5 Things Every Coach Can Give His Kids

One of my favorite parts of the Final Four is the opportunity to learn how to become a better husband and father through various ministries and workshops.  This past weekend, Carey Casey shared with us "5 Things Every Coach Can Give His Kids," which I thought was very good and wanted to share it.  Casey is the CEO of the National Center for Fathering.  Here are the notes that he gave us at the NABC Convention in Indianapolis.





1. He/She Needs a Living Example

• Set the example for expressing emotions responsibly.

         - Show them it's okay to be emotionally vulnerable.  Don't shut down and don't shut them down.
         - Research shows that most men are comfortable showing just one emotion - anger.
         - Learn to regulate anger and other negative emotions.

• Set an example for what it means to respect women.

         - Boys get most of their ideas about women and how to relate to women from their dad and key father figures

          - Words and comments must communicate respect.

• Be the example of the kind of husband a girl should look for.

2. He/She Needs a Plan for the Future

• Vocational training
• Relationship training
• Rights of passage
• Skills, attitudes, and value planning

3. He/She Needs Moral Benchmarks

• Respect for authority
• Young men need to be held accountable
• They need to know the boundaries

4. He/She Needs a Respect and Purity Monitor

• You must be a respect and purity monitor
• Be sure to do everything you can to help him/her protect their innocence and purity
• Having integrity will carry them for a lifetime

5. He/She Needs Words of Comfort

• Allowing them to express their feelings
• Actively listening to them
• Responding with empathy

6. When a father or father figure is engaged, girls do better:

• More secure
• More confident
• Does better in math
• Likely to marry a man who has similar features as her dad

You can learn more about the National Center for Fathering at www.fathers.com

Remaining Content During the Coaching Carousel of March Madness

Be content.  Every year, right around this time, I begin to dream my biggest dreams.  It seems natural for a basketball coach to do a lot of dreaming during March Madness, doesn't it?  I mean, every night there is a game on television that comes down to the buzzer when coaches & players run around like little kids, filled to the brim with excitement.  I can't help but think about what it will be like when I get to experience those emotions someday.  The emotions of winning a conference championship and earning a birth in the NCAA Tournament.  The emotions of celebrating with young men who worked so hard for so long to achieve something together.  The emotions of climbing a ladder and cutting down a small piece of net that symbolizes you are the best.  The emotions of going into the locker room and realizing that we just accomplished something that very few people ever have the chance to do.  I want to experience that someday!  What coach doesn't?

It's no secret that I want to be a division 1 coach someday.  In fact, I often times hold imaginary timeouts and pregame talks in my living room (when my wife isn't home) preparing myself for that moment when the game or our season is on the line.  As seasons are coming to an end there are so many coaches on the move.  Whether it's a promotion to a new job or getting fired from an old job, the coaching carousel at every level of college basketball is spinning fast this month.  Who will get what job?  Who do I know at that school?  Who do I know that knows someone that knows someone?  How can I break into this business?  Be honest coaches - you all ask those questions trying to figure out how you could land a position.  I'm guilty of it, especially this time of year. But I know that having a mindset of "what's next" isn't always the best one to have and I have learned (and continue to learn) how to deal with those emotions of trying to get the next job.

Currently, I am an assistant coach at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.  It's a small school that is in only it's 3rd year of intercollegiate athletics.  I have been here all 3 years and have enjoyed my part in building this program.  I make a decent salary.  I work for a great head coach.  Our staff is wonderful.  Our facilities are some of the best (if not the best) in the state of South Carolina.  But I always find myself at this time of year asking, "what's next?" questioning if I truly am content in my current position.  Why is that?

It's a constant battle to remain content.  I have found that reading through Philippians 4 every March helps me understand God's call for me as a coach.  I would highly recommend reading this regardless of your position, level, or circumstance in coaching.  There are so many great things that Paul encourages us with as he writes.  The first verse that always pops out to me is verse 4.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"

- I'm reminded to find my joy in the Lord, not in my job, salary, or circumstance.

The second verse that always helps me and convicts me as a coach are verses 6-7.  Paul tells us not to worry, but instead to pray and be thankful.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

- I'm reminded that I need to place everything in God's hands.  

Then in verses 8-9 he tells us a list of good things to think on.  If and when we think about these things he encourages us to put them into practice & God's peace will be given to us.  That is so encouraging to me to know that God is on my side.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

- I'm reminded that I need to keep my mind focused on things that are going to serve and help others around me.

The next section of the passage (verses 10-20) talk about how God will then provide for us.  I'm always uplifted and rejuvenated after reading this, especially verses 11-13.  The words in these verses make me thankful for a God who cares about me and always has my back.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

- I'm reminded that even if I want to be coaching at a higher level - I need to be content where God has me because he is shaping me and growing me to become a great coach in the future.  He gives us strength to be content.

