Share
The Great Coaches: Leadership & Life
Pat Summitt
•
Pat Summitt was an American basketball player who won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympics and then transitioned into coaching leading the USA team to a Gold at the at the 1984 Olympics. However its as the coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012 that she is most famous. Over her career she amassed 1098 wins and led the team to 8 NCAA championships.
She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of fame in 1999, was named the Naismith Basketball coach of the century in 2000and in 2012 was awarded the Presidential medal of freedom in 2012. After 38 years leading to Tennessee, she retired from coaching at the age of 59 due to a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. She would eventually pass away in 2016 at the age of 64.
She is mentioned so frequently by the Basketball coaches that we interview that I have decided to learn more about her life and this led me to put together a posthumous interview with her based on her words. I used 3 books to create this discussion all of which she wrote.
Reach for the Summit: The Definite Dozen System for Succeeding at Whatever You Do
This episode was fascinating to put together, Pats coaching style was, by her own admission, very challenging and but in the context of her background and the times in which she was coaching I can also understand why it was this way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at thegreatcoachespodcast@gmail.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com
More episodes
View all episodes
Staffan Olsson
53:45|Our Great Coach on this episode is Handball coach Staffan Olsson.Staffan played 357 times for the Swedish national team and won a silver medal three times at the Olympic Games. In 2005 he transitioned into coaching and over the next 5 years lead Hammarby to 3 Swedish National championships.In 2008 he became the Swedish National Mens coach and led them to the silver medal at the 2012 olympics. He then went on to coach at French club Paris Saint-Germain from 2015 to 2018 where he helped them win the National Championship and place twice in the Champions League. He was inducted into the EHF Hall of Fame in 2024. He is presently the Head Coach of the Dutch National Mens team.1. Am I leading in a way that is genuinely authentic to me, or am I copying a style that doesn’t fit who I am?2. How do I respond to mistakes — do I treat them as failures to avoid, or as necessary moments for growth and learning?3. Do I spend enough time understanding the people I lead as individuals, not just focusing on performance and outcomes?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at thegreatcoachespodcast@gmail.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com
Joe Montemurro
48:02|Joe Montemurro is a Football, or as it is called in some places, Soccer coach. Joe started coaching in his late 20’s in the early 2000’s in Australia. He progressed steadily through state league teams before achieving his first international position in Papua New Guinea. He was then appointed to lead Melbourne Victory in 2014 and Melbourne City in 2015 leading them to back to back championships. In 2017, he was appointed Coach of Arsenal Women, and in his first season, he led them to the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the League title in his second season. He then joined Juventus and led them to the treble winning the Supercoppa, The Italian Cup and Serie A. In later years he also won Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. In 2024 he then joined Lyon in France and they won the Premier League.The in 2025 he was announced as the new coach of the Australian National team, the Matildas.What are the few core principles that define how I want to lead or work, and are they clear enough for others to act on without constant direction?How well do I understand the culture of the environment I’m working in, and where might I need to adapt my approach?Which values truly guide my behaviour each day, and how visible are they to the people around me? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com
Jeroen Delmee
53:27|Our great coach on this episode is Jeroen Delmee. Jeroen is a field hockey coach who first represented his country in 1994. He retired in 2008 with 401 International caps and a 2 time Olympic champion. He then transitioned into coaching working with the Dutch National womens team, the Belgium mens team and then 4 years leading the Frech National team.In 2021 he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Dutch men and led them to gold at the 2023 Men's EuroHockey Championship and the 2024 Summer Olympics. He is the only Dutch sportsperson in history to win Olympic gold both as a player and as a coach. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com
On Game Day Part 2
38:13|Todays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe
On Game Day Part 1
44:30|Todays episode is On Game Day and to explore the topic I am joined by Eamon Devlin. Eamon is the founder of Minute9, a consultancy that works with some of the world’s elite teams and coaches in helping them improve their half time talks and preparation. This discussion is so rick in information, and useful to any of us that are leading sporting teams or work teams that have split into 2 parts. You will walk away with ideas on how to improve the way you speak at half time, what people need to get the most out of team talks and how you can present information in a way that will actually change behavior. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Mike Cron
44:01|Our great coach on this episode is Mike Cron. Mike Cron was a coach with the New Zealand All Blacks for 2017 Games. This includes a stretch where they won 2 Rugby World Cups. He was also part of the team that led the NZ Women’s team to the world cup in 2022. In addition he has worked with the Welsh and Japanese teams and is presently coaching the Australian Wallabies alongside Joe Scmidt.1. Where am I being “firm” when I actually need to adapt—and what feedback would I need to hear (and accept) to make that change?2. When I lead or coach, do I rely more on a script or on observation—and what would improve if I became more comfortable with silence and listening?3. In my team (or work group), where might social loafing be showing up subtly, and what specific commitment can I make so that “it will not be me”?If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com and if you would like to receive our newsletter with 5 ideas to help you improve your leadership, then sign up at: https://thegreatcoaches.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Book Club: World's Best by Ric Charlesworth
43:05|This episode is a recording of our book club. The book we discuss is World’s Best by Ric Charlesworth, the iconic Australian Field Hockey Coach Ric Charlesworth. Ric led both the Australian and Men's Hockey teams to World Cup victories. He also ed the women to an An Olympic Gold. He has also worked in Cricket, Australian Rules Football, is a medical Dr and spent 10 tears as a federal politican. Our discussion is led by Dr David Turner, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, If you enjoy todays discussion and would like to join us for a future book club you can contact me on paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com
Bob Shillinglaw
42:56|Our great coach on this episode is Bob Shillinglaw. Bob is an American Lacrosse coach. Bob spent 42 years as a college coach, 39 of them leading the University of Delaware Mens Lacrosse team . He has coached 654 games, more than any other lacrosse coach in history, and is one of only 2 to win over 300 games. . Along the way his teams went to the NCAA tournament on 6 occasions and made the final four in 2007. He also led Team USA when they defeated Canada to win the 1999 World Cup of Lacrosse. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com
On Burnout
48:44|Todays episode is on the topic of Burnout and I am joined for the discussion by Dr Gavin Weeks. Gavin is a Doctor of Psychology and Associate Fellow at Oxford Sayyid Business School and director of innovation and development at the consultancy Thompson Harrison.And Dr Brendan Meany. Brendan Meany is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and His work focuses on implementing high-performance skills to optimize human potential in both sport and the corporate space. He is also the Chief Performance Officer of LiveFirstAI.com, he applies sportpsychology principles that manage burnout and elevate functioning. If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com