Coach Prime
The entire sports world is talking about Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders and rightfully so. Like many others I am mesmerized by Coach Prime’s motivational techniques, teambuilding philosophies, and ability to build a winning culture.
For a deeper dive into the leadership abilities of Coach Prime, read “I’m Coming” and 25 Lessons on Creating A Winning Culture and 12 Things Leaders Must Demand From Their Teams To Be Successful.
All of these skills were on full display when Coach Prime delivered his pregame speech prior to the team’s 45-42 victory this past weekend against TCU.
Below is a video of the speech followed by a full transcript and eight leadership lessons I gleaned from Coach Prime’s address. Whenever Coach Prime speaks, I’m waiting for someone to break out the pipe organ! Watch the video below and see what I mean.
Coach Prime’s pregame speech yesterday was part church, part election stump speech and all make-you-run-through-a-wall hype #DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/YtePzNUAvq
— Langston Wertz Jr. (@langstonwertzjr) September 3, 2023
Full Transcript
“Usually God gives me a word long before this. But He’s been holding it. Because it’s not about them. This is about us. This has nothing to do with the team that’s opposing us. This is about us.
This ain’t got nothing to do with the naysayers, the unbelievers, the haters, the doubters. This is about us.
When we started this journey we told you it was going to be trying. It was going to be tough. But you endured. Because it’s about us.
That man next to you is a miracle. That man next to you is a believer. That man next to you is a go-getter. That man next to you is a dawg. That man next to you is someone who wants this thing. That man next to you is someone who believes. That man next to you is someone who’s got to have it TODAY!!!
We ain’t got tomorrow, we got now. We ain’t got next, we got now. We ain’t comin’ no mo, (we’re here!!!).
GIVE ME MY THEME MUSIC!!!”
8 Leadership Lessons
The following are eight leadership lessons I gleaned from Coach Prime’s speech. First is the principle followed by Sanders’s quote:
- Coach Prime Leads From A Biblical Worldview – “Usually God gives me a word long before this. But He’s been holding it.”
- Winning Teams Focus More On Their Own Performance Rather Than What The Competition Does – “Because it’s not about them. This is about us. This has nothing to do with the team that’s opposing us. This is about us.”
- Successful Leaders Rise Above The Noise And Control What Only They Can Control – “This ain’t got nothing to do with the naysayers, the unbelievers, the haters, the doubters. This is about us.”
- Courageous Leaders Call People To Sacrifice – “When we started this journey we told you it was going to be trying. It was going to be tough.”
- Successful Leaders Are Willing To Pay A Price Others Are Unwilling To Pay – “But you endured. Because it’s about us.”
- Great Communicators Build People Up And Bring Out The Best In Them – “That man next to you is a miracle. That man next to you is a believer. That man next to you is a go-getter. That man next to you is a dawg. That man next to you is someone who wants this thing. That man next to you is someone who believes. That man next to you is someone who’s got to have it TODAY!!!”
- Winning Teams Have A Sense Of Urgency – “We ain’t got tomorrow, we got now. We ain’t got next, we got now. We ain’t comin’ no mo, (we’re here!!!).”
- The First Responsibility Of Leadership Is Culture Building – “GIVE ME MY THEME MUSIC!!!”
What is one thing you learned from Coach Prime which can help you better create a winning culture?
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