Choice Not Chance E-Book

Joanne McCallie

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 395

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Foreword by Mike Krzyzewski, Duke's Men Basketball Coach A celebrated coach reveals the secrets to building a fierce competitor At age 26, Joanne P. McCallie, a.k.a. Coach P, began her career at Maine, where in the span of eight years, she elevated the women's basketball program to a very competitive team that outdrew the men's crowds, a rarity in college sports. Over her tenure, she created the Choice Not Chance (CNC) philosophy, training kids how to think and focus on making the correct choices in life. She imparted her passionate philosophy to all of her players and now brings it to her efforts as head coach at Duke. Choice Not Chancehighlights McCallie's lessons for building a fierce competitor, such as "Going against the grain," "Never become satisfied," and "Enjoy the prospect of getting better daily." The CNC philosophy is widely used by McCallie, her staff, and players, who are very active in the community speaking about "CNC." * Joanne P. McCallie is head coach of the Duke Women's Basketball team and was the ACC Coach of the Year in 2010 * McCallie became the first coach in Division I history to be crowned champion in four different conferences, as well as the first coach in NCAA history to garner coach of the year accolades in four different leagues * A native of Brunswick, Maine, McCallie owns a career mark of 431-174 and is entering her 20th year as a head coach at Maine, Michigan State and Duke; as a coach and player, she has led her teams to 15 conference titles, 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances, three NCAA Final Four appearances and three NCAA Championship game appearances * During the 2004-05 season at Michigan State, she won the Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Championship en route to a National Championship game appearance. For her efforts she was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year McCallie has taught her teams to play with passion and fight hard for recognition, and her teams have achieved remarkable success. Apply her wisdom to your teams, your employees, and your own life.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Praise for Choice Not Chance

Foreword Mike Krzyzewski

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Be Ready for Change and Adventure

Opportunity Knocks

My First Meeting with Coach K

Chapter 2: Creating “Choice not Chance”

We Are All Products of the Choices We Make

Chapter 3: The Underdog, Fighter Mentality

A Navy Brat Grows Up

Wherever They Live, Kids Need to Be Motivated

Role Models Help Me Develop My Skills

Nurturing Interest and a Desire to Improve

Graduation Approaches

Chapter 4: Nobody Likes Whiners

Arriving at Northwestern and Fighting for Playing Time

A Coaching Change

My First (Bittersweet) Taste of the NCAA Tournament

Chapter 5: Money Alone Won’t Make You Happy

What Am I Going to Do with My Life?

Following a Passion: My Return to Basketball

Chapter 6: Never Be Afraid to Try Something and Make a Mistake

Making a Commitment and Sticking with it

Things Begin to Make Sense

A Nearly Fatal Mistake

Chapter 7: Seek Out Mentors

Why the Scoreboard is Irrelevant: Play the Game to Attack and Compete

Learning from Failure

Seek Out the Wisdom of Others

Chapter 8: Not All of Your Players (or Employees) Will Get Along with Each Other

The Other Side of Success

Learning Balance, Restoring Energy

Expectations for the Future

Chapter 9: Life is More than the Game

Away from the Court, My Priorities Change

Team in Transition

New Developments on the Court and in My Life

Chapter 10: Set High Team Goals While Motivating on an Individual Level

Arriving at Michigan State

Lessons from Tom Izzo and Lonny Rosen

Motivating a New Team

Managing Conflict

Chapter 11: Everybody Has to Be Challenged to See How Good They Can Become

Challenges and Progress at Michigan State

Always Measure Your Accomplishments

Chapter 12: Step Back and Reassess your Priorities

How Can We Improve? What Can We Do Better?

Refusing to Give Up, No Matter the Opponent

Chapter 13: A Message from Coach Smith and Coach Wooden

Winning Isn’t Always about Who Has the Best or Most Talented Players

Coming Close Creates Added Motivation

Chapter 14: Coach K Teaches, “Do What You Came Here to Do”

Moving On

Meeting Another Challenge

Getting to Work at Duke

Coach K Gives Me the Message I Need When I Need it

My First Big Win at Duke

Transition at Work and at Home

Chapter 15: You Have to Seek Out the Changes—and See How You Need to React to Them—to Make the Team (and Your World) Better

Chapter 16: Recruiting is a True Test of Will, Discipline, Character, and Evaluation Ability

Getting the Right Group of Players

Chapter 17: Competitive Cauldron

Acknowledgments

Index

Praise for Choice Not Chance

“In Choice Not Chance, Coach McCallie passes on lessons she has learned for winning on the basketball court and in life. In this entertaining story, she endorses the ideals of self-determination and eschewing emotions that are as old as the ancient Greeks.”

