When I coached I spent a lot of time talking about leadership with our players because I learned from experience that our success on and off the court depended on surrounding myself with young athletes who understood the role their decision making played in our prosperity.
Bobby Knight provides the best definition of leadership that I’ve encountered. And it applies to everyone in a leadership position, whether it be as head of family, business, politics or the field of athletics. Knight simplified the role of a leader by declaring, “you decide!” In the final analysis, a leader must be able to make a decision and then stick by it. And coming to that decision is not always easy.
For young leaders in athletics the decisions are not only confined to the playing field. The real leader understands their choices have an influence on the rest of the team and will impact the dynamic of a squad’s success. How do you react to disappointment? Who do you choose to hang around? How do you treat your peers? Young people face these kinds of decisions, and many more, every day.
Unfortunately, too many people make a decision based upon whether they will be liked or not. The truth is, leaders are often called upon to make a decision that is not popular and, inevitably, they will have to step on a few toes.
I recall watching a tape of Bob Knight talking to a group of college students at Indiana University when he was the coach of the Hoosiers. The students were in the college of education and they all wanted to become coaches. The auditorium was standing room only and anxious to hear from the Hall of Fame mentor. Knight began his lecture by asking two questions. When he asked, “how many of you played high school athletics?” every hand in the room went up. He then asked, “How many of you had a coach in high school you didn’t like?” Two thirds of the students raised their hands. Knight hesitated a moment for effect and then told the group, “Here’s your first lesson in coaching. We didn’t like all you little #$@&% either.” A bit crude but a point well made. He went on to explain that if being liked by everyone was important to them, they needed to find a different line of work. You’re never going please everyone, especially if you are in a leadership role.
The image of one Alpha dog athlete leading a team into competition is over-played. All great teams, at every level, are blessed with numerous leaders. I was lucky to have coached a number of very successful teams during my career and I can tell you that they were all stocked with young athletes I considered to be excellent leaders. And our leaders were not always the players who were grabbing the headlines.
Two of the most important leaders on our state championship team in 2010 were a couple of seniors who found themselves in minor playing roles. Jacob Rigali and Taylor Royster were not at the top of the regular playing rotation. As the season progressed their playing time reduced but it did not affect their attitude or enthusiasm. Keep in mind that both Rigali and Royster were outstanding football players who gained statewide recognition for their achievements and both went on to play college football. It would have been easy for both of these guys to carp about their lack of playing time and coast through the season or even drop from the squad. But they provided quality leadership and earned the respect of everyone on the team. Ask any member of that championship squad and they will tell you we would not have won the state title without the leadership those two provided.
After graduation, Taylor Royster walked on the football team at Bowling Green State University. In his second year Royster was called before the team in the locker room prior to a game. Their head coach announced to the team that he was awarding Taylor a full athletic scholarship and the room exploded with enthusiasm and support. Everyone in that locker room recognized the same qualities of leadership and class that Taylor provided for us while he was in high school. Royster is currently a valuable starter for the MAC championship Falcons.
Leadership can work its way up the ladder as well. In my final game as coach, the 2010 state championship, Jacob Rigali proved that premise. In the closing moments of the title game our opponent, Orrville, had cut a 14-point lead to just one. The game had become very physical and I was extremely unhappy with the lack of calls by the officials. As the game entered the final minute I called a time out and went after one of the officials. I left the coaching box and marched to half court venting my frustration, risking a technical foul at the most critical moment. I felt a strong tug at my elbow and when I turned around I realized it was Jacob Rigali. He looked at me and said, “Coach Seg, we need you in the huddle,” and then steered me back to the bench. Rigali’s leadership in that moment may have been as important as anything that happened on the court that day. Rigali played a year of football at the University of Dayton before transferring to The Ohio State University where he recently graduated with a degree in engineering.
Sometimes we are called to lead and sometimes we just need to follow.
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