A Princeton Education...In Basketball
The Coaching Lessons of Pete Carril
Pete Carril, the legendary Men’s Basketball coach of the Princeton Tigers, passed away this week at the age of 92.
In his near 30-year career at the Ivy League school he almost always fielded competitive teams. No small feat when you consider that the Ivy League does not offer athletic scholarships to players.
So the kids with the most natural talent, skills and NBA-ambition rarely find their way onto the Princeton hardwood.
That said, Coach Carril still managed to amass 13 Ivy League Championships and 13 Post-Season Tournament appearances. And while you wouldn’t call Princeton a “powerhouse,” you could refer to the Tigers as a “thorn in the side of any given powerhouse.” Like the memorable 1996 outing when Princeton upset the defending champion UCLA Bruins in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
A wonderful headline in the Daily Princetonian memorialized the victory as “David 43, Goliath 41.”
There’s some good learning from this Hall-of-Fame basketball coach for the executive coach (and leader).
Namely, Honesty, Innovation, Self-Awareness and Perspective.
This all comes from a good article written by Fordham University Business School professor Francis Petit. You can read more at the link below.
For me, one key Coach Carril attribute that stands out is Honesty. Fact is, a coach’s job is to see what a client cannot see. And tell a client what others might not say. All in a way that is free of judgement. With an eye towards growth.
You see, a coach is here to help you become aware of an issue. Help you make smarter choices. And in so doing, help you transform. (At least that’s what they taught me at Brown. For the record, a better lacrosse team than basketball team.)
Coach Carril was brutally honest. Craig Robinson, who played for Coach Carril, and was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year (and former Brown head basketball coach) remarked:
“Coach Carril was honest with us every single day of the year, and we are all better players and people for it.”
RIP Coach. Your impact and lessons live on.
Read more about Coach Pete Carril and his lessons for leaders at the link:
https://thesportjournal.org/article/what-executives-can-learn-from-pete-carril/