—Allan H. Friedman, MD

The Guy L. Odom Professor of Neurological Surgery; Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Duke University Medical Center; Deputy Director, The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke

“Choice Not Chance tells the story of a heartfelt and fascinating journey. Joanne P. McCallie’s infectious enthusiasm for sports and life will inspire readers of all ages.”

—Susan M. Collins

U.S. Senator (Maine)

“Joanne knows how to successfully empower young women to make good choices both on and off the court. Her life is a stellar example for anyone who wants to learn about making good choices on a daily basis, rather than letting chance dictate the course of our lives.”

—Clarence Underwood

Michigan State University Athletic Director (1999–2002)

Copyright © 2012 by Joanne P. McCallie. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

McCallie, Joanne P., 1965-

Choice not chance : rules for building a fierce competitor / Joanne P. McCallie.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-1-118-08711-4 (hardback)

ISBN: 978-1-118-22349-9 (ebk)

ISBN: 978-1-118-23120-3 (ebk)

ISBN: 978-1-118-23122-7 (ebk)

1. McCallie, Joanne P., 1965- 2. Coaches (Athletics)—United States—Biography. 3. Women coaches (Athletics)—United States—Biography. 4. Coaching (Athletics)— United States. 5. Competition—United States. I. Title.

GV697.M367A3 2012

796.092—dc23

[B]

2011039259

To Maddie and Jack and to each and every player

FOREWORD

One of the abilities that a good coach at any level and in any sport has to have is the ability to read people. I have always found that the best way to do that is to always look people in the eye.

The eyes reveal a lot about a person’s character. The first time I met Joanne P. McCallie, I could see in her eyes the passion and desire she had to coach women’s basketball at Duke.

Joanne took a great risk by coming down to interview for the job at Duke before she was offered the position. She was aware of the conflicts that might arise as a result of the interview, but she thought the possible outcome of getting the chance to coach at Duke was worth it.

You could see in her eyes that she had a love for Duke and was honored by the chance to coach here. She “got it” immediately.

One of the things I love about Joanne is her energy. She’s very competitive, and she allows those around her to not only support her, but also to make her better.

Joanne has all of the characteristics of being a great leader. She always displays a strong face and mood. She conveys confidence and courage under pressure. In the heat of a game, players feed off of this strength.

The title of this book is Choice Not Chance, and I have always believed that the power we have to make choices, and not mere chance, is the primary determinant of future outcomes. It takes courage to decide, “This is the direction we’re going.” You come to that decision by seeking great advice and support along the way.

Advice is what this book is all about. Joanne has used her experiences to talk about the many times “choice, not chance” has played a role in her life and how others can benefit from her experiences.

Joanne has had great success coaching the women’s basketball teams at Maine, Michigan State, and now at Duke, and this book allows her to share her strategies with others.

Part of the motivation behind this book is Joanne’s desire to help others. Coaches love to motivate, and here Joanne uses the experiences of her life and career to motivate others, in sport and beyond, to be better through the power of the choices they make.

—Mike Krzyzewski

Head Coach, Duke University

and USA National Team (2006–2012)

PREFACE

My life has primarily been about two things: my family, which consists of my husband, John, and our two children, Maddie and Jack, and my profession, which is coaching women’s college basketball.

Trying to live a life of balance and success has never been easy. There have been many highs and lows. It’s not a steady thing; it’s more like a seesaw. One side has more weight while the other rises, then a push comes and it reverses. It keeps moving, and in that constant movement comes the balance over time.

My professional world and private world often collide, and the push and pull can be both painful and poetic. An instance of this happened to me not that long ago.

One of the most emotional moments of my coaching career thus far took place during the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament in 2011 in Philadelphia. Our team had been trounced, bringing a painful end to a very special season. I was fortunate to work with a very unique and talented team, led by three seniors whom I had enjoyed coaching for four years. I had to face the media at the end of the game—their glaring cameras and piercing questions.

Our 11-year-old son, Jack, showed me the strength of character that he possesses, well beyond his years, and allowed me to get through this very challenging moment with a smile in my heart.

