Urban Meyer shares secrets on winning

[Confident Carl]

I just saw Urban Meyer on Fox promoting his new book "Above the line" and he told O'reilly that creating a winning culture based on trust is the most important job of the head coach. We've all been watching Bob Diaco building that culture to Connecticut over the past two seasons. It's frustrating as hell but the agony and pain will make the victory all the more sweet. Hang in their Brother's better days are coming. Unfortunately when you have been down as long as UCONN and in a better league than you were in, (Yes, I am talking the AAC) it's not the time to jump ship. When I say I believe in Bob Diaco it dosn't mean I don't question some of his decisions or capabilities, or that he is the best coach at this point in his career in the FBS however I believe he is making UCONN better and moving the program in the right direction. This all happened to Hayden Fry when he went to Iowa and he became the most legendary coach in Iowa history.

Here is some info on Meyer and his book:

http://www.leaderroom.com/blog/2015/02/16/urban-meyer-shares-secret-to-winning-national-championship

 

[SHS72]

Heard him on Franseca's show this afternoon as well. Didn't know him well but boy got an earful today. Coached under Earl Bruce and later Lou Holtz at ND. Went to Bowling Green and later Florida. Left there to spend time with family and we were all surprised. Actually spent that time to meet with his mentors--Holtz, Earl, Chip Kelly--to re-think his coaching philosophy. His success last year at OS led him to write book...
He now recruits based on character(sound familiar Uconn fans?)
After several practices, he draws three circles with (1) elite great leaders, about 10 percent; (2) 80 percent of kids that will sell out for the team, and, last 10 percent are disinterested and don't care. Meets with each kid and explains his assessment and gives him the chance to improve. At the end of the day, he only has enough time and energy to spend his time with the top 90 percent. He never talks again with the bottom 10 percent.
Thought I was listening to Jack Walsh when he took over GE back in the 80's.
He also talked about changing cultures. Man, it was Bob Diaco all over!
Just spent half hour talking with my 21 year old, former Ansonia state championship football quarterback about this and promised him I would share Urban's book with him because of the life lessons it apparently offers.
Think our sports programs are on the correct track. Urban has learned them. Our football, basketball and more already know them, and ultimately, their kids are learning them.
Wow, today was a day at school listening to this man!

 

[huskymedic]

http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...ick-Saban-Urban-Meyer-opens-up-to-Dan-Patrick (full video of interview in link)

 

[SHS72]

Thanks husky medic

 

[mauconnfan]

No matter this guy knew about Aaron Hernandez and his exploits and sold his soul to the devil for winning. Won't buy or read his book, believe he's a pc of crap. But it sounds decent LOL.

 

[kyleslamb]

Meyer is as good as anyone in the coaching business in any sport. He has a degree in psychology, and he uses it to his advantage. Everything he does is calculated, to the point where he's a master of preparation and motivation. If folks want to be in awe, they should go look his career bowl record, record vs. top-10 teams, etc. The numbers are jaw-dropping. He recruits talent, develops it and motivates it. He's an all-around great coach.

The Aaron Hernandez stuff is just sour grapes. Everyone makes mistakes about character. That was clearly a mistake. I don't hear anyone criticizing the Patriots for taking Hernandez. They whiffed too.

 

[mauconnfan]

Meyer is as good as anyone in the coaching business in any sport. He has a degree in psychology, and he uses it to his advantage. Everything he does is calculated, to the point where he's a master of preparation and motivation. If folks want to be in awe, they should go look his career bowl record, record vs. top-10 teams, etc. The numbers are jaw-dropping. He recruits talent, develops it and motivates it. He's an all-around great coach.

The Aaron Hernandez stuff is just sour grapes. Everyone makes mistakes about character. That was clearly a mistake. I don't hear anyone criticizing the Patriots for taking Hernandez. They whiffed too.

BS not clearly a mistake when you hear about it and do not let the person go from your program. The rumors were swirling about his involvement in things. While I agree with Meyer's abilities as a coach were are obvious, he's just as much a pc of crap as many of the other coaches who eventually are let go because of their ills but he wins enough to have his people turn the other way.

It is all about winning after all and the almighty $$$$$.

 

[noeynox]

I listened to his interview on Francessa yesterday. I found it troubling that he said he grades all 85 kids on the roster and the bottom 10 are encouraged to move on because he is not going to "waste time" with them. The dude is a winnner, no denying it, but he has a ruthless edge to him. Perhaps most great coaches have this. I don't know.

 

[SubbaBub]

Meh, the bottom 10% thing has been around in business for a while. It might be fine for an 85-100 person FB team. That's 8-10 players who likely aren't playing anyway.

Funny thing is that it's been debunked on the business side. Though there are still businesses that fire or push out the bottom 10% every year. The problem is that the other 90% begin to notice that kind of thing and it kills morale even amongst top performers because now you've turned your office into a Lord of the Flies revival. Looking out for the team is replaced by looking out for yourself.

