How Dan White is doing it:
(1) Setting baseline conditions of (a) integrity and (b) focus on the well-being of our athletes. Throughout the program, all sports.
(2) Meeting with and listening to the players. Getting huge buy-in from them in return. Coaches are generally following this model as well; Dan White is having a positive influence on their leadership styles. Trickle-down goodness.
(3) Setting a high bar for success. Being very clear what success looks like: championships, across all sports.
(4) Hiring and retaining the best possible head coaches, and giving them the funding and tools to hire the best possible assistants and support staff.
(5) Asking the coaches what they need to succeed. Then getting it for them.
(6) Clearing the path ahead of each coaching staff of unnecessary obstacles. That includes Dan himself and the AD staff getting out of their way, too.
None of this is magic. None of it is rocket science. But it does take a strong and charismatic leader, a bright and insightful thinker, a tireless and determined manager. And that whole package, that combination of talents, is rare.
We got one of them now. Let's keep him for a lifetime.
...
As for the Director's Cup, I'm thinking we might just crack the Top 10 this year. And go from 9th in the SEC to perhaps 1st or 2nd. We'll see.