It is so easy as a coach to always be looking for the next best thing, the greener pasture.  My challenge that I place on myself is to focus on God and the list that Paul gave us to think about and let things fall into place.  It is so easy to worry or be anxious about moving up the coaching ladder.  Instead, I have learned to focus on being the best I can be in the current position that God has placed me in.  It's not always easy, but it's necessary.  Embrace the current process and do things daily that will continue to make you better.  I'm confident that if God wants me in another position he will open the door, but until that happens I need to continue to be content where I'm at.  I'm thankful that God has placed me at a great university with great people.  

If you are a young coach looking for a job, a current coach looking to move up, or an old coach that may have just been fired - read Philippians 4 and meditate on the truths and promises that God gives us when it comes to being content.  It's powerful and I truly believe that God blesses us when we find contentment in Him!

Happy March Madness.

Who Can Lead?

"Leadership is the ability to get individuals to work together for the common good and the best possible results while at the same time letting them know they did it themselves.

Some people are automatic leaders.  Some can never be leaders.  But many who don't think of themselves as leaders have the potential to become such if they understand the fundamentals of getting individuals to work together."

An excerpt from "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" by John Wooden

Eight Suggestions for Succeeding

If you are wanting to be a great leader and a great coach, the first book you should read is "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" by Coach John Wooden.  This was the first book that I read while in middle school that really ignited the passion for me to coach.  In it, there are so many valuable nuggets that represent wisdom and knowledge of not only basketball, but every aspect of life.  One of the lessons in the book is a list of his "Eight Suggestions for Succeeding" and it reads like this:

1. Fear no opponent. Respect every opponent.

2. Remember, it's the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen.

3. Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.

4. Be more interested in character than reputation.

5. Be quick, but don't hurry.

6. Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have.

7. Know that valid self-analysis is crucial for improvement.

8. Remember that there is no substitute for hard work and careful planning.  Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.


Buy this book here.

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My Shoes, My Game, My Brand

GUEST BLOG

by Larry Hunt

These are all headlines [this past week] in various sports outlets – yahoo, etc.

What do they all have in common?

“Eric Bledsoe's crossover makes Clippers' Jared Cunningham jog off the court, toward the stands”

“Kyrie Irving goes between the legs for sweet assist to Kevin Love”

“Erik Lamela scores absurd rabona goal in Europa League match, invalidates all arguments against him”

“CP3's Sick Fake and Score”

All these headlines glorify an individual; all these headlines sensationalize a professional athlete doing something that is actually not uncommon at all. Why then the headlines?

Maybe words like marketing, branding, and self-centeredness come to mind – or something else that reflects the trend to accentuate self. Many elite players today are more enraptured with themselves and their brand than they are sacrificing individual glory for team success. For them it’s all about fame and fortune, all the while feigning humility and the “us” mentality.

Our players need to guard themselves from these “faux [role] models” who consistently prove over time that it’s really all about “me” rather than “us.” A saturation of this worldly, proud persona, especially through social media channels and online news outlets, will quickly skew a player’s perception toward emulating this behavior on the court. Our Bruins’ games should never be “performances”; rather, games should always be contests that require total team effort.

As a side note - there is room for creative, selfless play. Creativity properly used enhances the action required to deceive the opponent. The basketball court is one place in life where deception is allowed! But let’s not be unnatural or ostentatious in our creativity; the day that “playing to the crowd” supersedes “playing for my team” is the day that we regress to mediocrity at best.

Just some random thoughts . . . thanks for reading!

- Coach Larry Hunt, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach

Remember

It's hard to believe that it's been 13 years since America was attacked on September 11th.  So much has changed within our culture since then.  I still remember where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with on that day.  School was just getting started for the day when my 8th grade teacher, Kurt Rummler, told us that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center.  At first, we all thought it was a little recreational plane and our biggest concern was, "how are we going to trade with the world if our World Trade Center is gone?"  I also had tickets that night to go see the Milwaukee Brewers play the St. Louis Cardinals and I was crushed when I learned that the game was cancelled.  I obviously had no clue what was going on at first, but as the day continued, I would soon learn the magnitude of what happened and how it would effect our everyday lives.  Our country lost 2,977 innocent lives on that day and I don't ever want to forget that.

On Monday, our men's basketball team and students here at Bob Jones University helped set up a 9/11 memorial display on the front of our campus that will remain in place until September 15.  It consists of thousands of flags, 2,977 to be exact.  We placed each flag in the ground and formed the structures of the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon.  As we began there was a lot of laughter and our players were having a fun time helping out.  The more flags we placed in the ground, the more I began to realize that we serve a bigger purpose in doing this.  Each of those flags represented an individual that lost his or her life in the 9/11 attacks.  A father, son, sister, or grandmother.  Every flag now served a significant purpose and created a special connection between a college basketball coach and strangers that mean so much to me.  I hope that all of our players and students that volunteered with that project felt a similar feeling behind what we were doing.  I love my country and I still get emotional when I think about September 11, 2001.  I still get sad thinking about the lives lost.  I still get ticked off thinking about the terrorists behind it all.  I still find myself in disbelief that it all happened.  But the greatest emotion I still feel is pride.  There is no better country in the world that the United States of America. I am grateful to live here.  So I hope that when you drive past the campus of Bob Jones University this week and see thousands of flags in the ground, you remember.

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!

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