What makes programs great? Jim Collins wrote the wildly successful business book Good to Great. It sold millions of copies and appears on many lists of 'must read' books. In When to Rob a Bank, Stephen Levitt notes that two of the eleven companies profiled as great (Fannie Mae and Circuit City) had dramatically fallen in price or gone bankrupt (CC).
One of Collins's core principles is "CONFRONT BRUTAL FACTS."
But programs decline, too. What of our local girls basketball program? From 2001 to 2010, the Melrose Lady Raiders won ten consecutive league championships, four sectional championships, and had five undefeated regular seasons.
It hasn't been total famine since but overall a dominant team has with few exceptions fallen into the second division. What changed?
The community hasn't changed much, although becoming one of the top ten "hottest" real estate zip codes in the US.
Coaching changed. The immensely successful Coach Dave Brady retired from coaching. Coaching isn't everything, but Coach Brady deserved the accolades. That isn't an indictment of subsequent coaches.
The talent pipeline changed. Many teams have infusions of talent and Melrose did. METCO is an educational opportunity program where some Boston youngsters, not just athletes, have alternatives to study in the suburbs. Students have to wake up early and go home late if they participate in extra-curricular activities. During the championship decade, Melrose had two star players from Boston, Quiana Copeland and Sheylani Peddy who were both great young ladies and terrific basketball players. Copeland played in Europe and Peddy played in the WNBA and the EuroLeague.
That doesn't mean there aren't good local players but they're no longer surrounded by elite players.
Basketball fell from a popularity zenith, losing some athletes to volleyball, lacrosse, and soccer as an athlete's "primary sport." Offseason basketball participation fell.
Players chose alternative high school education. Players and families have good and personal reasons for school choice. This isn't exclusive to the girls' program or to basketball. Elite student-athletes have either enrolled at or transferred to private high schools. Currently, we have three top level players (center, forward, point guard) starring for other programs. I had the good fortune to coach all three. Few teams can lose three all-league players without consequence.
Times change and so do teams. Nobody stays on top forever.
Lagniappe. Learn leadership lessons.
In James Kerr's Legacy, he describes an iron-clad rule of the New Zealand All-Blacks, "No Dickheads."
Lagniappe 2. "Get" action. With modern spread offenses, another option is the "Get" where the guard passes to a big and quickly follows the pass into a handoff. This creates defensive dilemmas within the two man game and sometimes draws help of a third player. Brilliant video from Slappin' Glass that deserves multiple watches.