Dave Leitao Notes from the NABC Convention
Advice from John Thompson as a young coach at the Final Four in 1985:
Come to these conventions, clinics, etc. to get better. Too many young coaches come to drink, stay out late and sleep in as long as they can. They are missing a great opportunity to become a better coach.
Building Your Profile
How do you go from being anonymous to being known for what you do?
Most important thing you can do: BUILD and PROTECT your REPUTATION. Don’t let competition bring out the worst in you and never sacrifice ethics to get ahead.
Be VISIBLE and TIRELESS On your free days - go to other coaches’ practices or other teams’ games. Look for events you can attend to meet and talk with other coaches. This shows your work ethic and desire to learn the game.
Keep track of important people you need or want to know or learn from. Ask yourself how you can best get to know them.
Strive to be the first one into the office and the last one out of the office. Be productive while you are there, don’t just stay in the office spinning your wheels to try and look good.
Leave No Stone Unturned Have a thirst for knowledge and look for opportunities to learn about the game. Also, when working on scouting a team, don’t just spit out the obvious. Look for EVERYTHING that could help your team gain an advantage over an opponent (even if it doesn’t get used, you should make the information available to your head coach and team)
Be Organized Set aside time during your “downtime” to get things organized, planned and caught up. (i.e. 3 hours sometime during your week dedicated to this only.)
Never say, “I’m going to work.” This is not a job. As soon as you start feeling like it is, go get a real job that pays more money.
Relationships are CRITICAL They open doors you would never imagine them opening (Leitao knew the
Don’t take your family for granted. These are the most important relationships you have
Your Staff My best friends. I spend more time with them than I do my family in most cases.
Your Players My players are “My Guys”. I love them, I know them, and consider them close friends.
Your Players’ Families They are investing in you and trusting their son with you. Cultivate these relationships.
Administrators and other Coaches at your school Decision makers – help them learn what you are about. Other coaches at your school – Share ideas and resources Assistant AD – Usually has a good feel for the big picture and understands how and when to take things to your AD
Other Basketball Coaches Create relationships with other coaches. Pick up the phone and extend yourself to them. Offer to share ideas and information or to help them if they ever need it.
*Don’t bad mouth colleagues. It comes back full circle.
Try to think a position ahead (talk, dress, act, etc.) Observe the actions, etc. of someone in a position you desire. Study how they do what they do.
Volunteer your time to help others (Pay It Forward) Speak to groups whenever you have a chance. This helps you become more well spoken and confident. Lets people get to know what you are about.
Understand that there is much more to coaching than putting a whistle around your neck and telling someone where to go on a screen.
Make your Boss look good. Your goal as an assistant should be to make your head coach look good. This is how you will be evaluated until you ARE the head coach.
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