Pat Summitt Tribute - Tennessee Definite Dozen

On the day that Pat Summitt announced her retirement I must pay tribute by acknowledging some of the program philosophies that Coach Summitt implemented that made her the greatest women's basketball coach, and one of the best coaches in any sport, of all time.

Here are the Tennessee Lady Vols "Definite Dozen":

Respect Yourself and Others - People who do not respect those around them will not make good team members and probably lack self-esteem.

Take Full Responsibility - There are no shortcuts to success.

Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty - Loyalty is not unilateral. You have to give it to receive it.

Learn to Be a Great Communicator - Communication eliminates mistakes.

Discipline Yourself So No One Else Has To - Self-discipline helps you believe in yourself.

Make Hard Work Your Passion - Plan your work, and work your plan.

Don't Just Work Hard, Work Smart - When you understand yourself and those around you, you are better able to minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths. Personality profiles help.

Put the Team Before Yourself - Teamwork allows common people to obtain uncommon results.

Make Winning an Attitude - Combine practice with belief.

Be a Competitor - You can't always be the most talented person in the room, but you can be the most competitive.

Change Is a Must - Change equals self-improvement. Push yourself to places you haven't been before.

Handle Success Like You Handle Failure - It's harder to stay on top than it is to make the climb. Continue to seek new goals.

Thanks to www.mensbasketballhoopscoop.com for the great info on Coach Summitt.

Chris Mack's Plan

Scott Gaede, a friend of Xavier head basketball coach Chris Mack, chronicled Mack's first season as head coach at Xavier during the 2009-10 season and published it in the form of "Next In Line". As both a fan of the program and the fact it's a great read, I got through this one in less that 48 hours. One of the things Gaede covers is Mack's nine-point plan for the program that he discussed in his interview for the job with Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski:

1) Keeping the Core - Continuity through rapport and buy-in from players
2) The Xavier Way - A culture that has produced results
3) The Xavier Mission - Developing basketball players as students and people
4) Basketball Identity - Coaching with respect and dignity toward players; developing close-knit coaching staff; similar X's and O's identity that was developed under Sean Miller
5) Coaching Staff - Having "the smartest room of people" with which to work
6) The Bridge to Xavier Past and Cincinnati - Involvement of past players; ability to sell the program through media and community members because he's native of Cincinnati
7) The Xavier Vision - Moving the program to the next level; playing in the Final 4
8) The Plan and the Philosophy - 360-degree total development of players (academics, off-floor life skills, basketball skills, knowledge of player's support system); systematic approach to recruiting; passionate belief in current offensive and defensive systems
9) Established Trust - Continuity within the program; importance of communication