The Unconventional Coach

My recent essay on coaching stirred a lot of response. One of our favorite subtexts comes with periodic visits to performance and the "coaches" who inspire it. Any endeavor has its share of 'C' students -- people who wandered onto the stage, had their moments in the lights, then exited as quickly as they came, leaving no lasting footprint on their profession. The coaching ranks are no exception.

On first glance, following an unremarkable term with the Kansas City Chiefs, Marv Levy found himself in Buffalo. It took several years and the right environment for Levy to build a team that cut a swath through the AFC East and NFL record books on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Levy could be described as a renaissance man. While most of his career was spent coaching, few realize Levy as a consummate student of history, which included a Master's degree from Harvard. Over a remarkable run of years, Levy took his team to an unprecedented four straight Super Bowls even though the Bills were populated by "good" players but few greatones. He was a master motivator said All Pro quarterback Jim Kelly. "There's no one I'd rather play for. He always said the right thing at the right time!"

Before every NFL kick off with his wide-eyed sense of urgency he'd animatedly ask his players, "Is there any place else you'd rather be than right here, right NOW?" Every Sunday ... season after season, Levy's press conferences were priceless. Once asked if it was important for a coach to be "great in the locker room" Levy quipped, "Equipment managers need to be great in the locker room, coaches need to be great on the field."

By his own admission he loved making absurd comparisons between serious historical events and football such as when facing a tough string of road games: "You guys remember Hitler's army early in World War II? They were knocking off everyone, until they went into Russia and got clobbered! You guys know why they lost? They lost because they couldn't win on the road!"

He once referenced soccer as a tedious game: "Know why they had so many wars in Europe? Because soccer was so boring!"

On leadership Levy said, "I never thought leadership was a question of grabbing players by the shoulder pads or ordering them to follow me. Instead I knew it was my obligation to convince them to join me on a great journey." That the Bills players did ... season after season.

So today, if you're wondering about your life or your radio career on a tough day, remember

Coach Levy's pre-game exhortation offering some comfort and a re-set when facing the next challenge: Is there any place else you'd rather be than right here ... right NOW?

And if on the off-chance your answer is "yes," you may have some reflective thinking ahead.