Leadership Qualities and Characteristics of Successful Basketball Coaches

Leadership in Sports Smehra

Leadership Qualities and Characteristics of Successful Basketball Coaches

Vince Lombardi once said, "Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing -- the result" (Website, 2004). Lombardi is still considered the epitome of the over-achieving coach who wanted nothing but results, and got them through pure grit and determination. In 1958, he started coaching the Packers when they were a 1-10 record team, and within a year, had turned them into the record breaking, double Super Bowl winning team that has become a legacy in NFL achievements.

Lombardi is just one example of a successful sport coach, still he is a common example given in many leadership seminars, and often quoted by coaches as they determine their own successful leadership styles and systems of coaching. So, what is it that makes a coach successful, and what particular characteristics do these coaches have in common?

My research will outline these characteristics, traits and coaching techniques of successful basketball coaches and compare them to those that are less successful. I believe that there is a common correlation between successful coaches and their characteristics. In contrast, my study will also show that there is a common correlation between unsuccessful coaches and their coaching styles. I firmly believe that the effectiveness of a leader in the field of basketball coaching relies heavily on the individual's ability to be a respected leader and a dynamic communicator between his staff and his players.

Outline

Introduction

Research Problem Statement

What is the correlation between successful coaches, and what makes them successful? What are the leadership qualities and characteristics of these coaches?

Introduction Paragraph

There have been many books written on leadership and the keys to being a successful leader. Unfortunately in the sporting arena, leadership and success are not so cut and dry, rather they are dictated not only by the individual but by the team. It has been said, by a sporting giant in the coaching world that "You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second" (Lombardi, 2004). It is this nature of 'loving what you do and doing what you love' that can be considered a key-aspect of any success story, but in the world of basketball coaches, it is perhaps an aspect of the game that sometimes goes unnoticed. Amidst the swirl of money issues, steroid use and sex-scandals, there is the undying dream to play, and to win. In order for a coach to be successful, they have to harness that dream and bring their players together as a team with one goal, and one purpose - to win.

c. A successful coach is a leader for his team, and a competent worker and communicator. He spends many hours of his day studying up on his sport, and the methods that are being used by other teams. This study contributes to his coaching methods and creation of plays. He is there for his players, as a coach and on a personal level, because a successful coach knows that players are people, and their lives can have an affect on how they perform within the team dynamic. He is aware of all his players' strengths and weaknesses, and furthermore, is aware of his opponents' too.