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It is a particular episode of The CEO Collection for me as a result of we took a visit to Notre Dame Stadium the place I performed soccer as a walk-on alongside my brother throughout the undefeated season of 2012. We went to my previous stomping grounds to sit down down with head coach Marcus Freeman to speak about management and the way, in some ways, he’s the CEO of their unimaginable program.
Under are some highlights of that dialog, which have been edited for size and readability. Watch the total video above.
The coach as CEO
“A CEO is answerable for a giant firm, and my firm occurs to be Notre Dame soccer. On the finish of the day, you are liable for each determination that impacts the folks in this system and the outcomes which might be on the sphere. So you do not make each determination, however you are liable for each determination. That is vital to be sure to perceive. All through my teaching profession, the best satisfaction got here from seeing the gamers you have been concerned with have success.”
The celebration video that went viral after he was employed as head coach
“It was a blur. However I keep in mind strolling out of that door and seeing the staff going loopy — all I wished to do was hug them. It wasn’t a few speech. It was an opportunity to have a good time and be along with your guys, proper? I inform them on a regular basis: I am a teammate. I is perhaps the captain, however I am a teammate. I perceive the belongings you’re going by way of. I am on this combat with you. And I believe they respect that and so they perceive that. Strolling out that door is a second I am going to always remember and one I am going to cherish without end.”
The that means of his mantra “Select Onerous”
“It began a few years in the past once I was within the Notre Dame weight room and was figuring out as our gamers have been being pushed laborious. And I keep in mind pondering that you could select to undergo the motions or you’ll be able to select to go as laborious as you’ll be able to. And that is once I got here up with this considered ‘Select Onerous.’ We put up an indication you see whenever you stroll into this constructing that claims ‘Select Onerous.’ As a result of whenever you stroll into Notre Dame soccer, you have to have that mindset. We’ll select laborious immediately in follow, select laborious immediately in conferences, select laborious immediately within the weight room. And for the gamers, you are going to be challenged within the classroom, proper? You are going to be in school with a few of the most clever folks on this world. And it is troublesome, however finally you have chosen to return right here so select laborious, settle for it, and know that the rewards from selecting laborious each single day cannot be discovered wherever else.”
Drawback-solving philosophy
“When a staff is not successful, lots of people say, belief the method. My mantra is: repair the method. I spend lots of time evaluating all the things we have been doing. Why aren’t we taking part in higher? What are we doing schematically? Is there one thing our gamers do not perceive? Losses occur and it is part of life. However they harm. As a pacesetter, you do not need to have too many. Repair it with urgency.”
Retaining gamers within the age of the switch portal
“Look, in case you’re the CEO of an organization, you bought to pay your workers, proper? Now if they’ll go some place else and make much more cash, it doesn’t matter what kind of firm you are working, they will most likely depart. So we have now to make it possible for our gamers can maximize the alternatives of identify, picture and likeness. That is vital, however what else retains them at Notre Dame? What else attracts them right here? And you have to consider it is your tradition. You have to consider it is the way in which they’re handled. Do they get pleasure from being a part of your program? That is so vital. And that is a message for myself and our different coaches. Let’s make it possible for as laborious as we push them, as demanding as we’re, we’re not demeaning. We would like them to get pleasure from being part of this staff and all the alternatives that the College of Notre Dame offers.”
Take a look at extra profiles of progressive and impactful leaders by visiting The CEO Collection archives.