Be it !!!

Thanks to my amazing wife I got an opportunity to recently go listen to Butler University Basketball Coach Brad Stevens speak at a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America here in the Indianapolis area. This blog is some excerpts from his talk and a few comments about his life philosophy from me.

But before I share what he had to say I want you to digest a few coaching facts about a man who cares more about the journey than the end result. I personally think God blesses when your heart and will line up with His ...

Horizon League Coach of the Year, 2008
Horizon League Coach of the Year, 2009
NCAA basketball record for the most wins by a first-time coach in his first three years
Season / Overall Record / Conference Record
2007–2008 / 30-4 / 16-2
2008–2009 / 26-6 / 15-3
2009–2010 / 26-4 / 18-0

If you aren't blown away by those kinds of accolades because they are numbers, put his heart and philosophy behind them and you realize this 34 yr old coach is wise, and more importantly, a difference maker beyond his years. Many of us were cheering out loud as we listened to this laid back coach address the crowd in a way that made everyone in the place say "Please God, let my children be able to spend some time with him?!"

You can tell that he wishes that the Bull Dawgs would have won the championship game the last couple of years, but you can tell even more that he is sold out on the fact that the greater purpose for each season is not winning the prize but becoming better prepared for the next season by improving and appreciating throughout the season you are currently in. It is a fresh freedom to hear from a coach in a very competitive environment that values nothing less than winning it all, and compromises his or her approach to the kids on the team to achieve it. It's a message that every young athlete needs to hear and be exposed to on a personal level.... Oh yeah, did I fail to mention that the evening he was speaking to us was the final hours of "National signing day" for high school basketball players across the country? I don't know if he realized that or not when he committed to speak many months prior to the engagement, but it sure speaks to his faithfulness.

"Success is having something, but excellence is being something."
Trophies, plaques and applause are proof that for a moment in time you accomplished something, but being something talks to who you are today and everyday because of the pursuit of trying to become the best team, person, athlete, and citizen in the community.

"If we've really got the athletes best in mind we'll expect them to live and focus on daily standards and not so much the end result."
Self Discipline and carpe diem!

"Be it !!!"
This is the battle cry of "The Butler Way." He didn't draw the parallel and dichotomy to the popular Nike phrase "Just Do it", but he didn't have to. Everything he talked about pointed away from temporary (One game) accomplishments and towards doing your best in every situation life puts you in... on and off the court. "Just do it" is one time, while "Be It" implies all the time... everywhere! The regular season of life really matters to this guy!
If this is on a T-shirt anywhere, and it should be, I'm buying it!

"There's no lesson like learning to get through an adverse situation together."
Reference here to the lackluster start the team got off to in the 10-11 season after going to the national championship game in 09-10. Coaching adjustments and player leadership sprouting it's wings led them to a 14 game winning streak heading into the championship game.

"Matt Howard might be the best example of servant leadership I've ever been associated with."
Coach couldn't say enough about Matt. It sounds like they are very close. He jokes about Matt "Having the worst first workout I've ever seen for a college basketball program, but could turn out to be the best player ever to wear a Butler uniform."

"Where do you want to be on your worst day?"
This quote comes out of a story he was telling about recruiting a high school player with the player's coach by his side. When the player said that it was between Butler and one or two other schools the coach looked the boy in eyes then looked at Coach Stevens and said "Where do you want to be on your worst day?" Coach Stevens said it was the best advise he'd ever heard a coach give a player who was deciding where to spend the next four years of his life. Actually, I think it is great advise for any of us. All too often because we are so results, success, money, title, position, status driven in life we tend to misplace growth and maturity along the way. With the reality of life being that all of us are going to fail from time to time, and it's healthy balance to do so, we need the right people around us to rightly process how we'll respond when life happens. Once again, pointing back to coach's emphasis on journey rather than results.

So whether you are an athlete, coach, parent, older sibling, friend or leader in any environment of life I urge you to digest the thoughts expressed on this page and make them your own as you have an impact on the lives of the people God has crossed your path with.

Just BE IT!
Coach Ray

PS....and yes dear, you did score major "good wife points" with the ticket to this event. Thanks for knowing what my passions are and leading me to them. I love you!