Characteristics of the Right Players

Recruiting season is always fun.  Prospects send countless emails and blow up my inbox, and every other coach's inbox, with proposals and declarations of their extraordinary skills.  It seems as though every time I walk into my office lately, that little red light on my office phone is blinking as if it is trying to tell me something.  When I am at home I can hardly set my phone down without another text or call beckoning for my valuable time.  I am always encouraged by the draw our program has with recruits, but very few of these kids understand what it takes to play at our level.  They don't realize that college basketball is more than media attention and bright lights.  They don't understand that there is a special kind of person that we are looking for and we are not willing to inhibit our culture by making a mistake in recruiting.  

It's not always the recruit's fault, but many of them do not possess the necessary characteristics that we are searching for.  So to make things easier for recruits looking at our program, I wanted to take some time to list some important characteristics that we expect from our players.  I also hope this helps coaches that are trying to build and grow their philosophy when it comes to recruiting.

1. Be Good at Basketball - I know this may seem harsh, but it's true.  I can't tell you how many players send in film and I don't even watch more than two clips because of their obvious lack of skill.   This isn't to say we are looking for perfect players, but we need players who are talented and also have room to grow.  

2. Be Willing to Follow Jesus - I want all of our players to know how important following Jesus is.  It is understandable that not every kid will be at the same place in their journey, however, as a coach I want to help you grow in this area.  All I ask is that you are open minded and willing to change when it comes to Biblical truths.  

3. Be a Man of Integrity - I want players who will look me in the eye and tell me the truth.  I will never judge someone who is willing to admit their mistakes and display that they are willing to fix them.  Forgiveness is the key to lasting relationships.  I expect players to do their best and strive to become godly husbands and fathers someday.  

4. Be a Team Player - I could care less what your stats were in high school.  The only thing I care about is how you treat your teammates and your ability to make each other better.  You must have the ability to stand out while blending in.  We care about our players and expect them to take pride in our TEAM.

5. Be Mentally Tough - If I am watching you play in a game or work out, you need to show me that you can handle adversity.  College basketball provides many opportunities for triumph, but it provides twice as many opportunities for failure.  If you can't show the ability to move on to the "next play" then there is probably not a place for you on our team.  We do not tolerate complainers.

6. Be a Servant-Leader - When I call high school coaches I often ask them several questions about the player.  One of the first things I ask is whether or not their player is a servant leader to others.  If you are willing to help others carry equipment, put basketballs away, sweep the gym floor, etc. then there is a good chance you have a bright future as a college basketball player.

7. Be Responsible - Our head coach always says, "Be where you are supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing."  This seems like an easy task, but young men have a hard time being responsible.  Do the right thing.  If you happen to mess up, go back and read #3.

8. Be a Good Student - If you are responding to texts in class or taking bathroom breaks to call me, do not expect to be signed to play here.  I expect our players to do their best in the classroom and make education a priority in their journey as a student-athlete.  Also, make sure to use good grammar when texting or tweeting a coach.  I won't even finish reading what you have to say if you address me as "Yo bro" or "Wsup homie."

9. Be a Positive Example on Social Media - Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram are the main avenues of communication with today's recruits.  If you are on social media (I recommend that you are) make sure to be positive and mindful with everything you post.  If you are posting pictures of yourself at parties doing something you're not supposed to be doing then you will not play for us.  Make your posts positive and encouraging in nature.  You represent the brand of both yourself and our program.

10. Be a Good Character - Your talent will only take you so far.  You can possess all the talent in the world, but if you don't have good character then you will end up being a failure someday.  Most coaches would rather have extraordinary people with less talent on their team as opposed to poor character people with extraordinary talent.

These are just a few characteristics that usually stand out to coaches, but they are not the only ones.  When it is all said and done, I am looking for kids that want to work hard and do the right thing.  Mistakes are going to happen and everyone will do something stupid at some point in time, but it's how they are willing to respond to those situations that matters.  If you are a player that possesses all the characteristics above, I am happy for the coach that signs you.  I hope that coach is me!

Follow @CoachWingreen on Twitter

The Man in the Glass

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum
And think you’re a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s a fellow to please—never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

Core Values

Core values are essential in any group or organization and they play a crucial role in accomplishing the overall vision and mission.  Often times when you think of a successful company or team there are specific words that come to mind that portray that specific group.  Our men's basketball program at Bob Jones University has made the effort to promote certain core values to build our foundation upon.  Coach Neal Ring and our staff spent a lengthy amount of time praying and talking through these values and came up with a "wheel" that provides a visual illustration to our players of how we expect them to become successful.  There are three parts to this "wheel" and they are our mission, our core values, and our vision.  Everything we do begins with a single heartbeat, one that every member of our program must buy into in order to attain our overall vision. 

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission statement is at the center of the "wheel" and it reads,

"Bruins' men's basketball exists to develop student athletes who glorify God and to prepare them to always LIVE CHRIST." 

