motivational tactics extensively in recent years. “It’s very easy to have a letdown. It’s not these guys’ fault. They walked into this. They walked into what happened.
“They got a facility that the administration has invested a lot in. It’s one of the best in the country. They’ve got a massage therapist to make sure they’re OK after games. They’ve got a private plane that they take to games. The meals that they eat. All those things, these guys came here and went right to the penthouse.”
Calathes and Lucas acknowledged that players felt a sense of entitlement during this season. They also echoed Donovan’s remarks that none of the players knew what it took to win at the college level or what they needed to do every day in practice to make the NCAA tournament.
Now, Donovan hopes missing the tournament—they actually practiced during the selection show since there was no reason to watch—will prove to be a humbling experience that will pay off down the road.
Kicking them out of the locker room could help, too.
“I think we’re going to have this taste in our mouths all the way until we make the NCAA tournament,” Lucas said. “This is something that will never leave us. This pain is unbearable. If this doesn’t (motivate us), I don’t know what will. This might be one of the worst things that could happen to the team.”

It's All About Building Relationships

For Head Coach Brad Stevens, it's all about building relationships with players and other program supporters. I knew the first time I heard about Brad Stevens and his coaching philosophies, that we had a lot in common. The article below speaks highly about Coach Stevens and his relationships that he is building with his players and staff members. Like me, he is young and lacks head coaching experience, but he cares for his players, has a desire to build on his basketball IQ, is organized and is passionate for teaching the game of basketball.

Newest Basketball Coach Gives Fresh Insight
By Maggie Cannon Dawgnet Contributing Writer http://www.dawgnetnews.com/archive/080318/4822.html

Butler University’s newest head basketball coach is inspiring students and continuing the team’s winning record this year. Brad Stevens, who graduated from DePauw University in 1999, said that he doesn’t plan to make any structural changes because of the successful formula, and that he has a unique relationship with the team since he played not too long ago. “I remember the ups and downs,” Stevens said. “I know how it is with a high level of course work.” He said that he is close with everyone on the team and has their best interests at heart. Stevens said, “There are times when they’re not happy with me, but we recognize that we want to achieve a common goal.” Stevens, who said his family, faith and close friends influence him the most, admitted that his own experiences as a college basketball player have influenced the way he coaches. “I didn’t play for one person that didn’t affect me in some way this year, and I try to utilize that with our own team,” he said. “I do watch a ton of basketball to get ideas.” Stevens said that he decided to coach full time because he liked being a part of a team and wanted to get a chance to compete at an academic institution, and that Butler was his best option to learn. “It was different than (what) I’d been a part of, and it had some of the best coaches in the country,” he said. He said that his favorite part of coaching is being with the players every day and the relationships he has with them. Matthew Graves, an assistant coach who joined the staff in 2000, said that the players feel comfortable coming to him just to talk about anything from job interviews, how to get better in the game, their struggles or just for comfort. “Either way, his age helps because of his ability to relate a little better,” Graves said. He said that the biggest thing Stevens had going for him was that he’d been involved at Butler for so long, and hiring him showed confidence in his abilities. “He’s doing a great job,” Graves said. “He balances what needs to be done and living in the moment.” He said that Butler’s record speaks for itself, and that after hiring Stevens they’ve seen the same teamwork, playing hard and academics. The team had a 3.1 GPA last semester. “He’s passionate, hard-working and analytical, he analyzes statistics and sets up goals and game plans,” Graves said. He said that some of the best times he’s had with Stevens have been out on the road talking about basketball. “We share values, we’re close in age, he has a son that’s two and I have two daughters, ” Graves said. “We’re going through some of the same things off the court as well.” Ben Slaton, a junior on the team, said he thinks Stevens’s son Brady is awesome. “He brings him around and we like to play with him,” Slaton said. “We know his family and go to his house. We’re all pretty close.” He said that Stevens is always in his office trying to make the team better. “He’s having a fun time,” Slaton said, “and I enjoy playing for him.” He said that Stevens is more approachable than typical coaches and that it’s easier to talk to him. “You listen to what he says and respect him,” he said. “You try to learn. He knows the game really well. He has a high basketball IQ.” Slaton said that the team doesn’t think about Stevens’s age. “The fact that he’s younger means he relates to us better, it’s helpful,” he said. He said that Stevens doesn’t let the pressure of his job get to him. “He’s always looking at the next game,” Slaton said. Slaton said that Stevens was the reason he decided to come to Butler. “He pushes me to improve,” he said. “He was my individual coach the first two years. I got to know him better and I enjoyed that.” Stevens also recruited Grant Leiendecker, a sophomore on the team, who said he has a good relationship with him. Leiendecker said that Stevens pays attention to detail and gets them prepared for the next game. “He’s a smart guy,” he said. “It seems like he’s always working and looking forward to the next game.” He said that Stevens knows there is a time for fun and a time to be serious. “He’s a pretty serious guy, and when it comes down to the game he gets down to business,” Leiendecker said. He said that Stevens is like a boss, but he has a good relationship with everyone. “He inspires me to improve my game every day,” Leiendecker said, “to be the best person and player I can be.” Avery Jukes, a sophomore on the team, said he was excited about Stevens becoming head coach even though he didn’t know his coaching style. “I was excited that it wasn’t someone outside of the organization,” Jukes said. “I didn’t want someone else to come.” Jukes said that he likes the way Stevens coaches. “Practices are geared toward defense, other coaches are geared toward offense,” he said. He said that Stevens has helped him grow up a little bit, and that he teaches the team how to be better people. “He’s inspired me just to be a better person,” Jukes said. “He taught me about honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty, teamwork and unselfishness. He’s coaching really well and doing a good job.” “Focus on today,” Stevens said. “Just worry about today and do the best job you can.”

