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Jack Welch
I often get asked what it takes to turn a team around, especially if a program has lost for many years. I do not think anyone can say exactly what to do. I do think there are some important things needed for success to become prevalent in a downtrodden program.
College programs can be turned around pretty fast because of the recruiting process. High school programs are different. High school coaches cannot recruit. Consequently, turning around these programs takes different strategies.
Deion Sanders has been praised for the quick turnaround at the University of Colorado. He knows in college it is both coaches and players affecting the outcome. What did Sanders do? He brought in a totally different coaching staff and cleaned house with the players.
Sanders said that it was more than coaches that needed to be changed. It takes talent to win at a high level and he wanted to bring in more talent than the roster currently had. So, he told current players to sign up for the transfer portal. This opened spots for him to handpick transfer players to join the Buffaloes. More than 50 players left the Colorado team making way for transfers.
High school coaches take the talent they have and begin building. There are many variables to shaping a high school team. Culture, training, quality instruction, and motivation are some key ingredients.
There is also a difference in turning a program around and having a winning team though. Teams can win on the scoreboard if talent is available. Turning a program around requires many other variables. When a program has been turned around, it will be like a well-oiled machine.
It might take several years before a college or high school program is built. As far as winning on the scoreboard, if the right talent of players is available, it could be immediate. When coaches are trying to shape a program, they need to treat players with dignity. Players will run through a brick wall for a coach when coaches care about them as a person. Coaches only caring about themselves and scoreboard winning will never fully gain a players trust and loyalty.
A team’s culture will resemble their coaches’ attitudes and actions. Dedicated, caring, and intelligent coaches lead players to heights they have never been before. So, how a team performs and appears is a reflection of their leadership (coaches).
Have you ever heard the saying birds of a feather flock together? This reminds me of the eagle. Pigeons can not fly with eagles. They fly at a lower altitude. The same happens with dedicated coaches and players. All affiliated in the program will eventually get to the level of their leadership. The height will tell you all you need to know.
Collegial, collaborative, and a sense of professionalism sets the culture of a program. When coaches are proficient and properly prepared, everyone senses their intensity and excellence. This is how winning programs are built.
Thought for the week, “A leader’s most important role is to set the culture of their organization.” — Tracy Welch
Dr. Jack Welch is an educator and college football coach. His doctorate is in educational administration, and he has been an educator, administrator, and football coach, mentoring young minds, for over 40 years. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching. He can be reached at jackwelch1975@gmail.com.