Dan Hurley: What is This Really About?

Why do you coach? How do you define success?

Dan Hurley is one of the best college basketball coaches in the country, having led UConn to 2 straight national championships. But he is also know for a level of intensity that has cost his team games.

In an early season tournament, Coach Hurley received a tech in a tie game that was in overtime, and his team lost because of it.

After the game, legendary women's coach Geno Auriemma said to him, "If the only outcome that makes you a successful coach [...] is whether or not you hang up the national championship banner, then you should get out immediately."

The message didn't resonate at first, so Coach Hurley said Geno followed him around practice and barked statements at him like:

- The joy of your relationships with your players.

- The joy of getting the most out of your team.

Geno then said, "If you're only it it for the championship pursuit and none of that other stuff means anything to you anymore and it's just banners and rings, then you should get out because it ain't going to happen every year."

Hearing this said two things to me:

1 - We all need good thinking partners and mentors to give us feedback and hold us accountable.

2 - You CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

Life is a learning game. Learn what really matters to you, and learn how to get better at what really matters to you. If we keep learning and growing and don't quit, we eventually become leaders who teach the next generation.

But remember why we do this: Build relationships, teach the game, teach life lessons, and win. Don't forget the first three in pursuit of the final one.

Question of the Day: What really matters to you?