Moments after the game, I saw Jack, Maddie, and John in the hallway outside the room for the postgame press conference. The room was as packed as any I had ever seen following a game. Trying to give me some space, John said to Jack, “Let’s wait here,” meaning outside the media room. Though John tried to stop him, Jack said adamantly, “Dad, I’m going in there.” He not only came into the crowded room, but he stood right at the edge of the stairs where I went up on the stage to face the media’s questions.

When I got to the edge of the stage after the press conference was over, Jack was waiting for me. I came down the stairs, and he had his hand up to give me a high five. As we slapped hands, he said, “Great job, Mom.” I couldn’t believe it. The kid is unflappable, and he understands what was going on. He had truly separated himself from the moment, and took me with him as he insisted on standing tall.

I am proud to call myself a Title IX baby, as the barrier-breaking legislation for gender equity in sports was passed when I was a young girl. When John’s mother went to college in the 1930s, she played basketball and tennis; however, her teams played only intramural sports (i.e., within the campus) and not against other schools. I found myself in new territory when my own college career began, and many choices presented themselves to girls and women across the country. The question before us was a critical one: How do we face these choices and build our lives and strong programs at the same time?

That is the question I aim to tackle and the topic upon which I focus in this book. I want my experiences to be a lesson for anyone who reads it—anyone who is trying to be successful in his or her job and life, as a parent, coach, mentor, or child.

“Choice, Not Chance” was the theme I started teaching at my first basketball camp. It provided a way for the girls and boys who attended to think about and rise above being victims of circumstance and frustration in their lives. We taught these young people that they could make choices every day—choices that would give them control, even if those choices were small ones, like keeping their rooms clean. From the time, as a teenager, when I chose to practice four hours a day in my driveway (shooting, jumping, dribbling—at first just giving myself something to do, then realizing that it was indeed a passion), basketball has been the choice I made. And it has been one that has richly blessed my life.

There was another choice I made on August 18, 1991, in my hometown of Brunswick, Maine—and that was to wed John. My wedding proved to me that love really is, as I had always hoped, a response to one’s deepest values and an affirmation of life. I don’t understand why people have jitters at weddings; it was a very natural event for me. In fact, I was the most relaxed I’ve probably ever been about anything in my life.

I rode in a horse and carriage with my father right through the middle of town on my wedding day, and people came out and waved. It was so much fun to welcome all in Brunswick to our celebration. To me, this event was the product of having countless people who had cared for me and who came to share this special time. I really didn’t care what I wore; my mother and sister picked out the dress without me and it fit fine.

We had a rehearsal dinner at the Log Cabin, a restaurant on Bailey Island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was warm, comfortable, friendly, and cozy, and we could look out the window right at the beautiful Maine coastline. We had everything and everybody we needed and wanted there. And years later, the people who were present still continue to provide love and support throughout our marriage.

John and I met at Auburn University in the summer of 1989. I was an assistant coach to Joe Ciampi, and John was working on his PhD in economics. I must admit I was a little uncertain about him at first. This guy kept showing up at different places and even looked in the window once when I was taking one of my MBA classes. I thought to myself (somewhat kiddingly, somewhat seriously) that he might be stalking me. But I soon learned that John was a very interesting guy, with a great sense of life and adventure. We were engaged for almost two years, and we spent that time getting to know each other’s families, discussing our lives, and seeing how we worked together. We read books together and talked about them. We spent time discovering our values, challenging each other to find our common ground, and dreaming about our future together.

The births of both of our children are incredible memories. They both took place in Maine while I was coaching there—Madeline Clark McCallie in 1994 and John Wyatt McCallie in 2000. Their middle names are the maiden names of each of our mothers. We both have wonderful, smart, and dedicated moms who provided powerful role models for women in our families, and we wanted to acknowledge their importance in our lives.

My mother is British. She married my dad, a Navy pilot, and came to his country, making it her own. Though she never finished college, she is doubtlessly one of the smartest women I know. She is the one who taught me about the power of choices. Not only did she choose to live in a country not her own, but she made the difficult choice to move her three children from Florida back to Maine, even though it was a long way from her husband’s job, all because she thought it was a much better place to raise her family. These brave choices of hers shaped my life; without them, I would not be who—or where—I am today.

I sometimes see nowadays, particularly in young people, that people are driven by their emotions to the point of nonproductivity. Today’s world of emotions, combined with split-second communication and technology, often drive careless decisions that occasionally have disastrous results.

