15 Best Books for Coaches

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
John Wooden

In a previous post, I talked about some of the best books for leaders, whether you are a coach or not.  Today, I will recommend the books that will help a coach in nearly any sport at any level.  A couple of the books may seem sport specific, but contain information and insight that can help you regardless of what you coach.  Even if you are not an avid reader, flip through some of these books and steal one or two ideas to implement with your teams or to strengthen your coaching philosophy.  These are 15 books that are different than my list for leaders.  However, I would definitely suggest looking at those books as well.

1. "A Season on the Brink"  (John Feinstein)
2. "The Bowden Way: 50 Years of Leadership Wisdom"  (Bobby Bowden)
3. "Coaching Team Basketball" (Tom Crean)
4. "The Men of March:  A Season Inside the Lives of College Basketball Coaches"  (Brian Curtis)
5. "Runnin' the Show:  Basketball Leadership for Coaches and Players"  (Dick DeVenzio)
6. "Catch Them Being Good"  (Tony DiCicco & Colleen Hacker)
7. "Education of a Coach" (David Halberstam)
8. "Sacred Hoops:  Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior"  (Phil Jackson)
9. "Inside Women's College Basketball:  The Anatomy of a Season"  (Richard Kent)
10. "Five Point Play"  (Mike Krzyzewski)
11. "The Winner Within"  (Pat Riley)
12. "How Good Do You Want to Be"  (Nick Saban)
13. "Raise the Roof"  (Pat Summitt) 
14. "They Call Me Coach"  (John Wooden)
15. "Practical Modern Basketball"  (John Wooden)

Greener Grass?

In his book WINNING EVERY DAY, the former Notre Dame football coach, Lou Holtz, tells the story of the Trappist monk who was allowed to say only two words every three years. After the first three years, he met with the his order’s Brother Superior and  said, “Bad bed!” 3 years later, he came back to say, “Bad food!” After 3 more years of silence, the monk said, “No TV!” Another 3 years passed. This time, when the monk met with Brother Superior, he handed him his robes and sandals and announced, “I quit!” Brother Superior said, “Well don’t expect me to try to dissuade you. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!”

Complaints, excuses, envy, ambition...we’ve all been there.  Unless you are in a perfect place (which would make you an Angel), the grass may appear to be greener on the other side of the fence. The truth is that every job, every person, every situation has some flaws.  Until you own your circumstances, you will never truly maximize the potential of your situation.

Coach Holtz repeatedly has commented, “Make the big-time where you are at.”  Your job isn’t as good as another?  Your department doesn’t have what another has?  Your budget is too low?  Maybe you should start watering the grass on your side of the fence a little bit more.

Success and happiness are not always about resources but rather being resourceful. Andy Carter,  my athletic director when I was at Newberry College,  used to say “If it was easy we wouldn’t need you.” If you complain too much or make too many excuses, then you are indirectly saying that you are not the man for the job.

The late, great UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, used to say, “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do”.  Yes, he had all-time greats Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor.  However, one year he also had the shortest team to ever win a NCAA basketball title.  He was forced to find a way to win without height, thus bringing the game of basketball the 2-2-1 full-court trapping defense.

As Albert Einstein used to say, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” You are in your position for a reason.  Own your situation.  Make it perfect for you.  How will you take advantage of your opportunities?  How will you make your grass greener?  Each of us has a water hose...the question is “will we use it”?

What's Important to You?

In light of the recent Bobby Petrino debacle at the University of Arkansas, I thought it would be appropriate to reprint an article I wrote for the May 2011 issue of THE ENCOURAGING LEADER.

As an avid Michigan football fan, I appreciate the following story.  An Ohio State student and U of M student were taking a graduate school entrance exam.  Afterward, the proctor called both of them into an office and proceeded to tell them that they both missed only one question on the test, but that the Michigan student was receiving an “A” and the OSU student would fail.  When prompted, the proctor replied that the UM student had answered “I don’t know” for one of the questions.  Ironically, that was the same question the OSU student missed.  Except the OSU student answered “I don’t know either”.  Lately, it hasn’t pained me to see Ohio State football in the news for apparently violating NCAA rules. But, I can appreciate Jim Tressel’s success as a coach.  He seemed to be a class leader that did things the right way.   Is Jim Tressel a cheater?  Is he a bad person?  I don’t know for sure.  However, I can say that it appears his moral compass was off, at least for a moment.
Unfortunately, Jim Tressel is but one name among many that are flooding the headlines today.  Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton...former UT basketball coach, Bruce Pearl...USC football and Reggie Bush…former UT football coach Lane Kiffin...to name a few.  It is easy to say that we wouldn’t cut corners or play in the gray area, but the win at all costs mentality or the quest for “success” leads people to do strange things.  Integrity is what each of us has that we can control.  We may not be faced with the pressure of trying to win a national championship or keep our jobs amidst booster pressure.  However, each of us will face choices each day that determines our character.  How do you treat those that can’t “help” you advance your career?  How do you handle your organization’s petty cash?  Those and many other questions can determine your ethical  standing.  Five years from now...25 years...50 years...100 years...what will be more important, climbing the success ladder or changing lives for the better?  Our choices define us.  What kind of legacy or impact will you leave with those around you?

