Bob Diaco Bleeds Winning
Photo credit: Kallie Elizabeth – THE BONEYARD BLOG
Let’s get one thing cleared up straight from the get go; UCONN head coach Bob Diaco is not foregoing winning to develop players.
There’s been some things said and written since the post-game press conference on Friday night, insinuating this is the case. It is not accurate.
Diaco mentioned yesterday that the first three games have been termed the ‘preparation phase’ of the season. At no point does that indicate that winning is not the number one priority. It still is.
From day one, he has preached winning and instilling winning tendencies in every single member of his organization. They still apply. For a reminder:
“Really, what we are going to focus on with our organization, is our process goals,” Diaco said during his introductory press conference in December. “Coach Fry used to ask the players and the coaches that served the team, just ask yourself this question, ‘will it help you win? If it will, do it. If it won’t, don’t. If sliding out of bed and not shaving and putting sweats on that you had on the day before and hustling late to class is going to help you win in that moment, then do it. If it won’t, then don’t.'”
He went on to talk about bowl games and wins on the field, that day:
“I can’t make any premonitions there [on bowl games], I’d be running out to get mega millions here if I could see into the future,” he said, “but the winning though I can speak to. We are going to begin winning immediately. You setup winning and you setup wins and you make winning choices and you have a competitive environment in your meetings, you have a competitive environment in your winter conditioning, you have a competitive environment in the spring and you set up opportunities to win and then you glorify that winning.”
“You can win in the classroom,” he continued. “I’m hoping guys are winning right now [finals week was when he was introduced as coach] and when they do I’m going to let them know it and I’m going to make sure that we all as an organization let them know they just won. So the winning is going to begin immediately.”
Does that sound like a coach who is willing to sacrifice games, for the development of some? He continued:
“There will be ultimate goals for the organization. We are going to have outcome goals and we will have an ultimate goal for our organization, to be a champion. We are going to have outcome goals to beat our rival, to win the home games, so those are outcome goals. Those are part of the process. You do the process right, it all works out.”
Stony Brook is now just three days away and fans should expect the same fire and intensity on the sidelines from a coach that wants every one of his players to be successful. His demeanor on the sidelines is one of energy, being positive and enjoying the moment. Watching him hold back the front line as the team was ready to take the field at The Rent, Friday night, says all you need to know about how he feels about this team.
When guys make mistakes?
“We aren’t having a kumbaya session, we aren’t having a sleep over party, so there’s coaching that’s happening, but there is no reason why the coaching shouldn’t be positive,” Diaco said yesterday. “Everyone’s trying, I think if there was somebody that wasn’t trying, you might see a little different piece. But the players don’t want there to be negative plays, they’re trying hard, they want to do well. To come to the sideline and get berated by me, what good is that going to do? Let’s just spend time talking about how we can get it corrected and do it in a positive way and then really reaffirm when something good happens. Those are the moments that probably look the most positive. That all seems to make sense to me. That was how I appreciated being communicated with and it feels right when I’m communicating with the players that way.”
As another reminder, Diaco had this message for all reporters prior to taking his first question at his introductory press conference, nine months ago.
“Ask me whatever, if I can answer it, I will, if I don’t have the answer I’ll try to find it for you. Let’s begin this and have an open and engaging and free flowing conversation, so we can go ahead and move this thing in the direction that it needs to be. There’s not a person in this room that is not interested in UCONN being successful, or you wouldn’t be here. So let’s be sure we get that done.”
Taking a statement out of context is not going to equal success. If there is a question about a commitment to winning, it should be asked. Twisting words and spinning meaning, is not giving anyone, a fair shake.
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