I tend to consider and approach life’s decisions differently. I call it “right thinking,” a phrase I use with my team, and it refers to the idea that we are going to be reasonable and allow reason to drive our emotion. The essence of “right thinking” is truly the notion that we are going to make choices. We are going to approach the situation, whatever it may be, in a clear, thought-out, and passionate way that extends to how we think and act. I want to use my experience to educate others about the importance of the decisions they make and how those choices affect their future and those around them. Thinking deeply, feeling deeply, and making choices are all part of a philosophy that guides both my life and my coaching. “Choice Not Chance” is a way to live and to think—both as individuals and as a team.

I have been fortunate to coach the women’s basketball teams at Maine, Michigan State, and Duke for the past 20 years. Maine was my home state, and it was a joy to start my career there. Michigan State offered me an opportunity to work in the Big Ten Conference with a great group of women who drove us to the National Championship game in 2005—an unforgettable experience.

Being recruited by Duke echoed an earlier choice in my life. After I was named a Parade magazine all-American high school player, several college choices were available to me. A woman named Jacki Silar from Duke called, and I went to visit the school. Not only was it a beautiful campus (especially to a girl from frosty Maine!), but the basketball program was strong, and therefore attractive to me. Unfortunately, my mother could not go with me on this trip, and her absence gave her less information about Duke when it came time for us to discuss as a family where I was going to go to school. I accepted an offer from Northwestern and have never regretted it.

So, when the second call from Duke came, this time with an offer to become the head women’s basketball coach, it harkened back to the earlier call that I had passed up. You don’t get many second chances in life, and this time I said yes, accepting the offer to become the head coach.

Little did I know that by making this choice I was entering uncharted territory, both for myself and for women at large. Usually, women, and many coaches overall, stay at the schools where they take a job as a head coach, making a career of the program they build. My situation differs somewhat; I have been the head coach for three different schools that were part of four different conferences. The pressures of building up a program are enormous. Having done this while simultaneously giving birth to and raising two children—in addition to nurturing a strong marriage and family life—has been an amazing experience. My commitment to both areas of my life has required sacrifices on both ends. I have ached when I have had to miss my own children’s activities or games, and I have cut short or found substitutes for work when family duties called. The seesaw that I mentioned before kept moving with the pulls and pushes of balancing family and work.

I felt self-doubt arise many times; it simply couldn’t be helped. Though you can be a fighter when the challenge is present, the time comes when doubt rises gracefully on its own. This is when you seek renewal and need a team of people to help you through. You must also figure out how to clear and fortify your energy. One day I walked into the acupuncturist’s office and just cried. And although it can help to sit in a room for a while, you have to get back out there. You need people to lean on—people other than your family to act as a support system. I have found that older women and other practitioners are role models, and that sometimes just a conversation with one of these individuals is enough to keep me going. You have to ask for help, make the connection, and be in touch with your emotion to let it out. I call this “clearing”—clearing your emotions and finding a method to renew yourself and tip the balance back in your favor.

Making choices, seeking balance, and restoring energy are all part of a process that becomes a way of life, a philosophy, a way to think as a competitor, as a mother, coach, mentor, wife, or friend.

Writing this book has not only been a way to clear and restore my energy, but it has been a fulfillment of a promise I made to my daughter years ago. When we were in Maine and Maddie was only four years old, we went one day to ride her favorite horse. Even then, my time had been divided between family and work, and I felt pressures about which Maddie knew nothing. She only wanted to be with her mother and spend time playing. We were laughing at the pony, and I half joked to Maddie that one day, by the time she graduated from high school, I would write a book to explain the moments of being born into a coaching family and having a mom who also was a head coach.

The time has come. Maddie graduates in June 2012. She has lived within these stories and has suffered the ups and downs of our life together. For these reasons, I chose to start this book with a letter to my daughter.

Coach P. talking to her son, Jack, on press row at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2009 Duke Women’s Basketball Blue and White Scrimmage on October 25, 2009.

Source: Duke Photography

INTRODUCTION

My dear Maddie,

Soon, you will graduate from high school and move on to college, becoming even more independent and going forward with your life.

Your father and I have been blessed to have you and your brother Jack in our lives, and before you graduate, I want to fulfill a promise that I made to you a long time ago. When you were about four years old and we were living in Maine, we would escape to the barn frequently to ride our horse, Fancy Face. We talked as a mom and daughter, and I said to you in a very carefree way one day, “Oh, Maddie, someday I’m going to explain all this to you and write you a book about Mommy being a coach and all.” That’s where the idea for this book started, before your brother Jack was even born.