By:Mouse
From:Bremen, Georgia
Posted: December 16, 2010
Still quoting Jimmy V after 28 years of Coaching."
My first job as a football coach was in 1983 at Lees-McRae Jr. College in Banner Elk, NC. To stay I was young and inexperienced would be a gross understatement. I was also ignorant of the passion and zeal for basketball in North Carolina. After my first season ended, I started to enjoy watching all the games and getting fired up with all the fans of the different teams from the college.
In the spring at our chapel service, I was told that Jimmy Valvano from National Champion N.C. State would be speaking. I've never been so impressed with a coach speaking or listened so intently. He was funny, serious, and encouraging all at the same time. I got to listen and laugh at the same stories that the whole nation was captivated by.
At one point during his talk, he chastised some students who were not listening or being respectful. Coach V said, "I'm not that important, but what I'm saying is and you need to hear it!" This young coach couldn't wait to use that line on my players!
Later, he spoke about "hard work" and goals. To this day, 28 years later and still coaching football, I use what I heard that spring in 1984. Jimmy V said, "hard work won't guarantee success, but if you don't work hard, I promise you won't be successful!" That quote is in the Leadership Notebook that I use with my football players each fall. I tell them who said it and how much hearing Jimmy Valvano meant to me in my career.
I think of that day years ago and the start of my coaching journey. I've learned so much from so many, but a basketball coach from North Carolina is never far from my mind.
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