
Coach Z has received awards in the coaching field as well as the television community. In 2005 he became one of only 35 active college basketball coaches to be selected Coach of the Year in two different Division I conferences at two separate schools. That year he was selected the Mid-Continent Conference, College Insider and CBSSportlsine Coach of the Year for his team's performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). He has built a strong reputation for turning programs around, has built or rebuilt programs at each of his stops on his coaching journey. At two of his four head coaching assignments he departed as the all-time Winningest coach.
Anouncer for ESPN and a retired coach of 25 years Coach Z teaches team building and how to be successful
At 27, he was the youngest Division I head coach in the country at St. Francis College in New York. In his third season the Terriers recorded their most Division I wins in two decades and was named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year.
He then built the University of North Florida program from scratch. In only their fourth season of existence he led them to the championship game of the Sunshine State Conference. Along the way his team knocked off three nationally ranked teams.
His tenure at UMKC produced historic wins and results. Not only is he the all-time winningest coach, but has the most tournament wins as well as the longest winning streak in school history (11, top ten in the country in 2005). He led the Kangaroos to their first win over Kansas State, a 41 point win that was the fifth largest margin of victory in school history. Coach Z also had the second highest winning percentage in the Mid-Continent Conference during his six seasons.
Coach Z preaches the benefits of living a well-rounded life. The proof is in the actions as he has authored numerous magazine articles and has published two new books titled, “Birds, Dogs and Kangaroos: Life on the Back Roads of College Basketball” and “For Tiger Fans Only.” He has appeared in numerous films, including Along Came a Spider, along with an episode of Friday Night Lights. He has become a mainstay in the commercial industry. And in 2002 he received a Telly Award and for his UMKC season ticket commercial.
These days he can be found on ESPN, Fox Sports and CBS College Sports working as a college basketball analyst.
SOME OF HIS MOST REQUESTED TOPICS ARE:
TRAITS OF A WELL COACHED COMPANY
For 25 years I researched, studied and created working environments that fostered teamwork. It gave each team member an opportunity to play to their strengths. Along the way my peers would remark that my team was “well coached.”
Now I have taken this research into the business field and delved into the innerworkings of successful companies to identify the characteristics that have made them successful in their field.
Over the course of this seminar you will learn the “Baker’s Dozen Traits” that can make your team successful regardless of the field of competition.
Learn how to develop the following:
…..Players who have surrendered to the culture of the program.
…..teams that are motivated so that you don’t have to coach effort.
….teams that have good shot selection
…..teams that don’t foul away from the scoring area
….teams that have genuine enthusiasm
and 8 other keys to building successful teams.
A GAME PLAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Every person, team, company and community need a game plan to reach the potential they were given. Coach Z will show you a path to help develop your own game plan based on these cornerstones:
You can’t heat an over with Snowballs
Dominate the Dash
Be a mailman
HAPPY BIRTHDAY– YOU’RE FIRED: A GAME PLAN FOR RE-IGNITING THE PASSION
In this time of worker displacement it is important that you have a game plan for any development that may arise. What would you do if your boss told you “we want to go in a different direction and you aren’t part of it?” Learn some crucial steps in getting yourself back on your feet and moving in the right direction.
What’s it like to be fired on your birthday. Coach Z can tell you what it feels like and also the game plan he used to get back on his feet. He will give you a guide to bouncing back and reaching your full potential.
DRINK, SWEAR, STEAL AND LIE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS
Coach Z details the four key areas to building a successful team. Listen as he challenges his audience to a) Believe in yourself and your team, b) Never stop learning, c) Fill the void and d) Eat the heart of a watermelon.
LOADING YOUR BACKPACK FOR A LIFETIME JOURNEY
Make sure you have all the right ingredients to lead a successful life. Learn the importance of developing you three major bones. Coach Z will explain how your wishbone, backbone and funny bone will play a vital role in a successful future.
PICTURE LIFE—- THE PASSION WITHIN
See yourself not only winning, but being successful as well. Coach Z will give you the tools to see your life the way you want it to be. He will help you unlock the passion inside each and every one.
TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE
With today’s tumultuous business environment it is important as the leader that you are able to adjust to the bad as well as good that may come your way. Find out some easy steps in making these circumstances work for you and your company. Life is about what happens to you, but success is determined by how you react to what life throws at you. In 2005, I walked into the locker room after my team had just lost for the 7th time in a row, which kept us winless on the year. Instead of dwelling on the negative I set the stage for a monstrous comeback by taking them to see Flight of the Phoenix. Following the movie we ripped off a school record 11 wins in a row, which included and undefeated month of January. Learn the secrets of looking at a rock as not an obstacle, but rather a stepping-stone.