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the NBA would bring him that Duke could not?

As mentioned earlier, working for the NBA would give him a more substantial place to influence a team. As a coach for the Lakers, more people would see the great principles that Coach K tries to convey to his players.

NBA players are also icons to many small children. If Coach K had a good influence on his players, those players would have a good influence on the children that look up to them.

The players aren't the only ones that could benefit from Coach K's good example. Other NBA coaches could eventually use Coach K as a role model and example in their own careers.

Money is also a crucial factor in the deal. Not only could Coach K use that money for his personal wealth, he could also donate to his former team at Duke, or, other athletic organizations.

Coach K tried to live by the following rule: "Don't do anything that's detrimental to yourself. Because if it's detrimental to you, it'll be detrimental to our program and to Duke University." Does this rule have application in a corporate environment?

Not to sound clich but Martha Stewart would be a prime example of this situation. Martha ran a magazine, clothing and home goods line, and a nationally syndicated talk show at the time she was convicted of fraud. Seeing that the stocks were going to dip below a comfortable amountshe sold them. This selfish and ultimately detrimental act cost her image and jail time. Whenever the leader of a company is brought down they bring down the hardworking employees of that company with them. This same problem has happened with Enron, Bear Sterns, and various other companies who lacked personal integrity and eventually became a "detriment" to everyone.

I think the best way to avoid this sad current cultural phenomenon is to think before you act. Think about who you would really be affecting if your plan doesn't run its course. Whenever you're a leader, coach, or boss, you're in charge of the welfare of others.

Coach K built relationships at a personal level with each player so he could better "read" them. What advantages and disadvantages does this method of coaching and leadership carry with it?

An advisor from the BYU-Idaho Activities program once gave me some great advice about people: "The hardest part about being a leader is dealing with personalities". I think Coach K knew this concept. He knew that in order for anyone to do what he wanted he had to actually care about who they were and understand their backgrounds. When you understand the hardships a person has faced you're better able to gauge their reaction to a particular situation. When you know what makes someone tick you're better able to find the willpower to drive them emotionally. Coach K knew his players so they could know the game better. He also befriended them so they would trust him and his abilities as a coach. It is much easier to trust a good friend for directions then a stranger off the street, because you know where your friend is leading you.

I will conclude by stating the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I believe this is a principle that Coach K understood completely. His team was a brotherhood. They weren't just employees to him, they were his clay that he could mold. The best part, Coach K made them into spectacular sculptures each and every season.

Learn more about this author, Christal Collette.
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