Another Leader "Crashes"

Joe Paterno, Jim Tressell, Bruce Pearl, the list goes on and on.  You can now add former University of Arkansas head football coach to the list of great coaches...great leaders, that fell short of their obligations as individuals of character.  As leaders of young men (or women), it is imperative that a coach abide by higher standards.  Character and integrity do go hand in hand with what a college (or high school) coach's expectations should be.  At these levels, a coach is expected to help develop character in their players.  It is a difficult task, made nearly impossible if a coach doesn't model an acceptable behavior themselves.
  Bobby Petrino crashed his motorcycle while he was with his mistress.  Obviously, this is a moral dilemma itself.  However, what cost Coach Petrino his job was his lying to superiors, the public and co-workers, while engaging in questionable ethical behaviors in regards to the hiring of this young woman to his staff, as well as other documented issues.  The bottom line is that we can forgive improper actions as long as their is some sincerity and repentance.  What is difficult to forgive and near impossible to further allow are actions that flaunt and mock the very characteristics that we deem important for student-athletes.  Honesty, integrity, and taking full responsibility for your actions regardless of the consequences never go out of style.  These characteristics help you as a leader and they also allow you to pick yourself up after a crash.  Below are some interesting articles with different perspectives on the recent Bobby Petrino situation.

According to Randy Smith, Petrino should have learned from Bruce Pearl. Jeff Long, the Arkansas A.D. gave Petrino numerous chances to come clean and take responsibility for actions and disclose the full truth of the incident.

Petrino betrayed his players by acting like one, according to CBSsports.com's Dennis Dodd.

Eric Alderson from YahooSports.com says that Arkansas A.D., Jeff Long, reminded us that the University is there to raise standards, not to ignore them.

Bobby Petrino has lied to his superiors time and time again. His latest scandal left A.D. Jeff Long with only one option, writes Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com

Gregg Doyel of CBSsports.com thinks that this whole Petrino situation will eventually cost Jeff Long his job.

Tim Keown of ESPN.com writes that firing Petrino was the right decision when Arkansas was faced with choosing between winning at any cost or firing a dishonest Petrino. 

In a light-hearted play on words, Steve Greenberg of The Sporting News says that "Karma is a Ditch" after the man that ditched a number of former players and employers ends up in a ditch.

Defense Wins Championships

All of us sports fans have heard it said that "Defense Wins Championships".  Though that axiom has a lot of legitimacy, it is hard to say whether it is 100% true.  Lots of things go into winning a championship. However, I must say that this year, it seemed that I noticed more winning coaches praising their team's defensive efforts as the main reason for their success.  This has gotten me to thinking about my team and whether or not we should emphasize defense even more next year. It probably can't hurt. Regardless, here are some of the examples that I am talking about when it comes to defense helping a team win a basketball championship.

Rob Edmisson, coach of the NAIA championship Oklahoma City University women's team, said "We defended so well, especially on their All-American (Lavanda Ross). We held her (Ross) to very few looks and really made it tough for her to be effective. Defense wins championships, we say that all the time and it proved itself tonight."

Rick Pitino may not have won a championship, but he did lead his unsung Louisville Cardinals to the NCAA's Final Four before bowing out to the eventual champions.  His team made a tourney run with, arguably, the best defense in the nation.

Kentucky's John Calipari obviously had the most talented team all year.  They were balanced on offense, exciting in transition and have futures at the next level.  However, in the biggest game on the biggest stage, they brought a suffocating defense.  "They won it on defense,'' said Calipari. "Unbelievable defense to get that 18-point lead in the first half."

Brittney Griner, the national defensive player of the year, was undoubtedly the most dominating force in women's basketball all year.  At 6'8", she seems to impact every possession of a game.  Combine this with her teammate's defensive tenacity and it is understandable how Baylor University and coach Kim Mulkey were able to take care of some unfinished business and win its' second National Championship this year.

15 Best Books for Leaders

"I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday."

