Part two of an interview with legendary Coach Jack Clark:
"I want to see the team improve...constant improvement is one of our values."
Core values:
1) Selflessness
2) Constant performance improvement
3) Merit (over seniority) - "what are you doing right now?"
4) Toughness - ability to focus on the next most important thing, critical to access when things are going bad
5) Leadership
"Fence posting" - talking about something and measure it, celebrate it
Skateboarder culture analogy of "going for it"
Optimism and resiliency precede mental toughness - challenge, control what you can control, commitment ("stay the course")
"Hold fast and stay true" - maritime phrase
Knowledge of lessons from winning translate to other parts of life (education, preparation, grit, teamwork, etc)
Clark has won championships and been disappointed with how team played (value of process versus outcome)
Validation can occur in many ways - as players explain the benefits of having played Cal rugby in their family, business, etc.
"I don't know that commitment and hard work are proprietary to sport..." Sport has TEAM..."a PhD in TEAM"
TEAM isn't taught widely across education
"Every day that I coach feels significant" different feel from business
"I wouldn't trade jobs with anyone."
"What is the single most difficult moment in your coaching career?" (Clark was a victim of crime, shot five times.)
"Are you going to be a victim or not?" Clark noted that he kept going...
Clark notes that the 'goalposts' of investment banking provided entirely different rewards and feelings than coaching. You can do damage while coaching if not well done. "You gotta get it right." There are a lot of bad coaches and wonderful coaches...
What person would you ask about the path of mastery? When do you know you achieved mastery?
"I have good days that I feel that I might be that person..." (but not every day)
"I feel responsible that it continues on (Cal Rugby)."
TEAM. "What is looks like, what are the values."
Philosophy - "honesty... to say it as it is." Sometimes it gets shouted.
"We have to learn from each other."
Staying motivated. Everything changes every year. Host - "This moment is completely new...be here now." (Mindfulness)
The answers will always change as great players graduate. "You hand over the keys..."
"Embed and scale culture...talk about it and test it"
Big game attitude? Clark believe that big games "matter more." The host argues for "this moment" as primary versus special moments.
"Risk taker or rule follower." Clark argues for "informed risk."
"Pressure comes from self-expectation." Clark speaks of "advanced goals."
What are the top five takeaways?
- "You gotta get it right."
- Players get a PhD in TEAM
- Every day is significant
- Are we "going for it?"
- Lessons from winning transfer to life
Lagniappe. The podcast begs the question, "what is our best and worst coaching moment?" Develop your own ideas.
Lagniappe 2. "Negative experiences without teaching kills morale."
Gold from Saban. Leadership 101.
— Kevin DeShazo (@KevinDeShazo) October 5, 2024
Transformational > Transactional.
In my opinion, in this NIL era, it matters more than ever.pic.twitter.com/GzSqmNreqZ
Lagniappe 3. What is the standard? Everyone needs to learn about it.
OUR JOB IS TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WORK ETHIC!!
— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) October 13, 2024
How do we do that? By setting the standard and expectation in our gym about the level of focus/work/communication. Players will raise to that level, or they won’t and we’ll have to keep pushing them.
We set that standard and… pic.twitter.com/Fpplvsadax
