Blogging the Journey: For the Love of the Game!

Proud to be a Mounty! I will be starting my first year as an assistant coach at the college level with Mount Aloysisus College. As we begin the journey for the 08-09 season I will be "blogging the journey" towards our team goal of reaching the AMC playoffs. For the first time in our 3 year existance as a D3 school, we are now eligible to make the playoffs.

Previously, my experience has been working with players at the junior high, JV and Varsity levels, so this is an exciting new experience for me. It's been somewhat of a change for me to get used to not having any contact with the players during the off-seasons for conditioning and individual player development. Due to NCAA rules, coaches can not have any contact with their players on the court until the official start of practice opens in mid-October. For the past 7 years, my summers and early falls have been filled with summer leagues, camps and open gyms on a regular basis. This has been quite refreshing from a family perspective, having the spring, summer and early fall to be at home with my family, which is priority #1. However, we will be busy getting out during the off-season to recruit new players for our program. One difference between D3 and the other NCAA divisions I and II is that in D3, you can recruit all year long, there are no down periods for recruiting.

It's funny how things play out sometimes. After being so disappointed about not getting a head coaching position at the varsity level and closing the chapter on my coaching time at Windber, another door opened immediatly. This new chapter in my coaching career has provided me with the opportunity to do something that I have always wanted to do...coach at the college level. Ultimately, I still have a desire to be a head coach and run my own program. However, this is a huge step to the next level that could potentially lead me to a head coaching position at the college level. Needless to say, I am refreshed with a new attitude and enthusiasm and ready to get back on the court teaching the fundamentals and the game of basketball with a talented coach and group of players who are here for one reason...for the LOVE OF THE GAME.

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?