What Meyer wants to say is that he identifies guys who are leaders and really care about playing football and avoids those who aren't passionate about FB. Which in the end isn't much of a secret.

 

[Confident Carl]

I listened to his interview on Francessa yesterday. I found it troubling that he said he grades all 85 kids on the roster and the bottom 10 are encouraged to move on because he is not going to "waste time" with them. The dude is a winnner, no denying it, but he has a ruthless edge to him. Perhaps most great coaches have this. I don't know.

I hear what you are saying but if you are looking at it another way he is telling them they wll have a better chance playing somewhere else - like maybe UCONN! Seriously there are so many really good players in the P5 that never see the field but they want to go to those schools for the prestege. Look how deep Ohio State is at QB!

 

[gioff23]

In fairness, he said he meets with everyone, shares his assessment, and gives them a chance to improve. So, if he tells a kid, you're a bottom feeder and the kid does nothing to improve, what should he do?

Character helps, a plethora of 4/5 stars helps a lot. At this stage, we have made progress on the former.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I do agree that he is a great recruiter....a great X's and O'x guy...and his results are amazing. I don't think I can ever be convinced that he is a good person though. Pretty much all coaches are about themselves, but I think he takes it to another level. The dishonest way he left Florida tells me more about him as a person than all of his championships.

But...he really does deliver amazing results...can't argue with that.

 

[noeynox]

In fairness, he said he meets with everyone, shares his assessment, and gives them a chance to improve. So, if he tells a kid, you're a bottom feeder and the kid does nothing to improve, what should he do?

Character helps, a plethora of 4/5 stars helps a lot. At this stage, we have made progress on the former.

That sounded so shallow to me. He called them "stubborn", that was the word he used. What it really sounded like was he was going to turn that scholarship over. It was a very good interview with Francessa yesterday.

 

[Kgun7]

Meyer is as good as anyone in the coaching business in any sport. He has a degree in psychology, and he uses it to his advantage. Everything he does is calculated, to the point where he's a master of preparation and motivation. If folks want to be in awe, they should go look his career bowl record, record vs. top-10 teams, etc. The numbers are jaw-dropping. He recruits talent, develops it and motivates it. He's an all-around great coach.

The Aaron Hernandez stuff is just sour grapes. Everyone makes mistakes about character. That was clearly a mistake. I don't hear anyone criticizing the Patriots for taking Hernandez. They whiffed too.

Nobody can criticize Urban Meyer for recruiting Hernandez. Continuing to play Hernandez while ignoring his cataclysmic demise is exactly why "He's an all-around great coach." with a jaw dropping bowl record ....

 

[Colt house75]

I do agree that he is a great recruiter....a great X's and O'x guy...and his results are amazing. I don't think I can ever be convinced that he is a good person though. Pretty much all coaches are about themselves, but I think he takes it to another level. The dishonest way he left Florida tells me more about him as a person than all of his championships.

But...he really does deliver amazing results...can't argue with that.

Great interview... looking forward to reading the book.

That said, wasn't his leaving Florida more about health and family?
If I remember, he ad taken leaves of absences, was hospitalized for potential heart issue, and needed to step back from the game. He appeared to be very open.... so Mr. Shaky above quote: please clarify how he was dishonest (dishonest is out of the RE playbook after the Fiesta Bowl) as my memory is not good

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Meyer is as good as anyone in the coaching business in any sport. He has a degree in psychology, and he uses it to his advantage. Everything he does is calculated, to the point where he's a master of preparation and motivation. If folks want to be in awe, they should go look his career bowl record, record vs. top-10 teams, etc. The numbers are jaw-dropping. He recruits talent, develops it and motivates it. He's an all-around great coach.

The Aaron Hernandez stuff is just sour grapes. Everyone makes mistakes about character. That was clearly a mistake. I don't hear anyone criticizing the Patriots for taking Hernandez. They whiffed too.

LOL the guy ran a prison down in Gainesville for years. The shots at his comments about how character matters are 100% fair game.

 

[Confident Carl]

In fairness, he said he meets with everyone, shares his assessment, and gives them a chance to improve. So, if he tells a kid, you're a bottom feeder and the kid does nothing to improve, what should he do?

Character helps, a plethora of 4/5 stars helps a lot. At this stage, we have made progress on the former.

No doubt 4-5 stars help, there is no disputing that. But RKG's together with great recruting class equate to long term sustainable growth. The Military academies are evidence that you can win without the best talent.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

No doubt 4-5 stars help, there is no disputing that. But RKG's together with great recruting class equate to long term sustainable growth. The Military academies are evidence that you can win without the best talent.

Carl, he is FOS. Urban Meyer recruits RKG's. LOL.

 

[Confident Carl]

Carl, he is FOS. Urban Meyer recruits RKG's. LOL.

No question about Hernandez and I am sure others. We all know none of this stuff is perfect but we live in a tough world with lots of kids who have problems and issues. I am ino way in a position to defend Urban Meyer nor can I speak about his true character. Only reporting about what I saw on TV yesterday. Just pointing out how Diaco's coaching philosophy has some similarities to one of the best coaches in the country. Jimmy, don't worry, I was born in the morning but not yesterday morning!

