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The Seven Secrets of Successful Coaches
Learn how to get the absolute most out the people you lead using the success secrets of many of sport’s most successful and respected coaches including Mike Krzyzewski (Duke Men’s Basketball), Pat Summitt (Tennessee Women’s Basketball), Mike Candrea (Arizona Softball), Marty Schottenheimer (San Diego Chargers), Mary Wise (Florida Volleyball) Jerry Yeagley (Indiana Soccer), Mike Gillespie (USC Baseball), Leroy Walker (USA Track and Field), and numerous others. The book shows coaches and leaders of all kinds (managers, teachers) how to unlock and unleash your team’s full potential. Learn how to build confidence and commitment, motivate and inspire your team, handle difficult discipline issues, earn your team’s respect, and leave a lasting legacy as a leader. This practical, information-packed book will help you create a confident, committed, and coachable team.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 18, 2018
I was fortunate to attend a short presentation given by Greg Dale, one of the co-authors during a volleyball tournament in Louisville Kentucky. At that gathering he was speaking about the player, their confidence, their self-talk and their mindset. He was breathtakingly energetic and his approach was simple and direct. No BS and no responsibility shirking.
It was after this presentation that I bought this book, directed at the coach. True to his style, the book reads easily and is full of energy. It is simple and direct. No BS and no shirking.
Both authors work at Duke University, so they have access to many business leaders and coaches on staff at Duke and in other schools as well as in the professional ranks. They skillfully interweave interviews with these leaders in the book to illustrate their points. This particular tactic is very effective in illustrating their points but also keep the readers interested because it makes the sports fan in us sit up and take notice.
The first three chapters deals with the definition of successful coaches, and lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. Credible coaching is defined and explained. Chapter 4 reveals the seven secrets, Chapters 5 and 6 are the arguments for being a credible coach and explains HOW being a credible coach benefits coaching.
Chapters 7-13 treat each of the seven secrets individually; citing successful coaches in regard to the secret and the authors do a commendable job of creating a path towards utilizing the secrets. They lay out a plan for using each secret as well as continue to convince the reader pf their argument.
The chapters are laid out in familiar format, with interviews with successful coaches at the end of each chapter, reinforcing the lessons of the chapter. In addition, there are review questions and thought exercises to pound home the lessons. It is a simple yet effective way to make sure the reader understands the concept, more importantly, it gives the readers a way to being to implement the lessons.
I enjoyed the book because it is so much common sense, it reinforced what I thought I was doing right and it set me on the right path with regard to those practices where I was ambiguous about whether I was doing the correct things.
This is not a straight how to book, nor is it a business book masquerading as a coaching book. It is a coaching book, written by coaches for coaches, and it is a refreshing breath of fresh air.
It was after this presentation that I bought this book, directed at the coach. True to his style, the book reads easily and is full of energy. It is simple and direct. No BS and no shirking.
Both authors work at Duke University, so they have access to many business leaders and coaches on staff at Duke and in other schools as well as in the professional ranks. They skillfully interweave interviews with these leaders in the book to illustrate their points. This particular tactic is very effective in illustrating their points but also keep the readers interested because it makes the sports fan in us sit up and take notice.
The first three chapters deals with the definition of successful coaches, and lays the groundwork for the rest of the book. Credible coaching is defined and explained. Chapter 4 reveals the seven secrets, Chapters 5 and 6 are the arguments for being a credible coach and explains HOW being a credible coach benefits coaching.
Chapters 7-13 treat each of the seven secrets individually; citing successful coaches in regard to the secret and the authors do a commendable job of creating a path towards utilizing the secrets. They lay out a plan for using each secret as well as continue to convince the reader pf their argument.
The chapters are laid out in familiar format, with interviews with successful coaches at the end of each chapter, reinforcing the lessons of the chapter. In addition, there are review questions and thought exercises to pound home the lessons. It is a simple yet effective way to make sure the reader understands the concept, more importantly, it gives the readers a way to being to implement the lessons.
I enjoyed the book because it is so much common sense, it reinforced what I thought I was doing right and it set me on the right path with regard to those practices where I was ambiguous about whether I was doing the correct things.
This is not a straight how to book, nor is it a business book masquerading as a coaching book. It is a coaching book, written by coaches for coaches, and it is a refreshing breath of fresh air.
November 18, 2021
Useful. Though most of the information here may come of as common sense, I suppose it is a bit surprising to think back on all of the coaches I've encountered would couldn't understand the basics of human interaction that go into coaching athletes. The framework that the book puts forth is useful for one's one self-analysis of strengths and weaknesses, but also opens the door for creating evaluations for others to rate you. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but the book can serve as a reminder of good practices and qualities to aspire toward day in and day out. Though the book is a bit dated in the coaches featured at this point, the takeaways are still lasting.
September 6, 2020
Great info and advice for coaches of all levels.
August 19, 2021
Great guideline for all coaches of all ages and levels!
July 8, 2025
Absolutely amazing book! Great insight into many things that seem common sense, but they really nailed down the details and with the pieces from various coaches it truly hits home.
Absolutely recommend for any coach….brand new or been doing it for 100 years!
Absolutely recommend for any coach….brand new or been doing it for 100 years!
December 17, 2009
A perspective of successful coaches.
June 1, 2015
Great read if you want to coach and care about your athletes
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews