A Coach's Diary

“Dream forever. Dream beyond what you can even imagine because if you set your might to it, if you set your attention to it, you will attract it.” - Jameis Winston How big are your dreams? Jameis Winston is an NFL quarterback who, despite early controversy—including investigations and off-field incidents—has become an inspirational leader known for powerful interviews and soundbites. On The Pivot Podcast , he spoke about the power of prayers and dreams, and the importance of dreaming big. When asked if the NFL humbled him, he said the issue wasn’t humility—it was that he hadn’t dreamed big enough. Until his first NFL snap, Winston had always been the best player on the field. But the NFL is full of players who were all “the best,” so it humbles many. Instead of being humbled, Winston said the league showed him his dreams weren’t big enough. His humility came from realizing his prayers and dreams were too small. Winston said he prayed to make it to the NFL, but if he could do it over ag...

“Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, how you’re supposed to do it—whether you feel like it or not.” - Jimmy Johnson What if you had the discipline to make all your dreams come true and become the best version of yourself? Jimmy Johnson is a legendary football coach known for his time with the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys. Jimmy Johnson is one of the few coaches who have won a national championship in college and a Super Bowl. He has several good quotes about leadership, discipline, and mental toughness. Coach Johnson once said,  “Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a person as he could be, and he will become what he should be,” and “Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it, how you’re supposed to do it—whether you feel like it or not.” I love these two quotes together because they demonstrate the power of belief and high expectations, and provide a no-nonsense definition o...

“The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it’s difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it’s possible.” - Althea Gibson When things go wrong, do you focus on blame and what’s wrong, or do you focus on solutions and what can be done differently? Althea Gibson was a groundbreaking American athlete who broke racial barriers in both tennis and golf. She was the first Black player to win a Grand Slam tennis title, paving the way for future legends like Serena Williams and Venus Williams. She once said, “The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it’s difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it’s possible.” What does this mean? Losers have a victim’s mindset that focuses on the w...

“I’d rather have more heart than talent. You can’t measure heart.” - Allen Iverson Would you rather have more heart or more talent? In an ideal world, I would have a lot of both, but heart can take you a lot further than talent alone, especially over time. Talent may give someone a head start, but heart keeps you in the race when it gets hard. Heart shows up in effort, attitude, resilience, and the willingness to grow. It pushes people to train longer, show up earlier, bounce back after setbacks, and do the small things others overlook. Allen Iverson was a Hall of Fame basketball player, known for being a small giant in a big man’s game. He once said, “I’d rather have more heart than talent. You can’t measure heart.” Grit, determination, and passion matter more than natural ability in the long run. Allen Iverson is saying that while talent is valuable, it’s heart—the internal drive to compete, push through pain, and never give up—that truly defines a player. Talent can be seen in stats...

“Let’s do the things we’re going to talk about—let’s not talk about the things we are going to do.” - Richelieu Dennis Are you someone who talks a big game but doesn’t back it up? Follow through matters more than talk. Don’t just say what you plan to do—go out and do it. Richelieu Dennis is a Liberian‑born entrepreneur, philanthropist, and media investor best known for co‑founding Sundial Brands, a trailblazing natural hair and skincare company.  He once said, “Let’s do the things we’re going to talk about—let’s not talk about the things we are going to do.” The world is full of people who don’t know how to let their actions speak and who waste time talking about what they might do instead of doing what they said they would do. Be someone who takes action.  I used to be a big wrestling fan, and I loved The Rock. Before he would do his signature move, The People’s Elbow, The Rock would hit his opponent with The Rock Bottom, then, he would dramatically pull off his elbow pad and...

“It isn’t hard to be good from time to time in sports. What’s tough is being good every day.” - Willie Mays Are you someone who shows up and performs every day, or do you show up and perform only when you feel like it? I’m in the airport ready to fly home from our final AAU tournament of the season—I just finished another season as the head coach of a NIKE EYBL basketball team. I believe this is the toughest, most competitive league in the country. Four times a season, you have to play a 5 or 6 game schedule against some of the toughest teams and players in the country. We tell our athletes to be the best, you have to be able to put together great weekends, not just a great game. Then you have to be able to put together a great season, not just one great weekend. You have to be consistently great if you want to be the best. Willie Mays was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He once said, “It isn’t hard to be good from time to time in sports. What’s tough is being go...

