Nick Saban reflects on the loneliness of being a head coach and the value of having people who help you see beyond your own perspective. “Especially once you get to be a head coach, who do you talk to?...It’s interesting sometimes that the outside perspective is a little different than your perception of what it might be. And that’s very, very helpful.” When you’re immersed in the daily demands of leading a team, it can be difficult to recognize your own blind spots, question your assumptions, or see the toll the job is taking. As the saying goes, it’s hard to read the label from inside the jar. People outside your day-to-day world can help you recognize what you might otherwise overlook. Those relationships also give you space to speak honestly and work through challenges without feeling like you need to have every answer. Coaches spend so much time investing in others. They deserve relationships where someone is invested in them. If you’d like to build more support around you, I’m happy to help you explore what that could look like and who/what might help. 🎥: This Past Weekend with Theo Von

Your players don't need another friend. They need a coach. "I'm not here to be your friend. I'm here to push you, challenge you, help you be successful." - Marcus Freeman 🥇 QT: Can you be both?

10 Inconvenient Truths of Coaching 1. Not every kid wants to be great. 2. You will often be misunderstood. 3. Some parents care more about playing time than team success. 4. Your best players aren’t always your best leaders. 5. No system works without buy-in. 6. Success brings criticism, too. 7. Culture isn’t built in a week; it’s built daily. 8. You can’t coach every player the same way. 9. Wins don’t always reflect your impact. 10. The job takes more from you than it gives… until years later. Still worth every second. Still a great profession.

Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck on the NIL disparity between the Gophers and Michigan: "Too small, too short, too slow, too young, too inexperienced. T-O-O. Nah, that’s never bothered me. I’ve always felt like my job is to do more with less, and not less in a bad way. We have resources here. My job as a head football coach is never to ‘B-C-D’ it: blame, complain, ever. That’s why you’re the head coach. Figure it out. And my job is to maximize the resources you have." on3.com/nil/news/pj-fleck-ad…

Thank you, being part of our Tuesday nights with our Memphis Wrestling friends is something I am so thankful for!!

This is 100% on the transfer portal. Unlimited, unrestricted free agency. You can flip over your entire roster in one offseason. Fire your coach, hire a new one and have him bring every good player on his team. Everyone now wants instant success. There’s no more slow build.

A few reasons why this is happening 1. Thanks in large part to ESPN everyone has decided that success can only be found in the playoff 2. The ability to flip rosters has eroded the idea of patience in program building 3. “Indiana did it why cant we?” Is a fallacy that too many people think is truth

How not to be average is a must watch speech by Curt Cignetti, Indiana University

NIL = parity Parity = inconsistency Inconsistency = losses Losses = unhappiness Unhappiness = FIRE EVERYONE

I think this is the result of a microwave mentality across all sports, really. Fans, supporters, donors, etc don’t have the patience or attention span to see a process through. Transfer portal certainly doesn’t help in this regard. I find it quite sad.

Sunday Thoughts: It feels like half of CFB is having an existential crisis. So many people want to fire their coach, even some with a good record and some with a new coach. Feels like we're in an unhealthy cycle and a weird place. Almost nobody can sustain anything.

The Cignetti Effect. Patience is extinct.

Beautiful quote from an Elite Leader of Men “In you’re lowest moment, you find out a lot about yourself” It’s inevitable that tough times will come at some point in your journey, but it’s how you respond to those tough times that define you as a person

Charles Barkley is drawing attention for his comments about the people he believes deserve the most admiration and respect. “Teachers, firemen, policemen, nurses, and people in the armed services. Those are the people I admire and respect the most. They got, like, real jobs, and they’re real important. I dribble a stupid basketball. I’ve gotten more respect and more money than I’ve ever deserved in my life,” Barkley said.

So you want to Coach? You don’t win immediately you are literally destroyed on social media! Win some but not all then you are told someone else can take it to another level. If you win it all you are good for THAT SEASON, then it starts over. What a great life!😊🤷‍♂️

➡️ ‘We're always been the king of the toos, T O O. At some point, too small, too short, too slow, too young, too inexperienced. T O O, nah, that's never bothered me. I've always felt my my job is to do more with less, and not less in a bad way. We have resources here. My job as a head football coach is never to to B C D it, blame, complain ever. That's why you're the head coach. Figure it out, and my job is to maximize the resources you have.’ w/@Coach_Fleck

PJ Fleck was asked after the game how he's able shut out the haters and continue being himself despite the heat he takes publicly. His message, per usual, is worth a listen no matter what you think of the Minnesota Gophers' head coach. "We will never ever, ever, ever take winning for granted... I don't think there's any reason for anybody in this world, no matter who you are, to apologize for who you are. As long as you are being the best, most authentic, most real version of yourself every day, and you're changing your best, and you're doing good in the world. You do that, don't you ever change... Be yourself."

Jay Wright’s Coaching Philosophy is Built on One Thing: ATTITUDE. 9 Jay Wright lessons on what actually builds championship teams. 📌Bookmark it and save for later:

The 10 Commandments of Coaching After 30+ years of coaching, I’ve learned that the game keeps changing. But great coaching really doesn’t. Here are 10 things I believe every coach should live by. 🧵👇

Sean McVay said, “Winning is a habit; let’s make it ours.” I love that. Winning isn’t just game day. It’s how you prepare, respond, compete, and show up every day. So what habits make winning possible? Here are the 6 Habits of Winners. 1. Keep Stacking Days Winners show up every day. It’s not about going all out once in a while but consistency. Small, daily actions compound over time. Whether in the gym, the classroom, or your mindset, showing up EVERY DAY beats sporadic intensity. 2. Focus on the Process, Not Just the Results Winners don’t obsess over outcomes; they focus on the steps that get them there. The journey is where growth happens. By locking in on the process, they make success inevitable by constantly improving what they can control. 3. Embrace the Struggle Winners don’t shy away from challenges or discomfort. They know that growth happens in the tough moments. When others quit or back down, winners lean in. They understand that pain and struggle are part of the path to greatness. 4. Adapt and Adjust Winners are flexible. They don’t stick to a rigid plan when things change - they adapt. Whether it’s a new strategy, an unexpected challenge, or setbacks, winners adjust and keep moving forward. 5. Stay Humble and Hungry No matter how much success they’ve had, winners never think they’ve “arrived.” They remain humble, knowing there’s always room to improve. And they stay hungry, constantly pushing themselves to improve, no matter how much they’ve already achieved. 6. Mental Toughness Winners build mental resilience. They don’t let failures define them or allow external pressures to control their mindset. They train their minds as much as their bodies, learning to stay focused, calm, and confident in any situation. _____ If you like this post, you will love my free weekly newsletter. Great Teams Better Leaders Join 15,000+ others who read for free each week. The subscription link is in my profile.