Get Well Soon, Coach Wooden!

Last week the greatest coach in all of sports was hospitalized after falling and breaking his collar bone. Legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden is healing but remains hospitalized and is still in good spirits. Below is an article written by Rick Riley of Sports Illustrated. The article is an inspiring read about integrity. If there has ever been an example of a person with integrity, John Wooden is it.

"A Paragon Rising above the Madness"-- By Rick Reilly, Sports Illustrated
On Tuesday the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again. Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again. The stack will be 180 letters high then, because Tuesday is 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between, with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm. There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA (7 in a row), the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him. He won 88 straight games between Jan. 30, 1971, and Jan. 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since. So, sometimes, when the Madness of March gets to be too much -- too many players trying to make SportsCenter, too few players trying to make assists, too many coaches trying to be homeys, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many freshmen with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men -- I like to go see Coach Wooden. I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of L.A., and hear him say things like "Gracious sakes alive!" and tell stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot. Lewis Alcindor, that is. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals. He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot." Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes. "Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," Coach would say. "Earn the right to be proud and confident." You played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity, and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect. He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say. No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" he'd say. No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say. That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him. It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer and the teams so much worse. As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around. The framed report cards of the great-grandkids. The boxes of jelly beans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair. The dozens of pictures of Nellie. He's almost 90 now, you think. A little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles. "I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again." Problem is, we still need him here.

-----------------------Site Note:

John R. Wooden was a three time All American basketball player, including college player of the year his senior season at Purdue. He is the only person to be inducted into both the Players' and Coaches' Halls of Fame. Through his word and deed, he taught people how to be successful. Coach Wooden, and his record, remain the standard by which EXCELLENCE is measured. As a youngster, watching his teams win it all, year after year, I became a huge fan of John Wooden... and an even bigger fan after reading about his philosophy, his teachings, his quotes (see below) and his life. Coach Wooden, like Paul "Bear" Bryant in football, had the best prepared teams in the country, year after year, and won it all year after year. He built his dynasty with this philosophy: "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Some Inspire21's Ecards with quotes by John Wooden are:

"Consideration for others brings many things."

"You have success within. It's up to you to bring it out."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"Be quick, but don't be in a hurry"

"Bad times can make you bitter or better."

"Bad times can make you bitter or better."

"Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful."

