56 Years of School

In September of 1957 when I went to Mrs. North’s kindergarten class at Avenue School, I had no idea what I was getting into. This year is my 56^th straight year of going to school. I have not taken a year off- I went right from Knox College to Galesburg High School.

I have LOTS of great memories from 1957 to 2012. If you asked me my favorite years, I would give you one answer today, and another answer tomorrow- I have had a lot of favorites.

Schools are places you go to learn. It doesn’t matter if you are a student or you are a teacher- it continues to be a great place to learn. So in the past 55 years, what have I learned? I feel there are five very important lessons I have learned from my experiences and from observing successful and unsuccessful students.

Kevin Eastman- Working w the Best

WORKING WITH “THE BEST”  Lessons from the Olympians I've been very fortunate in my career to work with, talk to, and help improve some of the best players in the game.  As I look at our 2012 Olympic team, I remember working with Kevin Durant when he was a sophomore in high school; with Lebron James as he was entering the draft after his senior year in high school; and with Kevin Love, Chris Paulm and Andre Iguodala as well.  Then there are former Olympic players not on the 2012 team, including Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. More than what I may have taught them, I think about what they have taught me while I had the opportunity to be around them and observe them in action. From my observations, this much I know -- “The Best” will: outwork others be more disciplined than others have greater drive than others be much more competitive than others do things that others think aren't important do the unrequired extra work always want to know what they can do to get better want to be coached, want to be driven, and want to learn more These are just some of the characteristics of “The Best" -- all things your players need to recognize in this elite group.  And for all our corporate friends, I think this list is worth thinking about as well. We all can grow and improve if we strive to do these things to the level that “The Best” are willing to do them! Enjoy watching these special players as they once again strive to bring that Gold Medal to the United States!  We are fortunate to have them representing us!

Kevin Eastman- Characteristics of Successful Coaches

The following is a short essay by Boston Celtic ass't coach, Kevin Eastman. While he is describing characteristics of successful coaches, I would argue it is really about successful people. 5 Characteristics of Successful Coaches A good friend who is an excellent high school coach asked me, "What are the five most important characteristics someone needs to be a success in this business?"  Needless to say, that sent my mind in motion, as I'm always curious about what makes people successful in their fields.  In fact, much of my reading revolves around this topic. I came up with different sets of 5's each time I thought about this, though several consistently made the list.  One or more are characteristics that I think may be overlooked. 1.  Respect I believe that the greater respect the coach commands, the easier it is to ensure buy-in from his or her players.  And the more often you can get your team to buy in, the more you're going to see them do what you want them to do.  I've always tried to gain respect by outworking others in the business and trying to learn as much as I can at the place and position I'm in.  Work ethic and this continuing search for knowledge have been keys to my ability to gain respect. 2. Relationships  I believe relationships are the foundation for success in any field.  As a coach, you need to get to know your team, get to know about your team, talk to your players in good times and bad, let your players know you care about them, and develop a trust with your players. 3.  Curiosity  It seems to me that the most successful people in any business have an insatiable intellectual curiosity about their field.  They talk to the best in the business, they read about others, they listen to CDs and DVDs, they want to know what the best are doing and how it can relate to them and their programs, and they are curious to know what you know and how it can fit in to enhace their program or business. 4.  Ability to motivate  Motivation is an aspect of coaching that requires coaches to constantly "read" what's needed for their team and any given player on a daily basis.  It also requires a great deal of thought and study in order to find new ways to accomplish these tasks.  Find out what makes a player tick and then create ways to motivate him to get the most out of him each day.  And be able to recognize when it's a new day that needs a new motivator -- even for the same player who responded yesterday! 5.  Choosing the right job  Make sure you know all you can about a job before taking it.  I've often said that you have to find out if the expectations of the job exceed the reality of the job.  Don't jump at a job that sounds good (to you or to others) or has a certain perceived prestige without learning all you can about the expectations and, frankly, why the job is available.  This process takes significant soul searching, but it's extremely important.  No one can be successful at a place that doesn't have or can't create an environment to succeed.  Remember, too, that the place may be great, and you might even seem to be a good fit, but because of the timing, you need to pass it by.

Stretching Ourselves

I believe sports can allow an athlete to realize they are capable of more than they have imagined. An athlete can on the athletic field do something individually or as part of a team which shocks them. Obviously such an achievement is exciting. But the real value of doing something like this in athletics is if it provides a lesson to use in other, more important areas of life. Maybe these kinds of experiences allow an athlete who is planning on college to set a higher and more challenging goal in their studies. Maybe they realize they can set higher career goals.

The following short essay by author Jon Gordon, deals with this topic--

Great Summer

We had a great summer of basketball. We had over 40 high girls involved in our summer basketball programs. We had a lot of girls improve their skills and get better this summer.

Ally Auriemma Tribute to Pat Summit

You are aware of the conflict between Tennessee and UConn in women's basketball. This is an wonderful tribute to Pat Summit written by the Ally Auriemma, the daughter of Coach Auriemma.