 

We believe that no matter what we are trying to accomplish from a basketball perspective, it will have no effect unless we are doing it for a bigger purpose.  What is our bigger purpose?  It is to glorify God and live Christ.  If we are simply coming to the gym every day in hopes to win games and get the ladies we have missed our true calling.  Our purpose is so much greater that the excitement, the wins/losses, and the cool gear.  We want to be used of God to impact lives for eternity through the game of basketball.  This sounds well and good, but simply stating this is not enough.  We need to have a plan of action and that is found in our core values.

 

CORE VALUES

 

Our core values are the pieces of the puzzle that we must live out if we hope to accomplish our vision.  There are four main values that we stress to our program.

 

1. Passion - First and foremost we need to have a passion.  We need a passion for Jesus Christ and we need a passion for the game of basketball.  We need to be willing to put the required work into both of those aspects and be committed to growing consistently in them.  A passion for Jesus can be cultivated through reading his Word and seeking him in every area of your life.   When you read the Scriptures, God opens your heart to amazing things and ignites a passion to know Him.  You will be amazed how God can use you when you are actively and consistently searching for him!  A passion for basketball will be stirred when you see the fruits of your hard work.  Early mornings in the weight room, boot camp conditioning, and grueling workouts sometimes are difficult, but once you step on the court in front of thousands of screaming fans, it all becomes worth it!  Galatians 2:20

 

2. Integrity - We expect our members to be honest and trustworthy in every relationship they have.  These values need to be mutual and we will treat everyone the same way we wish to be treated.  It's the Golden Rule!  If you want to be treated well, then treat others well!  Most people do not like being lied to and they hate when someone doesn't follow through, so make sure to value everyone in all things.  The world says that the 'cool' thing to do is lie, cheat and steal, but that is totally opposite of what the Bible says.  Instead, God calls us to live a life saturated with high character.  We are born sinners and sin is a daily struggle, so please don't think it's easy to do the right thing.  But do know that with God's grace all things are possible and he will give you the strength and the desire to do what is honorable!  Luke 6:31; Philippians 4:8

 

3. Humility - Athletes are glorified in this world and sometimes they expect to be treated in such a way.  However, we have a platform to make an impact and we must display humility.  We do this by being selfless, having a grateful spirit, and acting out with servant-leadership.  When I was a camp coach at the University of Minnesota, Tubby Smith left a lasting impression of humility on me.  We were in the cafeteria when one of the campers spilled his food tray all over the floor.  From a distance I noticed all of the campers and coaches staring at this kid and some were even laughing and pointing at him.  Nobody stopped to help him.  What I didn't see was that Coach Smith had immediately gone to get paper towels and he was the first one to help.  He smiled at this kid and told him it was OK, got down on his hands and knees and began to clean up this camper's mess.  As a young coach I was in awe that a man such as Coach Smith would humble himself to serve others.  The same goes for Jesus.  He came to this world not to be served, but to serve others.  There are so many examples in the Bible about Jesus providing food, healing the sick, and just being there to share the gospel with anyone he possibly could.  He was always on the lookout to serve others and he called us to do the same.  True leadership is done through serving others.  Mark 10:45

 

4. Collective Responsibility - We are always holding each other accountable.  There is a mutual support among coaches, players, managers, and support staff.  There is no whining, complaining, and no making excuses.  The Bible says we sharpen each other just as iron sharpens iron.  A team is a powerful force and when every person is looking out for the best interest of the others, amazing things can happen.  We can cultivate this by holding players accountable for their class attendance, grades, and relationships.  If you see your teammate sleeping in class or texting during a lecture, call him out in a biblical way!  More importantly keep each other focused on reading the Word.  The most important thing we can do as a coach is to disciple our players and make sure they are doing what needs to be done to know God.  Teammates need to watch out for each other and make sure others are not doing something they shouldn't be doing such as drinking alcohol, being involved in a immoral relationship, or rebelling against authority.  When a team comes together and supports one another, there is no telling what they can accomplish!  We want our players to graduate and become godly husbands and fathers, not just good basketball players.  Proverbs 27:17

 

When these four values are lived out on a daily basis, success becomes a bi-product of the process.  If we can live out these values each and every day, we believe that they will ultimately allow us to carry out our overall vision.

 

VISION STATEMENT

 

Our vision statement is our end goal.  It is where we want to be what we want to accomplish.  We can do this by carrying out our core values and staying focused on our mission.  Our vision statement reads,

 

"We view basketball as a potent platform for ministry in this present age.  To maximize this platform, we must prepare to compete against each opponent to earn their respect; with this respect we earn the opportunity for testimony of Christ."

 

God calls us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to disciple others to become more like him and do the same.  Basketball is only a tool that God has given us to carry out the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  As a program, we want others to come to know Jesus Christ and seek to glorify him.  Of course we want to compete at the highest levels and win championships, but ultimately we are only doing that so that Jesus Christ will become famous!  Here is a look at what our "wheel" looks like:

 

 

Follow the BJU Bruins Men's Basketball team at the following:

 

Twitter - @BJUBruins

Instagram - @BJUBruins

Facebook - Bob Jones University Bruins

Online - www.BJUBruins.com