How to Be a Better Coach

Hall of Fame Coach Phil Jackson has won more NBA championships than any other head coach and helped shape legendary players including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant. He teaches a class in the School of Education’s Master’s in Sports Leadership program alongside Professor Peter Miller, whose groundbreaking research includes a focus on the science of effective leadership and coaching. Jackson shares these insights for current and aspiring coaches:

1. Develop credibility with your team
   “A lot of coaching depends on voice, on essence, on how you speak, the control that you have of the language, your ability to deliver a message.”
2. Own up to making mistakes
   “You make mistakes. And the mistakes you’re going to make are sometimes how you endear yourself to your community.”
3. De-personalize feedback
   “It’s not that I’m correcting you. I’m correcting the act that you need to change. I’m not demeaning you.”
4. Know when you shouldn’t step in
   “Sometimes it’s good to fail.”
5. Create a shared team language
   “You know you’re making progress when players are starting to use your language.”
6. Find meaningful roles for everyone
   “If players 9-12 are unhappy with their roles, you want to find another way to get them involved. Keep them happy, content, and involved. (Otherwise) it will create problems for the team’s chemistry.”