Extra Is Included

I recently had a student-athlete visit my office with a particularly difficult problem. After a lengthy conversation we came up with a solution. We both agreed it was the best way to proceed.

However she still hesitated...

She said "I'm not sure because I don't want you to have to do extra for me..." My reply was "extra is included." I explained to her that we do extra at some point for pretty much every member of the team.

It occurred to me after speaking with this student-athlete that the "extra" is what make makes coaching special. It is what give the job purpose.

The job is simple. Win. I don't care what romantic spin about "student-athlete experience" or "graduating your student-athletes" is thrown out there, the job of a coach is to win. I'll believe otherwise the first time a coach ISN'T fired in his/her third year who other than winning is doing everything right.

That reality of our job is driven home on a daily basis on ESPN. It was also made clear to me earlier this month at the NSCAA convention when all of the Region Coach of The Year's were honored. I attended the ceremony because one of my former assistant coaches Jenni Rosenberg was the NAIA West Region COY for her fantastic season at Southern Oregon University.

Each recognition was pretty much the same...

"Coach X had a record of 20-1-1 and led her team to the NCAA Elite 8." Nothing else was mentioned about any coach other than their record and how they did in the post-season.

While I'm sure there are some coaches that are motivated solely by their win-loss record, to last in this profession and truly be fulfilled I think you need a greater purpose.

I love the way Brett Ledbetter outlined it in his book What Drives Winning.

Job = Win Games

Purpose = Develop People

Ultimate fulfillment in coaching is found in the "extra." Helping your student-athletes graduate, being a mentor, assisting them through difficult times, being willing to put the person before the player, telling them what they need to hear, having those difficult conversations and developing the person are all the extras that make coaching a great profession.