A couple of discussions inspired me to reflect further about Dean Smith and delve deeper into his coaching philosophy and leadership style. Certainly, this post may have been timelier had I published it at the time of Smith’s passing in 2015 but I feel that the thoughts remain relevant because of his lasting impact on the game. When I began coaching, I was drawn to Smith’s methods because of his winning track record and the fact that he was one of the limited numbers of coaches who had published a book that was easily available in the 1990s. To me, …
Building a Culture
Creating a culture that lasts from season to season is one of the coach’s most challenging tasks. When all team members buy in, significant successes can be reached so it is worth the effort. For a culture to truly come to life, the responsibility for its development must be shared by players and coaches alike. Give Players Ownership When New Zealand All Blacks coach Graham Henry took over after an unsuccessful 2003 Rugby World Cup, he began by making players responsible for the team. At first, the coaching staff identified some players who were negative influences in the clubhouse and …
The Finishing Flourish of the Brush or the Canvas?
Vince Carter are his dunks are featured in a new add where he says that “Coach says a dunk is only worth two points” before disagreeing. “Coach” is presumably Dean Smith, winner of two National Championships and an Olympic Gold Medal. It’s true that dunks can change the game in a way that a lay-up cannot but their effect is over-rated by players with limited skill sets. After VC crowned Fréderic Weis in the 2000 Olympics, France was not coming back to win the game (they weren’t going to win in the first place). However, Lithuania wasn’t intimidated in the …