Players striving for greatness: 1) willingly take themselves out of their comfort zones, 2) seek out people that will push them to improve and be their best, 3) embrace difficult challenges, and 4) demonstrate passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

Jack Harbaugh is an amazing coach and human being! nytimes.com/athletic/7593084…

It’s your daily habits, work ethic, and the standards you set for yourself that will give you a competitive edge. High performers prepare for success. They do the extras that most people won’t do. They practice with game-like intensity when no coaches are around.

Teams excel because they have outstanding people. They are talented but most important, they have people who are unselfish & humble. People who are excited about being part of a team & understand that collectively they will accomplish much more than they could on their own.

Athletes...Below are 7 behaviors that will reduce your opportunities if you’re looking to play in college: 1. Lack of effort & competitiveness 2. Bad attitude 3. Poor body language 4. Being disrespectful 5. Poor choices on social media 6. Selfishness 7. Sense of entitlement

To succeed on game day, you must deeply believe in yourself, your teammates, and your coaches. You must know that you are prepared. Your body language must exude the confidence you are feeling. See yourself as a winner, not as someone trying to win.

Creating positive team energy is a must. Players…do you provide energy every day at practice or do you take it away? Coaches…who are the energizers? the energy zappers?

"The culture of your team starts with the culture of your staff." - Great advice from Tom Izzo and Tom Crean

"Great teamwork is the only way to reach our ultimate moments....to fulfill our lives with a sense of lasting significance." - Pat Riley

High performers win in their minds first. Through their unwavering commitment & mental toughness, they know they have paid the price for greatness. Their deep belief in themselves and their teammates enables them to perform at their best & bounce back quickly from adversity.

There are no shortcuts to success. You must have the drive, the self-discipline & the grit to push yourself to become what you are not. Learn how to embrace challenges & realize they are a test of your mental toughness. Stay strong & never stop believing in yourself & your dream.

A coach must earn trust. He or she must be very clear about the standards that they set, and inspire and motivate their players to not only achieve, but exceed those standards. Most important, they must hold everyone accountable.

People who succeed in sport and in life don’t quit. They work hard & persevere through the challenging times. They understand there will be ups and downs. During these times, they stay positive and optimistic. Most important, they never lose their drive to learn and improve.

What the players say in the locker room after the coach leaves is crucial to team success. The key is the internal leaders. They must: 1) take ownership of the team standards thru their actions; 2) keep the team united; 3) hold teammates accountable; 4) demonstrate belief & grit.

To reach your dreams, you must surround yourself with knowledgeable coaches and teachers who: 1) Support and encourage you 2 Push you out of your comfort zone 3) Believe in you 4) Speak the truth

Key focus points for players and coaches: 1- Learn from the past; 2- Prepare for the future; and 3- Perform in the present.

Winning Begins With: 1-The right attitude 2-A high level of toughness 3-A commitment to preparation 4-Belief and confidence 5-The ability to execute under pressure

Three Trademark Behaviors of Championship Teams: 1- COMPETE & WORK HARD: 2- BE RESILIENT: 3- STICK TOGETHER (Unbreakable Team Unity). These three qualities are non-negotiable. They must be taught, modeled, and reinforced every day by the coaches and internal leaders.