Nick Saban Research Paper

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will, and a lack to change”-Vince Lombardi. Central Dewitt’s football program usually has a tradition of great success and excellent morals. Unfortunately, in the 2014 and 2015 football season they have a combined record of 5-13, which does not live up to the standards of the DeWitt community. There are many problems circulating the football program, but most involve the lack of experience in coaching. Central Dewitt ‘s losing football record for the past two seasons can be solved by coaches properly developing their athletes, incorporating new offensive and defensive strategies, and increasing player participation.

After one of the worse season's in recent memory, the Michigan Wolverines needed a big change. That big change turned out to be the hiring of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, former NFL coach of the San Francisco 49ers and former All-American QB at Michigan. For years, fans and boosters have been screaming for a coach who personifies Wolverines football. Now they have their man. His first task will be trying to revive an offense that went to sleep in 2014, scoring a meager 20.9 PPG on a total of 333 YPG.

Before Mark Dantonio took charge of his new football team, the previous coach, John L. Smith, was slowly leading the program downhill. Smith’s last season at Michigan State lead to Athletic Director Mark Hollis replacing him with Mark Dantonio. His previous role as an assistant coach in the program would allow for a smooth transition into the program (Hollis). Suddenly, Dantonio was confronted with a long to do list. He must find a way to rebuild a previously existing winning culture to surround the program. Accomplishing this means finding success over local powerhouses such as Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Dantonio relied on player development to compete with these teams but eventually he had to start drawing in talent. His tenure

After his second season as the head coach with the Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to the collegiate ranks to create a dominant powerhouse at Alabama. Part of the Peter Principle infers the ability of an employee who is perhaps in Saban’s case, recruiting players that believe in his style of play, which works with high school seniors, but when trying to create the same respect with players who have million dollar contracts, the same success cannot be achieved. Therefore, Saban was promoted to the highest level of play, but was more successful at a lesser level. Several defensive and offensive coordinators have been hired as head coaches, just to be fired and rehired by another school in the same coordinator position they left, because they must be responsible for the team as a whole, not just one

During Dan Mullen's introductory press conference as the new Florida Gators head coach, he emphasized multiple times his football team will play with "relentless effort". In the short 8 days as the Gators head coach, Mullen and his staff have been showing that same relentless mentality on the recruiting trail. Taking over a new program with three-weeks before the first signing period, his staff has been working around the clock.

Two days after the tornado ravaged Tuscaloosa and left more than 50 people dead, Nick Saban had a meeting with his players and told them they needed to be more than only a football team. This was worst tornado in Alabama history. The April 27th tornado created more than two billion dollars’ worth of damage and Saban wanted his team out helping those suffering from the extremely traumatic event. He told the players being out in the community would help lift the troubled spirits of a town that supports Alabama football with all its might. With the assistance of sports psychologist and motivational speaker, Dr. Kevin Elko, Saban focused on a phrase to guide his players: "I'm not looking for blessing to come to my life; I'm looking to be a blessing in someone's life." Following the aftermath of the storm, Saban and his players built 17 houses in the area. Alabama football players were active around all around Tuscaloosa. Players were helping out in any way they could whether that was repairing roofs or carrying away debris. At the end of the season, Saban was hoisting Alabama's 14th national championship trophy. After a very cold icy Gatorade bath and multiple hugs with players, Saban told an ESPN reporter he thought winning the national championship give everybody a lot of joy, spirit and hope. Saban then said, “We

After 16 years of coaching the Longhorn football program, Head Coach Mack Brown, a man that won it all in 2005 and nearly won it all again in 2009, gives up the reigns to Coach Charlie Strong. Charlie Strong comes into the University of Texas at an odd time. Fans are frustrated. The media isn’t as friendly as it once was to the historic program. And the long-time, in-state rival, Texas A&M has achieved success after moving

In 1989, on the eve of the final championship game, Steve Fisher became the head coach for Michigan State. He and the team went on to win the championship. Even though they won Steve didn’t really get the credit for the game since he had just been hired the night before. With the next season fast approaching fans and critics were anxious to see if the new coach had good recruiting skills.

Alabama has had some of the best coaches in College football history like Bear Bryant (Hoes 7). Nick Saban is the head coach of Alabama. Maisel stated, “None of them achieved what Alabama is achieving under Saban” (1). Not only has Saban already brought a national title to ‘Bama, but he’s winning consistently, posting a 38-11 record so far (Heos 32). Considering that he’s compiled that record in a conference

In football winning is not everything! With winning comes dedication, passion, and selflessness. My sophomore year I played one game on varsity, which was dictated by coach Garno. When I look back on that year I can see that all Garno cared about was winning. Garno never cared about any player or anything that did not involve winning on a football field. Now my junior and senior year I got a new coach and this is where I learned what a real coach is. The Dundee Vikings is now lead by Coach Kyle McElvany (Coach Mac.) Coach Mac is a coach that taught every player on the team that there is more to football than just winning. Him teaching all of the payers, especially my brought us close, it has made a bond between us that could never be broken.

The entire state of Alabama thought “[Coach Bear] was wonderful,” (Bragg). Coach Bear got his nickname by wrestling a carnival bear when he was a boy, making Bear not only like a hero, but a figure to look up to as well. Coach Bear was Alabama’s head coach for a 25 year span, from 1958 to 1982. During that span, he led Alabama to 323 total game wins, including seven national championships and 15 bowl wins. Not only was it just Tuscaloosa, Alabama that praised Bear, but it was the whole state of Alabama itself. The entire state has record of families naming 350 children after Coach Bear during his 25 year coaching span. Bear made it possible for anyone in Alabama to “...be proud of being from here, no matter where you went.” His ability to create

In Case 7 “Perceptions of Leaders Following Public Failures: A Tale of Two Coaches”, two leaders both college football coaches of their respective teams were encountered with scrutiny, as they lacked a certain level sensitivity regarding serious incidents within their program. The case study talks about both Mike Leach and Gary Barnett’s background as coaches and progress to the events with their program that lead to them being involved in the public failure. This eventually led to people having various perceptions of both coaches based off of how they dealt with the incidents. As a result of both programs image being tarnished, Mike Leach was fired, however; Gary Barnett’s job was retained.

Many people are successful some are by having a job or a lot of money never giving up and friends and family.

For the coaching observation project I observed the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Urban Meyer. I watched him on TV when Ohio State played Penn State. The reason I selected Urban Meyer to do my coaching observation is because he is the coach I decided to model my coaching philosophy after. The reason I chose this game specifically is because this is a very important game and I want to see how he handles his team in high-pressure situations.

The challenge as a coach is applying those philosophies and tips from other coaches, and manipulating them so they fit within the personalities of the staff and players on the team. Underwood’s challenge in 2016 will be getting the most out of his players. To survive the Big 12 gauntlet, Underwood’s Cowboys will have to play to their fullest capabilities in hopes of earning a berth in the 2017 NCAA tournament. Changing the culture of a program doesn’t happen overnight, but Oklahoma State’s hiring of Underwood is a step in the right