One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis, be it from an athlete, coach, fan or journalist, is “how is it coaching your wife?” Depending on who is asking, the question might be a preamble into marriage counseling, a validation of their skepticism, or a thinly veiled gauge of my sanity. The one consistent is my answer: it is not simple.
Growing up just outside of Chicago in the 90’s meant professional “sports” and “team” were synonymous. We had the Bulls, Cubs, Bears and Blackhawks. The Bulls had one of, if not the, most iconic athlete of a generation in Michael Jordan. But what cemented Jordan as the greatest of all-time was not only the individual accolades, it was the six team championships he helped the Chicago Bulls win. Track and field athletes also begin with a team mindset. Think back to tripling at your high school conference meet to help your team get more points. Then, somewhere around college we see that track’s mindset change from “team” to “me”.
