Coaching Nuggets: Coach Leonard Hamilton

Sending a special shout out to Coach Tim Carter for connecting me with FSU Head Men’s Basketball Coach Leonard Hamilton last spring. My hour long zoom discussion was definitely a memorable highlight in my career. Here’s a few things that we discussed: Identity: I wasn’t cocky but had plenty of faith. I paved my own way, worked my way to physical exhaustion (passing blood through my urine). The true test is how a man fights through adversity. Dealing with rejection: You can be the best candidate and still not get selected. If you didn’t get the job, it was never meant for you. You weren’t rejected, you were redirected.

Coaching in 1973: During my time as assistant coach at Austin Peay, I confidently walked in the president’s office and asked if my head coach gets a SEC job “Will I be the next Head Coach?”. At the time, there were very few black head coaches in the country. The president’s reply was “Nothing would make me happier than to see you be the Head Coach at Austin Peay, but I am retiring in 2 years. But I don’t think I’m strong enough for you to be the first head coach at Austin Peay. Every time I talk about it, I still get crushed. On Preparation: Prepare yourself for the unexpected and anything that can come up. Drug education (mask solutions), alcohol awareness and sexual education. Just to name a few. Dealing with Players: I resent coaches who feel like they have the right to kill a player’s spirit. Part of your responsibility as a coach, is to treat them like they are yours. They don’t always get it. Spend time coaching their mind and spirit, so they are receptive to your coaching style. Every player can learn, if you take the time to teach. Accountability: Instead of getting upset at what your kids can’t do, hold yourself accountable for teaching them what they can become. Handling Winning: Learn to handle winning because success can destroy you easier than failure