Coaching Lessons

God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.                                                           Psalm 119:33 (The Message)

At dinner with a friend the other evening, we were talking about leadership, and I mentioned the great coach Dean Smith. Dean Smith, the Hall of Fame coach of North Carolina University, died a number of years ago, and in his will, he left a unique gift. He had bequeathed to every player who had ever played for him over his career a check for $200. In the letter that accompanied the check, the old coach encouraged his former players to “enjoy a dinner, compliments of coach Dean Smith”. Smith showed in this his gratitude and respect for his old players. They no longer played for him, yet he remembered them and cared for them.  

My friend noted that the late John Wooden, Hall of Fame coach for UCLA for decades, started the year with his new players with a lesson- how to properly tie shoes. This simple, mundane lesson carried a lot of strong messages. It told his players that the smallest details were important. Take nothing for granted. Further, it was a practical life lesson in teaching something to his players that he believed – “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”.  

I think it also gave the message to his players that things were to be done the way he required them. An example of that was his interactions with former star Bill Walton. Bill Walton was an extremely talented basketball player. He also had his own style and beliefs. When Coach Wooden asked Walton to cut his long hair (this was in the early 1970’s), Bill stated that he would wear his hair long. Walton had been player of the year the previous season, and UCLA had won the national championship. Walton figured that coach’s short hair rule would not apply to him. When Walton contested the coach’s order, Wooden said, “Well Bill, we are going to miss you. You have 15 minutes to get your hair cut”.

Walton hurried to comply!

I love these old stories of great leaders. May we never stop learning!

Prayer: Lord, you have given us teachers and models to guide us. Help us to have the humility to follow them, Amen