As soon as I returned to Southern
California, old friends reached out to jump back into youth basketball
coaching. I enjoy teaching young players the fundamentals of
basketball, sportsmanship and to respect the game. At the same time, I saw that
Coach K at Duke achieved his 900th NCAA career victory. It made me wonder with our NJB/PCHoops 10
game season how long it would take me to get 900 victories.
Well – let’s just say it is going to be
a LONG time! Then a trusted colleague sent me this quote from LSU’s legendary basketball coach Dale Brown.
“The word coach was
first used back in the 1500s in England. A coach was a horse drawn
carriage used to transport a person from where he or she is to where he or she
wants to be, needs to be, or ought to be going.
All these years later, that is exactly what coaching should be about, but this
is most difficult to follow because of the pressure to win. Measuring the
success of a coach shouldn’t have anything to do with league titles, state
championships, national rankings, or national titles. It should have
everything to do with directing a program ethically and making good use of the
power coaches have to reach and teach young people about issues and ideas that
will carry them not only through a season…but through a lifetime.” Coach Dale Brown
Sweet –
Based on these criteria, I believe I have far more than 900 victories. All good leaders should measure themselves
based on the people they develop rather than the only P&L.
How
many victories did you have today? This week? This year?
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2 comments:
John, Your blogs are always so wonderful and thought-provoking! Thank you. I've always considered you a winner and I'm sure the kids do also. Having just lived through our Russian night at FPChurch, and gaped at all the antiquities - including gorgeous gold, bejeweled coaches used by the tzars - your/Dale Brown's "coach" analogy was especially meaningful.
I agree John. I have seen a few of those victories! Thanks Coach! tw
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