Coach's Corner with John Thompson

COACH'S CORNER with John Thompson of North Carolina Wesslyan

THE COMMUNITY

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with one of our local Kiwanis Clubs. These are always great situations for me because I get a delicious lunch out of it…More importantly, though, is I have a chance to promote our program and build the connection between our basketball program and the community.After having lunch with former Wesleyan history professor a month or so ago, I developed the premise of yesterday’s talk. Dr. David Jones, whom I respect greatly, and I have lunch twice or three times a year. He is an avid basketball fan and so knowledgeable…about everything. I always feel a little bit smarter after I have lunch with him. During the course of our lunch, which ended up being a couple of hours, the subject of teams performance and their practice preparation came up. At one point Dave asked, “Well, what are the three or four core things you try to teach?” I believe he expected shooting, defense and rebounding to be in there somewhere. Ultimately, my answer became yesterday’s Kiwanis Club talk.The 4 C’s…Commitment was number one. Our players must be committed to what they and we as a team are doing. Communication was next. The better job we do of communicating, player to coach, coach to player, and player to player, the better team we will be. The third C is Correct Decision-Making. (We have always discussed decision-making, but added the “correct” because we want the right decisions, good decisions….and the 4 C’s sounded better than the 3C’s and 1D). Ones life is full of decisions. Do you get up when the alarm goes off, or do you roll over and sleep in? Do you shoot a pull-up jumpshot on a 3 on 2 fastbreak, or do you drive to the basket, or instead, pass to a wing? Hundreds of decisions to be made on a daily basis. We want correct decision making. Lastly, we want consistency. We want to know we can count on our players for consistent effort and performance, consistently good effort and performance.When I finished, Dave said, “That’s what most employers want. That’s what most business’s want. That’s what most teachers want from their students. If you ever talk to a Kiwanis Club or something like that, you’ve got your speech right there.” So yesterday I tried it out and know I’ve given it to you. Hope it helps.

MUST READING

As most of you know I like books and I like to read. I like sports, so sports books always interest me. I also like books that somehow make me better, make me smarter. Two books that I have been reading concurrently are: How to be Like Mike (that would be Michael Jordan) and How to be Like Jackie Robinson. These are not biographies and they really aren’t sports books, although they are dealing with sports figures. These books analyze and detail what made these two people great. The things that separate athletes like Jordan and Robinson can help anyone be successful in life. Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, is the author of these two fine books. Through countless interviews with coaches, teammates, opponents and others, Mr. Williams gleans the information on what took these stars to unique levels of success on the court, the field, and in life. In no way are they depicted as perfect, but their special qualities are examined and offered as things to be incorporated into our lives as we pursue success. There are three more books in this series that I have not read, however, based on “Mike” and “Jackie,” How to be Like Jesus, How to be Like Walt (Disney), and How to be Like Women of Influence are sure to be outstanding. (Another of his books that I would recommend is Go For The Magic. It is about dreaming and working, attitude and focus, goals and motivation. Check it out).

THE POINT GUARD MUST HAVES – A Baker’s Dozen

1) Knowledge – of the Game, of the Program, of his teammates, of his Coach

2) Leadership Skills

3) Communication Skills – Knowledge, Ability, Willingness, Projection

4) Vision

5) Ball Skills – Passing, Dribbling, Shooting (Scoring)

6) Defensive Pressure

7) Good Decision Making Ability

8) Defensive Breakdown Ability

9) Reasonable Quickness

10) Selflessness

11) Presence-Poise, Confidence

12) Toughness-Emotional, Mental, Physical

13) Positive relationship and bond with coach

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Player development is something that is very important in every program and it is here, as well. We work very hard at trying to maximize a players potential. I try to talk with as many coaches and players as I can to get new ideas, new drills, maybe a different way to teach a certain technique. Sometimes these conversations (on occassion they become mini-clinics) cause me to pause and re-evaluate how I am doing something...sometimes they confirm what I already believe. I am convinced that you can always learn, and I try to do that.I also watch a lot of tape. I watch anything and everything: our games, other college teams, NBA games, the USA National Team and instructional videos by any number of coaches. I want to see how we can do things better. We believe in our philosophy and aren't trying to reinvent the wheel; we are trying to make the wheel we have better...trying to make it the best it can be. I also think that when you can introduce new drills or variations of drills, it keeps the players fresh and interested.Below is an example of a shooting drill that a player could do on his own (or with a teammate) between classes or whenever he has a small window of opportunity to get in the gym.

We call this our "20 Minute Workout" and if a player is working hard, shooting at game speed, he can get up 150 shots in that time frame.

