"Evolution"
Most coaches commit to personal growth. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Mentoring comes in different forms. Make friends with the dead to learn methods from Wooden, Newell, Knight, McLendon and others. Study coaches in other sports - Jack Clark in rugby, Scotty Bowman in hockey, and Nick Saban in football.
Exceptional coaches lead, teach, inspire. The ESPN series, "Saban," exposes Saban's approach as he crafted a journey not just about winning, but helping players to succeed in life
Be more transformational than transactional
"Tough love"...to help them be better
"Harder than I thought..."
"I was trying to build a program..." not thinking National Championship
The Evolution
MSU reneged about a contract promise to him...so he left. He gave them a chance to fulfill the contract and they said, "Nobody cares..." They lost him over $100,000.
Family Support
He relied on his wife, Miss Terry. "She's always made me better." A confidant said, "She is warm, friendly, courteous...but I wouldn't mess with her."
His wife was the advance to LSU. Nothing was great...except she told Nick, "They have some damn good looking players in the weight room."
"Nick Saban wasn't Nick Saban then."
The less program infrastructure in place, "It only takes that much more to do it right."
After a loss, "FOR SALE" signs appeared in his yard. Saban understood adding value. No academic center meant a low graduation rate. "We should be creating value for people..." He delivered.
Part of his recruiting pitch to instate recruits who were leaving, "Don't make a 4-year decision, make a 40-year decision."
Alabama
"We're gonna put a fence around Alabama...reputation as a recruiter was supreme." The obvious analogy for other levels becomes, "keep your kids home." If you're not recruiting your own, you will fail.
NCAA put in "Saban Rule" to limit recruiting (he was using a helicopter and making multiple contacts daily.
Saban got the "we have to have him" guys, like Julio Jones. "We got 'em all." Saban's advice, "Are you going to focus on your vision or your circumstance?"
Alphas
He got the difference makers, players who cared about greatness and winning. Rolando McClain, "Now I have the right to have a voice." Players got the message. "How do you want to be remembered?" - McClain
Your culture includes everything - your family, assistants, administration support, facilities, community, and more.
Nobody wins without talent. Nobody succeeds without surrounding themselves with great people. Saban lived "creature of habit" existence, leaving nothing to chance.
From the Monte Burke unauthorized bio, Saban woke at six and was in the office by seven. He had a turkey sandwich at noon sharp. He was the same guy every day - focused, relentless, driven to win.
Lagniappe. Cutting film.
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