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Great interview... looking forward to reading the book.

That said, wasn't his leaving Florida more about health and family?
If I remember, he ad taken leaves of absences, was hospitalized for potential heart issue, and needed to step back from the game. He appeared to be very open.... so Mr. Shaky above quote: please clarify how he was dishonest (dishonest is out of the RE playbook after the Fiesta Bowl) as my memory is not good

Talk to a Gator fan to find out what really happened down there. He had lost control of the program..had recruited questionable players...players he got were entitled and hard to coach. He saw the hand writing on the wall and left. Muschamp had to clean house and start over. Gator fans do not believe his comments about health concerns. All of his health issues went away when the OSU job was open.

The guy might have learned from his Florida experience and changed his values and approach. But...he wasn't a quality guy in Florida and he didn't recruit quality kids or hold them accountable.

Hell of a coach though.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Talk to a Gator fan to find out what really happened down there. He had lost control of the program..had recruited questionable players...players he got were entitled and hard to coach. He saw the hand writing on the wall and left. Muschamp had to clean house and start over. Gator fans do not believe his comments about health concerns. All of his health issues went away when the OSU job was open.

The guy might have learned from his Florida experience and changed his values and approach. But...he wasn't a quality guy in Florida and he didn't recruit quality kids or hold them accountable.

Hell of a coach though.

There is also the question of whether he had a little bit of Bobby Petrino/Rick Pitino in him down in Gainesville.

The guy is a hell of a coach (maybe the best alive today) but please pump the brakes on anointing this guy as a saint. Not a good man.

 

[Jax Husky]

Meyer is as good as anyone in the coaching business in any sport. He has a degree in psychology, and he uses it to his advantage. Everything he does is calculated, to the point where he's a master of preparation and motivation. If folks want to be in awe, they should go look his career bowl record, record vs. top-10 teams, etc. The numbers are jaw-dropping. He recruits talent, develops it and motivates it. He's an all-around great coach.

The Aaron Hernandez stuff is just sour grapes. Everyone makes mistakes about character. That was clearly a mistake. I don't hear anyone criticizing the Patriots for taking Hernandez. They whiffed too.

Urban Meyer repeatedly made these mistakes and did nothing to fix them because they were winning big. It wasn't just Hernandez. He had guys on his team that had blasted off semiautomatic rifles in school parking lots. Guys that were breaking and entering. Half the team packing heat.... He is as slimy as they come, and a true snake oil salesman. Don't believe a word he ever says.


A few quick summaries of his days in Gainesville:

On the 2008 title team:

"Fast-forward five years, and the New York Times has a postmortem on that team: of the 121 players that were on the roster that season, 41 who “have been arrested, either in college or afterward, and sometimes both.”"

"In recent years, though, another number has been affixed to the Meyer era. That number is 31, as in, at least 31 arrests of Florida’s football players from 2005 to 2010.

Many of the charges were typical of college campuses: under-age drinking, disorderly conduct, violations of open-container laws. But other, more serious charges included aggravated stalking, domestic violence by strangulation, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and fraudulent use of credit cards, according to criminal record databases. Most of the cases never went to trial, the charges having been dropped or pleaded down."

 

[Palatine]

I listened to his interview on Francessa yesterday. I found it troubling that he said he grades all 85 kids on the roster and the bottom 10 are encouraged to move on because he is not going to "waste time" with them. The dude is a winnner, no denying it, but he has a ruthless edge to him. Perhaps most great coaches have this. I don't know.

That was Jack Welsh's philosophy as well.

 

[Nostical]

Meyer shares the steely eyed, no-nonsense demeanor of Parcells, Belichick, Saban, Lombardi. They would all walk over their grandmother for a win. Of the group, Meyer probably invested in more criminal thugs than the others. But would we want him as our coach?

 

[kyleslamb]

I listened to his interview on Francessa yesterday. I found it troubling that he said he grades all 85 kids on the roster and the bottom 10 are encouraged to move on because he is not going to "waste time" with them. The dude is a winnner, no denying it, but he has a ruthless edge to him. Perhaps most great coaches have this. I don't know.

It goes back to the personal assessment. You're either a top 10% (leader), middle 80% (follower) or bottom 10% (lazy, uninspired, drags a team down).

He assesses every player and puts him in one of those three categories. If a player is a bottom 10% and does not make any improvements, he asks those players to leave. It's not that he automatically asks 9-10 guys to transfer every year, it's that he asks the bottom 10% players (as assessed) to leave if they haven't improved.

He says the dead weight will drag a team and locker room down, and those guys shouldn't be around. He doesn't force them out, but he has a blunt conversation and tells them he thinks it would be best if they went elsewhere. Personally, I find the honest refreshing and I agree with his handling. It's not that he picks out 10% of players ever year and removes them, but rather any player that has been identified as a "bottom 10" is asked to go if they haven't shown the effort to get better.