1. 30 Shots-10 in front/10 right side/10 left side (1'-2')

2. 20 Layups-10 right-handed/10 left-handed

3. 20 shots-10 outside right block/10 outside left block (get angle and bank)

4. 30 Shots-10 from FT line/10 right elbow/10 left elbow

5. 50 shots-10 each from right/left corners, right/left wings, and the top of the key (all 3's unless a players position or ability mandates otherwise).

THE CHAMPION INSIDE
Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds has spent a career in the sports and entertainment business. Currently working with the Charlotte Bobcats Areana, "Sporty" has a book out that should be in the collection of every player and coach. The Champion in You is a collection of short, easy to read vignettes that provide valuable lessons for life and success. I have given many copies of this book as gifts and this summer I have been re-reading it. To order a book visit www.championinyou.com or call (704) 543-7150. I highly recommend it.
I am a big fan of quotes and themes. We start practices, meetings, shoot-arounds, and other events with a "Thought for the Day." This thought is often a quote from someone far smarter than me. French Renaissance thinker Michel Eyguem De Montaigne said, "I quote others to better express myself." That is precisely the way I feel. Hopefully I can get my point across to the team, but sometimes I may need help. Hearing the words of Larry Bird or Larry Brown, Michael Jordan or Mike Krzyzewski, or even a thought from Aristotle or Thomas Jefferson, sometimes helps the players understand what I am trying to teach. After George Mason's win over UConn, Coach Jim Larranaga used a quote that I love, from William Jennings Bryan: "Destiny...is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." Hopefully we are all making the right choice and trying to achieve all that we are capable of.

CONSISTENCY

This is an absolutely vital component to the success of any organization. A basketball team is no exception. Great teams are very consistent, in terms of their attitude, their preparation, their effort, and their performance.One of my favorite quotes regarding consistency is: Consistency is better than occasional greatness.It is important that everyone on the team be able to expect a certain level of performance from each other. If a guy gets 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game, that's great. However, if he doesn't score in double figures for the next three games and only gets 4 or 5 rebounds in the same series of games, the 25 and 10 fade in importance. A guy who can get you 18 and 9 every night out is much more valuable. His coach and his teammates know what they can count on when they hit the floor.A consistent approach to the game and consistent effort in practice and in games also leads to steady improvement. This steady improvement helps players and teams grow, and succeed. Joe Paterno, Penn State's iconic football coach, says that performing at a consistently high level is, "...the mark of a true professional." Consistency provides reliability, which leads to trust. When you get to that point you have a chance to flourish.

THE MENTORS
There are many coaches who have assisted me, taught me, guided me, and set an example for me in my career. All coaches are a mix of all of their experiences. They are influenced by everyone they come in contact with. They take something from every coach they play for, or work with, and figure out what works for them in their given situation. In some cases the influence is very evident and in others it is more subtle. I am undoubtedly in debt to a number of coaches who have helped me through the years.This is a small thank you to all of them.Herman Paschal -Durham, NC YMCA He taught me so much about the game playing 2 on 2, 3 on 3, critiquing my summer league games, watching games on TV and just sitting around talking.I was very fortunate to meet him as a seventh grader.John Avery -Jordan High, Durham, NC I had no idea how good a high school coach I had until I got to college. I realized it ten-fold when I became a coach. Coach Avery taught sound fundamentals, great team concepts, and really how to play the game, read situations, and adapt and adjust. A very good teacher and coach.Doug Riley -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC Coach Riley taught me about organization and preparation. Ed Douma -UNCG, Greensboro, NC (now at Hillsdale College-Michigan) Positive feedback and flexibility dependent upon personnel are the top two concepts I learned from Coach Douma. Pete Gaudet -Duke University, Durham, NC (now at Ohio State University) Anyone who ever worked camp at Duke while Pete Gaudet was there knows what I know...every night was a clinic. The once daily coaches meetings covered the station teachings for the following day. No matter what station you taught, you got the information for all stations, and you got it from one of the best teachers in the game. I am so lucky to have started my camp and my coaching career there at that time.Mark Simons -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC (most recently at Elon) Coach Simons gave me a start in this profession. Without making me feel stupid, he showed me how mu