Land the Plane Safely

“Coaching is like flying an airplane, there is going to be a lot of turbulence, but your job is to land the plane safely." 


I love this #4 posting in "Brendan Suhr's Top 10 Chuck Daly "Dalyisms."  I feel like this is the point in the season when this quote might really hit home.  Some coaches have endured tough seasons, and others have experienced their best, but no matter which one is you, it is time to land the plane.  It is time to finish strong.  Hopefully you've kept your composure and stayed focused throughout the season.  Stay strong. Stay committed.  Rise Up.

“Coaching is like flying an airplane, there is going to be a lot of turbulence, but your job is to land the plane safely.” During the season, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs, but as the coach you have to understand you have to remain calm and poised and remember the goals that you have established for the team. On the road to each Championship season, we had major turmoil occur, but Chuck landed the plane safely.

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Wear Red

Friday, February 3rd is National Wear Red Day^®.  The American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have asked everyone to wear Red in support of heart health awareness.  I am privileged to have the opportunity to speak to a group of high school students Friday night at a basketball game in Burlington, WI.  It happens to be my old high school, so it should be fun.  My topic is, "The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart."  I am excited to share my story and how heart disease has influenced my life.  From an early age, basketball was my "true love."  I was one of those kids that was always in the driveway working on my game.  It didn't matter whether it was 20 degrees and snowing, or if it was midnight and the neighbors (or my parents) were sleeping.  If the basketball got icy and flat, I would have two more in the rotation...waiting in the warm water of the bathtub.  I always had to be getting better.  Unfortunately, heart disease took away my ability to play basketball competitively.  Adversity came, and bitterness settled in.  It took many years before I was truly able to embrace the situation and turn it into a positive blessing.  Once I realized this setback was all a part of God's sovereign plan, I began to see ways in which I could use it to impact others.  My love and passion for coaching is that avenue, and I want to use it all to glorify Jesus.  If having a heart disease allows me to share the gospel message of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for me, then it is all worth it.  "The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart." Wear Red this Friday!