ABE LINCOLN

As a basketball coach, I have a tremendous opportunity to lead and influence people every day.  Certainly leadership involves a great many things, however, I have found that constantly learning and re-learning methods, strategies, and insights gives me a better chance to lead in a positive manner.  Reading books is one of the key resources that I utilize in trying to sharpen my leadership skills.  Every once in awhile, I'll even read a book again because it was so good.  Below are some of the books that I'd recommend highly for anyone seeking to be a better leader. These are not necessarily coaching books, but a variety of books that hit upon a number of key leadership areas. With summer fast approaching, maybe go to your local library or go online and get a copy of any of these books that you haven't read.  You won't be disappointed with the valuable insights in these books.

 

1. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie) 
2. "Good to Great"  (Jim Collins) 
3. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"  (Stephen Covey)    

4. "Leadership Is An Art"  (Max De Pree)

5. "Leadership"   (Rudolph Giuliani)

6. "The Leadership Lessons of Colin Powell"  (Oren Harari) 
7. "War Room: The Legacy of Bill Belichick & the Art of Building the Perfect Team" (Michael Holley)
8.  "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln"   (Doris Kearns Goodwin)
9.  "Leading with the Heart"   (Mike Krzyzewski) 
10. "Reach for the Summit"   (Sally Jenkins)
11. "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty"   (Harvey Mackay) 

12. "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership"  (John Maxwell)
13. "Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners"  (Joe Torre)
14. "The Paradox of Power"  (Pat Williams)

15. "It's Called WORK For A Reason"   (Larry Winget)

Championship Lessons Learned at NAIA National Tournament

From March 10-20, I spent time serving on the NAIA National Tournament Committee.  It was a bittersweet experience.  Meeting all the coaches, watching all the games, observing many practices and helping the tournament run smoothly was great.  However, it was difficult watching the teams play knowing that we had been fairly close to qualifying ourselves.  If only we'd won 1-2 more games, we might have been one of the 32-teams that earned a bid.  I must say that Rob Edmission's Oklahoma City University team was extremely impressive throughout the entire tournament.  They beat Union University in the championship game, which is no small feat.  As I watched the games and thought about how to get my team to the tournament, I came up with some observations. In no particular order, I have listed them below.  

1. "Want to" is not the same as "committed to".  Everyone wants to win, but these teams were committed to winning.  They were committed to the process.  They were willing to do extra.  They invested a great deal into achieving their goals.
2. Your roster, talent or "potential" are not as important as the way you actually play.
3. You have to have a point guard that is legit.
4. Whether you have a team of stars or a star with special role players, they must be the hardest workers. The Final Four teams were some of the hardest working teams I have seen.  Prima-donnas and entitled players don't work at the national tournament.
5. You can't let distractions sidetrack you. Coach yelling at you...not getting enough shots...don't like playing at 8:30am.  Doesn't matter. Dysfunction doesn't work.  Drama doesn't win.  Distractions are not acceptable.
6. Many of the same teams go to nationals. It is not always because of politics. Rather, I think it has to do with culture. Those teams have a culture of winning. It permeates what they do year in and year out. They expect to win but they don't take it for granted. The go out and earn what they get.
7. All-Americans are legit. I saw talented players not named First-Team All-American. However, the players that were on the First-Team were very deserving. They impacted the games they were in. They earned what they got. They were not just talented, but they played like they were the best. They made a difference on nearly every play.
8. There is a fine line between winning and losing at the national tournament. Upsets are likely. Unlike the "Big Dance", there are only 32 teams in the NAIA tourney. 25 ranked teams and then 7 others. That means there are very few gimmees, if any. One bracket saw the 5-8 seeds beat the 1-4 seeds. Outside of the best two teams (Union and Oklahoma City), there was very little differences.
9. Scoring is important, but you NEED a strong defense to win. Defenses were varied, but no team with only an offense made it very far in the tournament. In fact, one of the #1 seeds (Freed Hardeman) had one of the top defenses in the nation coming into the tourney. For some reason, their defense (and their rebounding) was not in attendance in their first round double-overtime upset loss.
10. Pressure defense and trapping are very effective (even against skilled offensive players) provided, the players work hard, don't foul, are athletic and rotate quickly and effectively.

Best Basketball Coaches Not on TV

Union's Mark Campbell, winner of 4 NAIA National Championships and 89% of his games in 13 years as coach

