The following are 27 Pieces Of Leadership Gold From Dabo Swinney, Nick Saban and College Football’s Best Coaches. These quotes were captured during this last year’s college football play-offs. As you read below, this is some of the greatest leadership wisdom you will ever read.
ESPN College Gameday January 1, 2018
- Winning Teams Trust Their Preparation – “As far as the emotions and anxiety, the biggest thing you can do is make them trust what they’ve done. Trust the preparation. If they trust the preparation they can cut loose and play.” – Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart
- Great Leaders Always Point To A Brighter Tomorrow – “We’ve got 88 wins this decade so it’s the best decade in Clemson history. But I always say the best is yet to come.” – Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney
- Winning Teams Don’t Waste Failure – “If you don’t waste a failing you (will) learn from the mistakes that you made so you have a chance to improve and face the next challenge. You never want to waste a failing.” – Alabama head coach Nick Saban
- Successful Leaders Are Humble Enough To Learn From Anyone – “The guys I feel like have been the biggest mentors to me, that would be Bill Belichick… Everyone I coached for I learned a lot of lessons about not only coaching but the kind of person you want to be, the kind of leader you want to be, the kind of example you want to set, be someone that other people can emulate, care enough about someone else to teach for their benefit. All those things I learned I learned from someone else.” – Saban
- Successful Leaders Look Forward, Not Backwards – “I don’t really look at what went on in the past. I’ve never really done that as I’m always a forward-thinking operation.” – UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly
- A Leader”s Greatest Weapon Is Their Mind – “What’s most dangerous about Baker Mayfield is his mind.” – Kelly
- Great Leaders Look For Home Runs, Not Singles. They Swing For The Fences. – “When quarterbacks are special, the Russell Wilsons of the world, the Drew Breeses, when they’re scrambling they’re looking for home runs.” – Kelly
- You Can’t Put A Grade On A Competitive Nature – “That competitive nature, you can’t put a grade that competitive nature.” – Kelly on Mayfield
- Winning Teams Are Singularly Focused – “The teams that win in bowl games are the teams that are not distracted, that have one single focus.” – Kelly
- Winning Teams Are More Focused On Themselves Than Their Opponent – “Just be us… It’s not going to take anything special today. We’ve just got to be the best way can be.” – Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley
SportsCenter January 7, 2018
- Most Leaders Hate Losing More Than They Love Winning – “You feel great when you win but the losses are devastating.” – Saban
- Smart Leaders Shield Their Teams From Their Personal Disappointment – “I never like to share disappointment in the players.” – Saban
- Content Leaders Sleep Well. Disconnected Leaders Do Not Sleep Well. – “I’m just trying to get a good night’s sleep. Dreaming is not even on the agenda.” – Saban
ESPN Coverage January 8, 2018
- Smart Leaders Focus On What Is In Front Of Them – “It’s not their history or tradition we’re playing. It’s their players.” – Smart
- Culture Makes Champions – “I talk a lot throughout the year, and it’s a culture for us, is what it takes to be a champion.” – Saban
- Successful Leaders Maximize The Strengths Of Their Teams – “The expectation is to do the best job you can with every team you have. And every team is different.” – Smart
- Success Is Defined Differently Each Year – “We’re going to define success each year differently.” – Smart
- Smart Leaders Want A Life Without Regrets – “You can’t take it for granted. You don’t know when you’re next opportunity is coming… We won’t have any regrets about this game.” – Smart
- Leaders Inspire Others To A Higher Standard – “The reason I like coaching is you have an opportunity to inspire other people, other players to a higher standard.” – Saban
- “Play the game. Don’t try to win the game. Play the game… The game is bigger than all of us. Take what’s in front of you. Trust your eyes. Execute. React to what you know and trust your preparation… It’s not a national championship game. It’s a football game.” – Jimbo Fisher
- Great Leaders Recognize And Respect Other Great Leaders – “I want to go on record as saying that in all of college sports I think what Nick Saban has done at Alabama is unlike anything anyone else has ever done and it’s harder than anything anyone else has ever done… I admire them more than any other program.” – UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma
- “It’s easier to win a national championship than to keep winning it.” – Bobby Bowden
- Once Again, Winning Teams Are More Focused On Themselves Than Their Opponent – “You can’t worry about what Nick’s doing. You can only control what you’re doing.” – Fisher
- Winning Teams Have Great Belief – “You’ve got to believe. There’s not many teams who believe they can beat Alabama.” – Gus Malzahn
- Good Habits Overcome Pressure – “When pressure comes, your habits, the things you’ve done daily, come to the surface.” – Fisher
- God Is Bigger Than Any Situation You Are In – “I’m not afraid at all (of big moments). I know God’s not going to put me in any situation that’s never too big for me.” – Jake Fromm
- Win Or Lose, Successful Leaders Always Remember Their Last Game – “You always remember the last game and the last game last year was a very difficult game.” – Saban
What is one thing you learned from the quotes above which will make you a better leader?
My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.