Championship coaches

How did a boy who grew up in remote areas of Montana and North Dakota go on to become the National Basketball Association's all-time winningest coach? Phil Jackson's life story that took him from small town U.S.A. to the pinnacle of NBA coaching success is anything but conventional. Known as the Zen Master for imbuing his coaching style with the tenets of Eastern philosophy, Jackson's always employed a unique approach to basketball both on and off the court. Popularizing a system of play called the triangle offense, Jackson won multiple championships, including an unprecedented three three-peats while coaching Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers, resulting in 11 championships over 20 seasons, more than any coach in any of North America's major professional sports. This book explores Jackson's one-of-a-kind keys to Hall of Fame success that enabled him achieve uncommon triumph in an unparalleled two-decade coaching career.

Summitt. It's a fitting name for the consummate winner who played a pivotal role in putting women's hoops on the map. With her trademark glare, Pat Summitt earned a reputation as one of the game's great practitioners of tough love. Along the way, she notched more wins than any college basketball coach in NCAA history. Before leading Tennessee's Lady Vols to eight national championships, she took over the program as a 22-year-old graduate assistant, drove the team van and washed their uniforms. From these modest beginnings Summitt built a powerhouse, never enduring a losing season in 38 years and becoming a role model for young women everywhere. This biography takes students through the twists and turns in Summitt's story, culminating with her courageous final season as she faced the specter of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Her life is a lesson in fierce determination, uncompromising standards of excellence and inspirational leadership.

What's Nick Saban's secret? How did a football coach some derided as a liar, quitter, and mercenary tie the college record for most national championships in the history of the sport? This book details Saban's journey from his humble beginnings in West Virginia and abortive stint in the NFL to the pinnacle of success at Alabama. Students will learn exactly how Saban keeps his recruiting classes atop the rankings and the Crimson Tide in title contention, year after year. The sensitivity beneath Saban's stoic exterior may be surprising, but a closer look at his life reveals that it is a critical part of his psychological makeup. Embedded in his experiences are lessons of leadership useful in all walks of life, from helping very different personalities reach their fullest potential to moving on from both achievements and setbacks with the focus of a perennial winner.

Treat your readers to a fascinating biography. From his humble roots as the Chicago-born son of Polish immigrant parents, Mike Krzyzewski, known as Coach K, has become one of the most decorated coaches of all-time in both the college and professional ranks. Coach K's highly disciplined approach to the game, honed from his early years as a college point guard at Army under notorious taskmaster Bobby Knight, has propelled him to become a two-time inductee of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Not only has Coach K won five NCAA Division I men's basketball championships as the head man of the Duke University Blue Devils, he's also achieved unprecedented success on the international stage by winning three gold medals as the head coach of the United States men's national basketball team. Beloved and revered by the press, the public and his players, Coach K has spurned numerous overtures by NBA teams over the years, and remains committed to Duke in order to build on his golden legacy of greatness.

Today, top recruits know that Connecticut embodies excellence in women's basketball. But before Geno Auriemma began his unprecedented run to 11 national championships, the Huskies only brought out bleachers for the biggest games. Auriemma established a culture that would become a model for sports programs. His players learn to put their personal point totals aside and work together for wins, in the process unlocking their fullest potential as people. This two-time Olympic gold medal winner gives a great interview because he tells us what he truly believes, and he's a great coach for the same reason. His players know exactly what he expects from them, and stars do not get special treatment. He demands more from those with the most to give. This biography details the remarkable story of an immigrant who rose from poverty to become synonymous with success in sports, developing leadership principles invaluable to any team.

How is it possible that the century's most successful NFL coach conducts himself as though social media is merely a target for ridicule? While the strategies employed by this gridiron genius seemingly evolve in an eye-blink, Bill Belichick is willfully out of step with our culture. In an age of self-promotion and media manipulation, the five-time Super Bowl champion shows open disdain for reporters' microphones. Personal glory doesn't just take a backseat to team success in Foxboro; it is viewed as vanity. Scandals have convinced some that win at any cost is the New England Patriots' mantra, but it's undeniable that their leader instills a timeless set of values in his teams. This book shows students how Belichick's legacy was built on universally applicable principles of preparation, teamwork and adaptability. Love him or hate him, the Hoody has much to teach us.