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Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Storytelling - What Stories Do Our Players Hear?

Players and coaches accumulate a lifetime of stories. Humans are "the storytelling animal." 

The most valuable stories borrow from experience and teach lessons worth sharing. Good stories stick. 

The Heath Brothers share elements that capture attention via the acronym SUCCESS -

S - simple 

U - unexpected

C - concrete

C - credible

E - emotional 

S - stories 

Share your stories:

1. Don't put yourself in a position to hear sad songs. 

In the 1972 Olympics, Doug Collins was part of the team that lost to the Soviet Union in a controversial "three chances" finish. The Americans never accepted the silver medal. Some had it written into their wills that no family member would ever accept. The last song Collins heard coming out of the locker room was Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?"

As a counselor, I drove Collins from Logan Airport to Sam Jones's basketball camp in Easton, MA. 

2. Do. Not. Quit. 

In the top division Sectional semis in 1973, Wakefield High School faced top-seeded (22-0) St. John's Prep, basketball royalty with five future D1 players (I'm told). We trailed 26-12 early in the second quarter. We changed defenses to the UCLA 2-2-1 three-quarter court press and went on a 23-0 run over 8:35. Their best player was a future Celtics draft choice. We were nobodies who never quit. 

3. Never be "less than."

Win the "Mental Game." Mental toughness is a skill. Raise the bar. Set high standards. Teach players to play "harder for longer" and make "competitive character" their ethos. Never played college basketball or coached high school basketball? Those who can't do, teach? I have two former players, Cecilia Kay (St. Joseph's) and Samantha Dewey (Richmond) on scholarship in the A-10. Don't be "less than" anybody. 

I always told coworkers, never say, "I'm just the unit secretary" or "I'm just a nurse." Be proud of your best at what you do. 

4. The Bad Loss. 

Every coach has bad losses...without exception. Red Auerbach shared that he got his coaching Prep players in D.C. Leading by one under their own basket late, the inbounder chose to throw a behind-the-back pass which was stolen and converted. Never presume that players know what not to do. Get everyone on the same page. Give and get feedback. And develop a reliable inbounder. 

5. Academics matter. 

As the ad says, most players will never be professionals in sports. Your points-per-game won't follow you around in business, education, or medicine. Your ability to think and to communicate well will. I've coached multiple valedictorians, multiple D1 athletes, multiple All-State players, a Naval Academy graduate, and a former player graduates from veterinary school in a couple of months. Take care of business in class. Inspiration and perspiration lead to amazing achievements. 

6. Keep it simple.

We attended Celtics practice in Waltham before the C's moved to their new facility. My brother-in-law, a Princeton classmate of Wyc Grousbeck, hosted us. The Celtics were preparing for Toronto with Lowry, DeRozan at al. Coach Brad Stevens had the Celtics "go through" off-ball screens to try to limit threes. Youngsters Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown worked on their threes. 

Coach Stevens asked my wife what she did. She explained that she had a background in aerospace engines and rocket science. He said, "Basketball isn't rocket science." 

Simplify the game for our players, to help them understand, execute, and do their jobs. Don't make it rocket science. 

7. Champions don't cut corners. At UCONN women's practice in Storrs, we watched Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck, and others work. When the women took two laps after having done individual warmups and stretching, nobody cut a corner. If the team that won four consecutive NCAA titles doesn't, why should ours? "Little things make big things happen." 

Closing Thoughts

Tell better stories that resonate and stick. You don't have to be an elite player or an elite coach to share winning lessons. 

Lagniappe. Make outcomes our first priority. Hours invested don't always translate to the best results. Dave Kline's piece makes the point in spades. 

Lagniappe 2. Obradovic is one of the best coaches in the world. Movement kills defenses. Learn from him. 

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