A recent blog posting by Helen Wheelock got me thinking about coaching job searches and who administrators hire.  Seems like most of the talk always centers around the DI coaches, especially the “up-and-comers”.  I do not profess to know exactly what makes a good coach in all situations.  Good coaches in a bad situation can lead to struggles and failures, whereas unproven coaches (i.e. assistants) in good situations can lead to success and excitement.  I decided to put together a list of some of the best coaches I know.  These coaches are not necessarily up-and-comers.  They are just individuals that know what they are doing and have proven they can get the job done.  Isn’t that what is important for an A.D. anyway?  Coaching X’s and O’s are pretty much a common language across the divisions. 
In fact, often at the lower levels, a coach needs to be even more diverse and versatile in their coaching strategies because they are not always able to hand pick the exact team that they’d like to have each year like their Division I counterparts.  In terms of recruiting, it all is a game of salesmanship.  What is the product that you are selling, how much do you believe in the product and how will you best sell it.  For a small college coach, there are numerous obstacles (cost, lack of name recognition and branding, less gear, less television exposure, etc…).  Small college coaches are like the paper salespeople in the hit TV show “The Office” when going up against Office Depot and Staples…they have to be creative, persistent, and truly believe in what they are doing.  I would suggest that small college coaches can coach at the DI level successfully.  A lack of DI experience by the head coach can be made up by a competent staff that does have some DI experience.  So, without further a due, here are some of the best coaches that I know (I’ve been around a lot of places over the years and have met some great coaches that aren’t on this list…that doesn’t mean they can’t coach or that I think less of them, I’ve just limited it to those that come to mind right away).

MATT BOLLANT (UW-Green Bay) – Doesn’t really fit this category anymore because he is the head coach at UW-Green Bay.  However, five years ago, he was an NAIA head coach at Bryan College.   I just wanted to mention him because he is a great coach and a great recruiter.  He deserved to get a good Division I job.  He has not disappointed as he led the Phoenix to the Sweet-16 last year and this year is primed to experience similar success. I personally believe that he didn’t get the Wisconsin job this past spring because they wanted to go with a more glamorous assistant and not with a proven winner.  At the time, he said that he wasn’t too disappointed because his Horizon League team was actually better than the in-state Big Ten team.  Then all he did this year was go out and whoop Wisconsin...oops.

MARK CAMPBELL (Union University) – His numbers are so extravagant that you would think they are a typo…In 13 seasons as a head coach, he has won 4 NAIA National Championships, won 89% of his games, won 35 games in a season six times, held the #1 NAIA ranking for 48 straight polls (2006-2011) and been WBCA coach of the year twice.  As a coach in Mark’s conference, all I heard this year was that this was a down year for Union.  That was true, they only went 31-2, averaged 71 ppg and were #2 nationally.  As crazy as these numbers are, he is a great guy.  He and his wife have adopted a child from India which is quite an unselfish act.  He wants to win as much as the next guy but he truly wants to do it the right way and has a good perspective on things.

ROBIN HAGEN-SMITH (Shawnee State) – I don’t know her personally but everybody I have ever talked to about her has good things to say about her character and her coaching ability.  When I attended the 2011 NAIA National Tournament, everywhere I went, it seemed that people couldn’t say enough about her coaching abilities when she led Shawnee State to the Final Four in a Cinderella run.  This year, she has her team back in the Top-10 going into the national tournament.

CRAIG JACKSON (Montreat College) – Former University of Pacific head coach was a nemesis of mine for three years when I was at Bryan College.  He absolutely knows his basketball.  He is always prepared.  He took a Montreat program that had very little institutional support, scholarship money or tradition and he has turned it around.  They have been ranked the last few years and has had a number of 20-win seasons.  That is not easy to do at Montreat College.

RUSTY KENNEDY (Our Lady of the Lakes) – Nobody I know has done more with less than Rusty.  He has found ways to win games at many different institutions where others have failed.  He is not polished like most coaches.  He doesn’t fit your stereotypical image of a big-time coach but the man can coach.  He isn’t necessarily a “player’s coach” but his players seem to love him.  The comparison that comes to mind is Bob Huggins but with less baggage and controversy.  He just won the Red River Conference Tournament and is finally rewarded with his first trip to the national tournament.  He is very deserving.

CHRIS KIELSMEIER (Wayne State University) – I coached against him for 4 years when I was in Texas.  He finally won a NCAA-III National Championship during the 2007-08 season and then got rewarded with a DII job.  He has made that program something special.  They are now a consistent resident in the Top-25 polls.  He started at Iowa State for Bill Fennelly as a graduate assistant so that has helped him establishing a big-time mentality no matter where he is at.  Entering this season (his 11^th), he has a career record of 246-66.

MARTY ROWE (Lee University) – I first learned of him when he took an overachieving Brescia College team to the NAIA Final Four in the early 2000’s.  I was asked to interview to replace him when he left for Lee.  What I learned in my research convinced me that I didn’t want to be the guy to replace him at Brescia, where they were short on talent, short on funding and but high on expectations after his successful stint.  I have since become friends with him and have seen up close (practices, games, camps, clinics) how good of a coach he is.  He is also a great recruiter.  At the small college level, he’s as good as you get.  When he decides he wants a prospect, he normally gets them…even if they are a DI prospect.