Advice to young coaches (and some old coaches who need to be reminded)

Here is some advice for young coaches from my experiences. I originally posted this in 2012 but it demands to be reposted. This advice reflects lessons that I learned, no need to make the same the same mistakes I made.

• Be prepared to pay your dues, you don’t enlist the army as a general.
• Practice humility – No matter what your athletic or academic accomplishments you are going to have to prove yourself as a coach. Check you ego at the door.
• Keep Learning – Keep a notebook of your ideas and observations. Write in it as often as possible. It will be an invaluable reference as you progress through your career. I have filled Moleskin notebooks in my 49th year of coaching.
• Listen and watch – You have two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason.
• Dress Professionally – That should not need explanation.
• Be fit, look the part.
• Learn the culture of the sport(s) you are working with ASAP. Do your homework.
• Be the first to arrive and the last to learn – Earn your stripes.
• Never let anyone outwork you. Forget what you are being paid get the job done.
• Do the grunt work, in fact volunteer for it.
• If you are working with athletes that don’t speak English learn the language, it will open doors for you.
• File the theoretical peer reviewed stuff you learned in class. You are in the real world now, on the job it is about producing results, make the athletes better.
• Maintain professional distance from your athletes you are not their friend you are their coach.
• Rome wasn’t built in a day learn patience it takes time.
• Coaching is a profession – Never lose sight of that.
• The head coach is the boss. Be loyal and respectful.
• Never forget coaching is not about sets and reps or X’s and O’s it is about people.
• If you want respect then show respect.
• When it is all said and done be sure that you have had as many experiences as possible not one experience many times.