Coach's Diary

I’m in love with this sentence: “Your laziness is disrespectful for the people who believe in you.”

CONVENIENCE VS INCONVENIENCE You can’t just do things when they feel convenient or when you feel good and motivated — you can to do the right things all the time — even when you don’t feel like it. Have a goal and a plan, and stay disciplined to the plan.

She makes everyone around her look good!!! Playmaker!! Unselfish!! Defensive menace!! Winner!! And look at those dimessss 🤘🏼😮‍💨

SEE THINGS THROUGH TO THE FINISH It’s easy to be committed to your plan or process when things are going well or you see progress, but in everything, you will plateau. What will you do then? Will you quit because you aren’t moving as fast as you want, or will you keep going?

LEARNERS AND DOERS I want a team of people who can consistently do their job at a high level because they are constantly learning how to do their job better and consistently applying what they learn.

"I always say you've got to be the same person when things are going great and when things aren't going great. You can't switch up, that's the character of a good man.” - Jayson Tatum

Azzi Fudd spent years fighting through injuries, doubt, and setbacks. But she kept showing up, kept working, and never stopped believing in what she could become. This week, that journey led her to becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Your setbacks do not have to define you. If you keep showing up, your story is still being written. #AzziFudd #WNBA #DallasWings

Keep it simple: be a great teammate today. No matter what you are going through, find someone you can help and make better.

Loyalty and Character‼️‼️‼️ 📸 via @ACoachsDiary #Student1stAthlete2nd

The best leaders I’ve been around have a healthy mix of confidence and humility. They are smart, skilled, and capable — but they also know they aren’t perfect. And they have an effective way of communicating that balance. They are vulnerable. Brené Brown is a research professor, author, and speaker best known for her work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and leadership. She studies what gets in the way of people showing up fully — and teaches how to push through it so we can lead, connect, and perform better. She defines vulnerability not as weakness, but as the “birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” Her work highlights that being vulnerable requires the courage to show up and be seen, even when you can’t control the outcome. And the truth is — very rarely can we control the outcome. Being vulnerable helps us connect with the people we work with, be honest about who we are, and find the best path forward. It’s our ability to share our thoughts, feelings, and experiences with people who have earned the right to hear them. Brown puts it this way: “Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” “Vulnerability is hard and it’s scary and it feels dangerous. But it’s not as hard, or scary, or dangerous as getting to the end of our lives and having to ask ourselves: What if I would’ve shown up?” So don’t feel like you need to know everything or have all the answers. Find people you trust — people who share your vision and energy. Be honest about who you are, what you know, and what you don’t. Then work together to fill each other’s gaps while highlighting each other’s strengths. Something to Think About How can you create an environment where people feel safe to be honest about what they know, what they don’t know, and where they need help — and how would that change the way your team works together? #Mindset #Motivation

How do you respond to losing or getting less than you expected? A lot of times, the human reaction to that is to give less than your best because of frustration. But if your response to losing is to give less — how can you ever become a winner? Instead, learn, grow, and give more. - via Kara Lawson and @DukeWBB ✅ youtu.be/Gt8jmzK2hP8?si… via @YouTube

Culture is not just why you say — it’s what you see, hear, feel, reward, and correct. Culture isn’t a sign in the wall — it’s what is happening all the time. Culture is a team sport, and it is happening all the time.

@GeneSchnar @umichbball Most definitely! Keep showing up!

@ACoachsDiary @umichbball I use this line all the time with my teams “decisions are made by those who show up.” Night in, night out. Every day. Period.

“The game rewards the guys who show up and have a great attitude when it’s not about them.” - Dusty May Everybody’s role is important. (via: @umichbball) #Michigan #NCAA

“Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dream. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it, you can do it.” - Rory McIlroy #rorymcilroy #TheMasters

One of the greatest challenges about being a coach and a leader is that you often give much more than you get. It can be draining. So find ways to fill your bucket while you are filling everyone else’s.

Most people think greatness comes from talent, but sport psychologist Anders Ericsson’s research says something different: Greatness comes from how you practice. He introduced the idea of deliberate practice — a specific type of practice designed not just to repeat a skill, but to improve it. Ericsson once said, “The right sort of practice carried out over a sufficient period of time leads to improvement. Nothing else.” That’s important — because not all practice is equal. A lot of athletes practice, but they stay the same. Why? Because they’re going through the motions instead of pushing their limits. Deliberate practice has a few key characteristics: - It’s specific — you’re working on a specific part of your game - It’s challenging — just beyond your current ability - It includes feedback — from a coach, teammate, or even yourself - It requires focus — full attention, not mindless reps Think about the difference: Shooting 100 jump shots = regular practice Focusing on your footwork or follow-through with feedback = deliberate practice One keeps you busy. The other makes you better. Here’s the real takeaway for athletes and teams: Improvement doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing better on purpose. #inspiration #motivation #explore

@SethMc11 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

I once heard someone say, “If you want to live right, learn how to think right.” Mindfulness helps us notice our thoughts so they don’t control us. When we learn to choose our response, we give ourselves a better chance to live and lead the right way.

After leading Michigan to the National Championship, Elliot Cadeau was asked, “When you think back on this team — with the guys who surround you now — what will be the lasting memory about this unit?” He said, “Just the unselfishness that everybody has. Nobody cared about stats the whole season — nobody care about nothing but winning. I’m just glad to be a part of that.” #Michigan #ElliotCadeau #NCAA #MarchMadness