Vince Lombardi And John Wooden's Leadership Style Analysis

What sets apart the mentors who can turn boys into men and games into life lessons? Are there aligned philosophies or principles in these people? Must you be a great teacher in order to be a great coach? Two names come to mind that answer all three of these questions. Vince Lombardi (The Pope) and John Wooden (The Wizard of Westwood), two men who hail from dramatically different backgrounds. Contradictory to their nicknames though, there was no magic or miracles involved, just two men who epitomized the titles of coaches and teachers, enhancing the lives of their athletes, leaving legacies that changed the way people think about and teach leadership and coaching. Forged in the streets of Brooklyn, New York, Lombardi's childhood exemplified
Lombardi was very direct, yet he also had a strong sense of humor. He had a wide range of interests much like I do and was able to take something from each to bring back into his coaching. He seemed to exhibit a no-nonsense attitude and as much as he expected from his team, he too invested in them. His leadership principles can be applied to all walks of life. The first quote I read of Vince Lombardi’s that sparked my attention was “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” In my past there has been many times that this phrase has had significant meaning and helped me push through difficult situations. It reminds me that in life, we will always have a struggle, an obstacle, a roadblock at one time or another. It happens. The most important thing is to remember that we have the ability to get back up and keep going. I wanted to learn his steps to success by researching his past. I found that he was a normal person with a huge heart, courage, confidence and most of all the will. His teachings are so insightful and empowering, and he was able to make such a huge impact on the people in his life even though he had quite humble beginnings. I found it fascinating that both Wooden and Lombardi shared so many similar qualities even though their lives were at times dramatically different. The influence of parenting. The desire to learn and teach beyond the sports field. The ability to work hard and stay committed to a goal. To be able to live the life you are trying to teach. That being a teacher and coach are hand in hand. Practice, repetition and preparation are the three keys to winning as a coach and team. Whether it is the pyramid of success or the Lombardi code, both Wooden and Lombardi showed that in order to be a winning coach, you must first willing to learn and then to teach. There was no miracle work, no magic