Dean DeSilva

Holding players accountable is uncomfortable for both coaches and players. But having players fail because you won't coach, confront, or correct them, is unacceptable!

Assistant Coaches are the unsung heroes. Celebrate your assistant coaches today.👇

Grew up too competitive to accept & tolerate complacent. If I’ve ever had a pet-peeve, it’s folks that are ok with just being ok Be the very best version of yourself! That begins with accountability from all angles. Your daily action determines everything. Don’t be ok with ok

Things I wish I would have known as a player: How much time the coaching staff spends thinking about what's best for the team.

In my experience - those who truly ‘want to’ find a way to make it happen. Those who just want to tell you they ‘will’ find an excuse. Look within to find your purpose & develop your commitment to your cause

All it takes is one coach that believes in you. For many, reading that sounds like a cliche. But for those that have actually experienced it, it’s much more than that. Truly believing inspires athletes to give more effort. It increases their confidence, and they learn to…

Coaching is about caring. Caring about your players’ success and connecting with their hearts and minds. We have a job to prepare them for life after college.

HS Athletes: When you're 25 you're going to realize that the people who demanded your best were also the ones who cared about you the most

What Mentally Tough Players Don't Do: 1. Don’t pout 2. Aren’t entitled 3. Don’t complain 4. Don’t play the victim 5. Don’t cast blame 6. Don’t feel sorry for themselves 7. Don’t avoid hard conversations Mental toughness isn’t loud. It’s disciplined. It’s accountable.

You can't just flip a switch to reach peak performance in games. You have to condition your mind every day to perform your best. If you're mentally lazy during practice, you'll be mentally weak in games.

My biggest mistake as a young coach? Too much sarcasm and not enough empathy. Took me a long time to learn that coaches who show empathy can inspire athletes to give more effort & increase their confidence and deal with adversity better.

It’s rarely done alone and it’s rarely by accident. The very best teams know working together and sticking together is the key to success. Personalities can be different, but mentalities must be similar. Everyone should relentlessly pursue the goal at hand.

Most freshmen don’t struggle because they’re untalented. They struggle because everything is new. New environment. New system. Away from family. And the talent level? Just as good, if not better. Many expect to start right away. Most don’t. So when the struggle comes, and it will, take a lesson from Tom Brady. Early in his career, Brady got 2 practice reps. The starter got 20. He asked his coach, “How can I get better with only two?” The answer: “Make those two perfect.” So he treated them like the Super Bowl. Full speed. Full focus. No wasted motion. Two reps became four. Four became ten. Ten became a starting job. What separated him wasn’t talent. It was how he treated limited opportunities. Most backups focus on the reps they didn’t get. Brady treated his 2 reps like an audition. That lesson goes beyond sports. Not leading the project? Own your role like it runs the company. Not in the big meeting? Make your five minutes count. Not starting? Practice like it’s game day. Development isn’t about where you start. It’s about how you respond. Opportunity doesn’t expand because you deserve it. It expands because you make it impossible to ignore. Question: What are your “2 reps” right now? And are you treating them like they matter?

Competing on the Olympic stage, Mike Sullivan, Head Coach of the @NYRangers, leans on the same approach he builds at home. Trust built with players and reinforced through accountability becomes the foundation for elite performance when everything is on the line.

Mental toughness often makes the difference between winning and losing. If you’re serious about reaching your goals, you need to train your mental game every day.

Be the coach that your players think about when they’re: • Applying for a job • Getting married • Having a child • Raising their children • Struggling to make ends meet • Fighting through adversity • Dealing with loss … Be the coach who CHANGES LIVES!

Winning doesn’t show up by accident. It shows up after habits do. Early mornings. Late nights. Great attitude. Relentless effort. Teammates over self. You don’t win on game day. You collect on game day.

🏀 Hurley Early Bird Workouts → Hurley ran the early mornings at Bob Hurley Basketball School. ✔ Ball-handling progression ✔ Footwork + combo work ✔ Cross → between → behind ✔ Reps before dawn 💬 Comment HUSKY for access