A Tribute to Pat Summitt. (Yes. Seriously.)

Note: I have never told this story outside of my family.  It seems appropriate, given that Coach Summitt received the Arthur Ashe award for Courage at this past weeks' ESPY awards.  It's also appropriate because this year is the 40th anniversary of Title IX, something I will be discussing in another post.

When I was eleven years old, Pat Summitt called me.

I don't mean she called my house looking for Dad, or called home by mistake in search of an office phone.  No.  This was a deliberate phone call, by Pat Summitt, looking for me. "Hello, Alysa, this is Pat Summitt from Tennessee."  Verbatim.

I was eleven.  We had just started our rivalry with Tennessee.  To say I was terrified of Pat Summitt is understating the point.  She is an icon of the sport.  She's naturally terrifying because of her intensity, her drive, her winning history...it's PAT SUMMITT.  I mean, cripes!

Kevin Garnett's Demand

Kevin Eastman, Boston Celtic assistant coach told an interesting story about Kevin Garnett. 

When a player is traded in the NBA, when he first meets with his new head coach, there are some horror stories of players who immediately issue selfish demands to their new head coach. "I expect you to get me 15 shots per game." "I need to play 35 minutes per game but don't play me over 40 minutes per game." You get it, selfish demands.

Pictures from ND

Coach Rux coached vs. former NFL QB, Gary Hogeboom.
More recently Hogeboom was on Survivors, which
Coach Rux and he talked about. 

Register-Mail- Summer Programs

At this point, no rosters are set in stone, but summer activities -— camp and league — for the possible members of the Galesburg High School freshmen, sophomore and varsity girls basketball teams began last week in preparation for the upcoming season.

Girls who will be in the second grade through the junior high level have also been participating in a summer camp with just the junior high level players also playing in a summer league.

The camps end today, but the leagues, which mostly take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, run through July 6.

On the varsity level, two freshmen, two sophomores, four juniors and six seniors have been taking part in the activities.

Lou Henson & Sarah Main

Lou Henson was in Galesburg and ate at the Landmark. And guess who was working at the Landmark?

I actually had lunch in the same diner Lou was having lunch in the 1980's. We were in Mt. Carroll and Lou was at a table across the room. I believe he had some family connections or early career experiences in Milledgeville.

If I had been at the Landmark today, I would have just shouted out- "Bo Knows Basketball!!" And Sarah would have been embarrassed about me like always.

Jay Redfern's story on the visit----

http://www.galesburg.com/blogs/jay_talking/x465793075/Jay-Talking-Weekend-in-the-Burg-what-did-Lou-do

Training Camp

This month I had the opportunity to read Jon Gordon's book- Training Camp. I was encouraged to read it after finding out it was required reading for the players and the coaches of the Philadelphia 76er's. The Boston Celtics required their players to read another Gordon book- The Energy Bus.

Gordon's books are interesting reads for athletes, leaders, and business people. He delivers his message through a fiction story. So you have the motivational messages unfold within the story lines. In Training Camp, Gordon talks about 11 traits of the "best of the best." 

William Allen- Memorial Day

Plaques at entrance of GHS.
Plaque at entrance to Galesburg High School
dedicated to the 64 faculty and students
killed in World War II. 

There is a plaque near the entrance to Galesburg High School to honor students and faculty who have died in service of our country. On the plaque honoring WWII dead, there are 63 GHS students named and 1 GHS faculty member named who all died in WWII.

It is hard to put the magnitude of this loss in perspective. From the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until VJ Day on September 2, 1945, the United States was at war for 45 months. That means in Galesburg from 1941 thru 1945, there was a funeral for a GHS student or faculty member roughly every 21 days. The War effected individuals, families, and obviously communities.

Title IX Complaint at Macomb

A parent of a Macomb HS female athlete has filed a Title IX complaint, with specific focus on fact they have the girls sports use a second gym which the mother considers inferior.

It will be interesting to see the results of this, as many of you are aware, Rocky and Quincy still use a "secondary gym" for their girls sports also.

Macomb, Ill. —

The Macomb Board of Education responded May 15 to a Title IX inquiry alleging inequalities between boys and girls sports at Macomb Senior High School, and as a result of that inquiry, the district will begin providing girls participating in a sport practice at Washington Street Gym — a facility located several miles off the high school campus — with round-trip transportation from the high school.

Coaches Have Favorites?

This is great quote from Get Recruited--

Get Recruited ‏ @NCAARecruitTips

My favorite players are the ones that work the hardest in the classroom + in the floor. = Favoritism.

Wonderful Surprise

Dan Sullivan and I reliving Milwaukee Bucks
Camp days with "Smedley."

Saturday, April 13 we were invited to party for Kyle Barshinger. Kyle was home from college and his birthday is on April 17. Amy told me to make sure to get a card for Kyle. We were going out to eat at Sully's at 6:30pm and then going to the party for Kyle at Side Trax at 7:30pm. At about 6:10pm, Amy asked if I had gotten the card- I had not. She told me to go get one. So I hurried to Walgreen's and got a card.