By Bruce Brown
(January 3, 2025)
To leave an impact as a coach is a deliberate act. You can’t wait for the right people, the right time, or the right circumstances to begin, you start where you are, welcome your athletes where they are, and then take them to who they can become. If you are proactive and intentional, coaching for significance is not a happenstance. To coach for significance is a focused effort to serve others and measure your success by giving and thinking beyond yourself. The following excerpts from the two books Coaching for Significance: Through the Eyes of Their Players and Assistant Coaches highlight four examples of coaching for significance.
The Coach: Pat Summitt
Coach Summitt led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball program for 38 seasons, winning eight NCAA National Championships and 1,098 games. She was named the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000. Learn more about Pat Summitt
Former Assistant Coach Dean Lockwood on her Leadership Style
“Another strength was her humility. When I walked through the door to join her staff in 2004, she was already so accomplished, at the top of her field, best in the country, and had won more national championships than any other program in the country. She was genuinely humble. Her authenticity was something you can’t fake. She treated everyone with so much respect and would include everyone. The person who cleaned the arena was as important as the president of the university to her. Her home was always open and she loved to cook. She was being interviewed by announcer Doris Burke one day after practice and invited her over for dinner. Doris said thank you but she had a whole crew that she was going to take to dinner. Pat said, ‘How many are there?’ And when she found out there were six, her response was, ‘Well, that is not many, bring them over to the house.’ She treated everyone like family. Her humility and grace could not be faked. She did not like being the center of attention, it was never about her. When she was just about to break the all-time win record, she was being interviewed for the umpteenth time. She was gracious as always but when she finished, she walked by me and said, ‘Dean, I am so over me right now. I am so tired of hearing about me.’ That was Pat.”
The Coach: Dick Vermeil
Coach Vermeil led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 1999. Known for his ability to turn around programs, Vermeil spent 15 seasons as an NFL head coach leading the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis Rams to playoff appearance in this third season with each team. Coach Vermeil was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Learn more about Dick Vermeil.
Former Player: Kurt Warner on Coach Vermeil’s Coaching Style
“It was so easy to lay everything on the line for Coach Vermeil. We were never afraid to play, compete, or lose because our coach wasn’t going to stop loving us. He wanted to win as much as anyone I have ever met but there was nothing that was going to happen on the football field that was going to affect our relationship with him. That feeling freed us up to go out and compete as hard as possible. We knew at the end of the day our relationships were bigger than winning and losing. Knowing how much Coach cared for me allowed us to not worry about the ramifications of mistakes. He was one of those guys who understood the nuances of the game and that it wasn’t ever going to be perfect. We all felt accountable for our best effort and preparation, but we were never threatened by his coaching style. Never once did I ever consider what might happen from Coach’s perspective if I made a mistake – it was never part of the process with him. That allowed us to be free and fearless and that led to more success. Fearlessness is always a reflection of leadership. He always wanted to win and to play as well as possible, but he also understood that there were going to be mistakes and he coached that freedom.”
The Coach: Heather Tarr
Coach Tarr is currently the head women’s softball coach at the University of Washington. Tarr has led the Huskies to eight Women’s College World Series trips in 21 seasons, including the 2009 NCAA National Championship. Her 820 wins are the most by any coach in any sport at the University of Washington. Learn more about Heather Tarr.
Former player, Taylor Smith, on what Coach Tarr does that any coach could do:
“Very few people have her personality and presence but there are some things that any coach who cares could take from her and do better. She is very open-minded and a great listener. She listens with focus and intent to really hear what you are saying. She has been a very successful coach, but she is always learning and innovative. So many successful people get stuck in their ways, not Coach Tarr, she is constantly evolving. I think she does that better than anyone else I know. She is not afraid to be different, to try something new. Even if it doesn’t work, that doesn’t matter, the point is you’ve got to try. Being a successful coach you have to be positive and encouraging. That doesn’t mean you’ve got to be a cheerleader all the time, but you can show up every day with a presence about you regardless of what is going on in your life or in the world and be completely focused. That is one of the things she taught and modeled for us. The upper campus and the athletic village are separated by a bridge, and she took us all to the bridge and talked about when you cross the bridge going this way, you are completely focused on being an athlete and teammate when you cross the bridge the other way you are completely focused on being a student. She has shown us how to focus in each part of your life and leave things behind and be present. Every coach can have a growth mindset like she does. The best are constantly challenging themselves. She has a way of being sincerely positive to the point where she can really challenge you while encouraging you at the time. She made each player feel like they were constantly growing and getting better.”
The Coach: Tim Corbin
Coach Corbin is currently the head baseball coach at Vanderbilt University. In 22 seasons, Corbin has won 883 games and led the Commodores to two NCAA National Championships in 2014 and 2019. The American Baseball Coaches Association inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2020. Learn more about Tim Corbin.
Former player and assistant coach David Macias on why Vanderbilt wins:
“I believe that our classroom is another reason we win. There is a lot of time spent training minds, and the way he does it gives our players a lot of confidence. They know that they have a group of teammates and coaches who are going to take care of them. They also learn to have a new way to think about life. When you add that kind of daily training to highly talented and highly motivated players, that is a good combination. There were high expectations, and there was always a heightened sense of urgency in the classroom. But it was also a safe place for our players. It was safe to express your opinions. It was safe to take risks and to demonstrate emotions. There aren’t many places in a young man’s life where they feel that safe.”
To acquire a copy of the two books, visit Proactive Coaching
Coaching for Significance: Through the Eyes of Their Players and Assistant Coaches (Dick Vermeil and Pat Summitt)
Coaching for Significance: Through the Eyes of Their Players and Assistant Coaches (Heather Tarr and Tim Corbin)
