Getting The Job

Pete Carroll talks about advice he received from former North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano about the interview process.

Coach Valvano told me that my goal should be to walk out of the interview with 'no negatives.'  Every comment, phrase, or story must be positive, and I had to be prepared to talk only about things that put me in the best light.  No matter what the topic, it was my job to turn every answer into a response that highlighted my strong points.  Like his point, who controlled the court, or my middle linebacker, who controlled our defense, I had to control the interview.  He taught me that if they asked a question that I couldn't answer, then I shouldn't answer it but instead find a way to turn the question to something I could talk about comfortably, positively, and honestly.  He explained the importance of being disciplined in that setting and avoiding any and all negative thoughts.  If I spoke with positivity and confidence, it would be evident that I believed in myself, and that belief was what the interviewer would be looking for.  Coach Valvano's advice, like so much else in life, came down to practice: The bottom line was that if I was to control the interview, I would have to be prepared on so many levels that I could speak about a variety of subjects with conviction and strength no matter which way the conversation went.

As Mike asked me questions, I didn't always respond in a way that answered the question directly, but I responded in a way that conveyed every ounce of my vision and philosophy.  

When it came time for me to present my vision and plan, I stated my intentions in the clearest and boldest way that I could think of.

"Mike, our goal is simple: to do things better than they have ever been done before."

After He Got The Job:
Because I was personally so clear about the direction of USC football and really feeling confident in the style and philosophy I intended to bring to the program, I actually couldn't wait for the press conference to begin, even though I knew the stakes were incredibly high.  I just laid out my philosophy for the program for all the world to hear.  I told the assembled press, "Talk is cheap right now - we have to get to work.  My teams are going to play hard, they're going to play with enthusiasm, they're going to play with great intensity." 

http://www.amazon.com/Win-Forever-Live-Work-Champion/dp/1591844169
Carroll, Pete.  (2011).  Win Forever.  New York: The Penguin Group.