“My message always is: No matter where you are from, no matter what past you have, it is all about your future and your goals.” - Shelley-Ann Frazier-Pryce Do you focus more on your past and what has happened to you—or your future and what could happen? The nature vs. nurture debate has been around for years in psychology, biology, and education. At its core, it asks this question: What shapes who we are—our genetics or our environment? Nature suggests that much of who we are is built into our biology and inherited traits. Nurture says our experiences, culture, upbringing, and relationships shape our identity. Which one do you believe has the biggest impact on who you are? Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce, a Jamaican sprinting legend, once said: “No matter where you are from, no matter what past you have, it is all about your future and your goals.” Whether you believe in nature or nurture—or both—you still have the power to shape tomorrow. Yes, your past matters. Where you’re from, your...

  “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” - Pat Riley Do you know what excellence is or means? Excellence is the commitment to consistently doing your best—and then finding ways to raise that standard over time. It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about being better than others. It’s about being better than you were yesterday. Pat Riley is one of the most respected and successful figures in basketball history—known not only for his championships, but also for his leadership, culture-building, and fierce competitive mindset. He once said, “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” Excellence isn’t a one-time act or a sudden breakthrough—it’s a long-term byproduct of consistently choosing to improve. You don’t wake up excellent—you become excellent. It’s not about perfection or talent—it’s about the daily mindset of asking, “How can I be a little better today?”  Every small choice to work harder, refine a skill, or lear...

  “Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, the way it’s supposed to be done, when it’s supposed to be done.” - Nick Saban Do you have the discipline to do the things you don’t want to do and avoid the things you do want to do? Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, the way it’s supposed to be done, when it’s supposed to be done. When asked what his secret was for winning 7 national championships, legendary football Coach Nick Saban said, “People have goals and aspirations to do things, and you have to help them define what they need to do to accomplish those goals and how they have to edit their behavior to be able to do it. And then, show them that they have to have the discipline to execute it every day, which is probably the hardest part.” He then says we make hundreds of decisions every day that come down to 2 questions: Are you willing and able to do what you know you are supposed to do — especially when you don’t want to do it, and are you willing and able to...

“I’ve learned that when you push yourself in uncomfortable states for long enough, they become comfortable.” - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  When things get uncomfortable, do you lean in and keep going, or do you quit? I really don’t like running — especially running miles — but my college coach loved them. At least once a week, we ran timed miles, with sprint work on the other days. I hated it. I wasn’t fast, and I couldn’t run long, so I was miserable. It hurt, and I couldn’t keep up with a lot of my teammates. But then something happened: I got faster. I could run longer. After a month of sticking with it, the workouts started to feel easier. Well, not easy — but easier. That’s when I learned something valuable: if you lean in and keep showing up, discomfort becomes strength. When you stick with it and push through, you grow, and what once felt impossible starts to feel possible. Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone is a US track and field superstar, widely regarded as the greatest female 400...

“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve got to be confident when you’re competing. You’ve got to be a confident player. That comes from preparation.” - Peyton Manning  How do you handle pressure? Do you thrive in it, or do you melt in it? When I was growing up, coaches would say, “Pressure can bust pipes or make diamonds.” How you respond to it can either break you or bring out the best in you. Under too much stress, some people get overwhelmed, panic, shut down, or fall apart. Others grow stronger, sharper, and more focused, and rise to the challenge. Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He said, “Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ve got to be confident when you’re competing. You’ve got to be a confident player. That comes from preparation.” The times when I feel more confident are the times when I’m most prepared, so prepare relentlessly. Know what success looks like and what you ...

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” - Natalie Coughlin Do you believe in yourself? When is it hardest for you to believe in yourself, and what helps you push through it? Natalie Coughlin is one of the most accomplished swimmers in U.S. history. She’s a twelve‑time Olympic medalist—winning 3 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals across the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Games. She once said, “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” But how? Where does that belief and confidence in yourself come from? Self-belief isn’t about arrogance. It’s about trust—trusting your preparation, your effort, your character, and your ability to grow. It comes from showing up, doing the work, learning through failure, and proving to yourself that you can keep going. Belief isn’t built in one moment. It’s built over time, through moments. Coughlin also said, “Success is not about being the best. It’s about b...