Whom do you want to coach? In 2017, Bill Belichick also said, "At this point in my career, I want to coach guys I like. I want to coach guys I want to be around and that's it and 'I'm not going to coach anybody else."
What makes us excited to coach our dream girls?
Be excited. I start tryouts with a brief comment about separating yourself, standing out. Two minutes before tryouts last year, a sixth-grade girl with a squeaky voice came up and told me, "I'm really excited to be here." She got the memo early.
Listen. Don't be a crocodile, all mouth and no ears. Years ago, "Susie" was always the first person at off-season workouts. She wasn't the biggest youngster but was among the best listeners. And she was pound-for-pound a terrific rebounder. She went on to be a three-sport captain in high school and carried Coach Wooden's laminated "Pyramid of Success" in her gym bag every day. She's entering her fourth year at her dream school in Annapolis.
Make eye contact. "Heidi" made the best eye contact ever. That may seem like a small point, but isn't. Be present, fully engaged.
Get after it. "Katie" brought intensity with size, skill, and athleticism to the end of the rainbow. She practiced every rep like it was her last. You only get so many chances for a bite at that apple.
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Energize. Pete Carril called them lightbulbs. Be fortunate to have the player who radiates energy to her teammates. "Valerie" had the skill and the passion to bring out the best in teammates.
The notebook. Each new group got composition notebooks. Don Meyer kept three - one for basketball knowledge, one for general information, and a third of appreciation for his wife, that he gave her each year. One player stands out as a habitual notetaker. Writing it down conveys memory. She's going places.
Raw athleticism. As an assistant, I used to get the "last" pick each season. "Sandy" was a tremendous athlete but very raw as a player. She showed the most improvement of any "bottom of the roster" player I've ever seen, with a tremendous touch around the basket with either hand. She became one of our top players.
Out for blood. And not everybody gets to coach their twin daughters.
I can only dream about coaching this little one.
