Texas A&M SPMT 362 Spring 2024

I Lauren Parmer picked Patty Gasso. For those who do not know her, she is an NFCA Hall of Fame softball coach at the University of Oklahoma. I grew up watching her on television, and in person, she has accomplished many incredible things, like leading the Sooners to seven national championships. She is not just an excellent coach, but also a fantastic leader. If you’ve ever seen Patty Gasso in person or on television, you’ll notice that she’s great at listening and understanding under pressure. For example, in the last national championship game, there was a lot of pressure because it was a close game, but she stayed calm and collected, allowing her to calm her team and ensure they performed to their full potential.That was the major reason I selected her. You see coaches shout at refs or players on television, but not her. Whether it was a terrible call or a player wasn’t playing to her full potential, you’ve never seen her become upset like some other coaches; she’s always calm regardless of the outcome. While working on this project and learning more about Patty Gasso, I picked this video because it demonstrates how she fosters a strong team culture built on trust, discipline, and a winning mindset. During this video you will learn that she encourages friendship and solidarity among her players, providing an environment in which they may grow and collaborate toward common goals. I believe that possessing all of these skills, such as remaining cool and maintaining a happy attitude regardless of the circumstances, makes her an effective leader and coach. Her leadership abilities enable her players to collaborate and encourage young children who aspire to be coaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weEW2fzT4hk

My name is Abby Wagler and someone who I believe is a great leader in sports is Maggie Nichols. Maggie grew up competing in gymnastics and was absolutely phenomenal. She trained alongside Olympians such as Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglass. She was even set to go to the 2016 Summer Olympics before she suffered a massive knee injury, holding her back from competing. What is so inspiring and motivating to me about Maggie Nichols, is her ability to persevere. You may have watched the Netflix documentary a few years ago called Athlete A, which was centralized on the overlooked abuse within USA Gymnastics involving Larry Nassar. Maggie was unfortunately one of the main affected athletes throughout this entire scandal and it created so many barriers for her within her own sport. She was sexually abused by Nassar and USA Gymnastics did not take any action to protect Maggie. They quite literally put a target on her back and singled her out, which led to her being mistreated with things such as bias, emotional neglect, unfair scoring, and more. This created so many lasting effects on her physical health and especially her mental health. Despite all of these hurdles and challenges, Maggie still trained and competed to the best of her ability with a smile on her face to lead as an example of those who look up to her, such as the young gymnasts from her small town, or athletes across the globe watching her on television. After she took a step back from USA Gymnastics due to the incidents, it was actually time for her to go to college to which she committed to the University of Oklahoma. She EXCELLED as a gymnast at OU by breaking records, leading her team to victories, and leaving her mark in the NCAA. I chose this clip of her specifically because she talks about her memoir she wrote, as well as speaks on overcoming adversity and how that has helped her throughout her life. One of the main, and in my opinion most important aspects/character traits of a great leader is their resilience. To be able to persevere through so much trauma and hardship growing up as an athlete without giving up displays how great of a leader she has evolved to be. Maggie Nichols is truly inspiring and motivates me to keep pushing and working through, no matter the storm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcTeLkudwtw

The leader that I chose is Nick Bare. Mr. Bare is the Founder and CCO of Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN). Nick started BPN while he was still enlisted in the Army, and from his small room he was able to build a multi-million dollar nutrition company. Nick has key phrases that he uses to motivate not only his employees but also his customers. These include “Go One More”, and “Do the Hard Right over the Easy Wrong.” These phrases have been a key part in BPN being able to build such a strong brand image and culture. In the short video attached Nick speaks on who he wants to be remembered as. He talks about leadership he wants to be different and known as someone who does the hard right of the easy wrong. I believe that learning to do the hard things is a valuable skill to being a leader. It shows determination, endurance, and how to go through struggles. In my opinion, one of the best times to grow is when you are uncomfortable and that can be hard. Another concept that is mentioned in the video is obsession. Nick says that it is okay to be obsessed with something and I can agree with this statement if it doesn’t lead to being so obsessed that you neglect the outside forces impacting the people you are leading. It is good to be obsessed with being a good leader, but that can’t be your only reasoning behind the decisions you make. It is important to have communication and the ability to take others feelings into account when you are the one leading them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XRZ7pyNyL8

My name is Mason F. The leader that I chose to talk about is Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant is a former NBA player who played on the Los Angeles Lakers for his entire career and won five NBA Championships. Unfortunately, he tragically passed away in a helicopter crash several years ago. Kobe was a leader in every walk of life whether it be on the basketball court or with his family. He displayed a lot of leadership traits and characteristics. One thing I would say that made him a great leader was that he set the standard and he would raise the level of everyone around him. He was not one of those people that expected a lot and did not do it himself. His work ethic was unlike any other. He would outwork anybody and do whatever it took to outwork you. He would never be beaten to the gym. Furthermore, if his teammates did not meet the standard that was expected, he would hold them accountable for that and let them know. As a leader, you cannot be afraid of confrontation or giving/receiving the truth. When there was four minutes to go in the game and their team was down eight, he was the one telling his team “We are going to win this game” and told them how. That is creating a vision and building confidence for the team. The thing that I love about Kobe was that everything he said was backed up by the work and by the production. He led by example and everyone in the front office knew it. The impact he had on basketball players all across the globe was astronomical. People wanted to be like him.

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEt4siw7FlzfINE8D7w8QF;_ylu=c2VjA2NkLWF0dHIEc2xrA3NvdXJjZQR2dGlkAw–/RV=2/RE=1706177442/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dB4YWdUQIZSI/RK=2/RS=ySH7BwV0MBwaSVrYgC8bs.gu.h4-

Esteban Caneva

A prisoner, a teacher, a fighter, a son, a father, and most importantly, one of the most outstanding inspirational leaders we have witnessed in the last decades. Nelson Mandela, also known as Madiba by their closest ones, was a leader who fought his entire life for one of the most valuable, underrated, and intangible things that humanity has ever had: freedom. Freedom to human rights, freedom to the right to speak, and freedom for the right to be. Mandela lived a life entirely of pain, suffering, and racism due to lack of equality and the political issues such as Apartheid that South Africa was facing back in 1940. However, that problematic life never changed Mandela’s attitude since he was a kind and humble person with a great sense of humor. As many of you might already know, Mandela was captured and sent to prison unjustly for 27 years. However, this only motivated people in South Africa and worldwide to fight for liberty and set Mandela free. The video that I chose was one of the most iconic speeches Nelson Mandela delivered at the “Laureus World Sports Award” in Monaco in 2000. A speech about how sports can change and unite communities, regardless of race, social class, or ideologies. A speech that is so true and so inspirational since, in 1995, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. A victory that was partly the liberation of Apartheid in South Africa, a victory that Nelson Mandela influenced with the strategies to use sports to unite the people of South Africa. Lastly, I chose Nelson Mandela because of the characteristics, and qualities, that made him a great leader. One of the most significant qualities that Mandela possessed was overcoming adversity. He was a person who spent almost three decades in prison and then came back stronger with new ideas and attitudes that learned from pain and helped his people set free from the country’s policies. In addition, Mandela also had strong listening skills, creating a sense of understanding and empathy, not only from the people of South Africa but also from different countries since he was often used as a diplomat. Lastly, one of the most important and challenging skills that Mandela was able to achieve was the power of showing compassion to humanity. A person who was able to committee, suffer, and at the same time forget others is a person who has character and the right qualities to be an effective leader.

https://youtu.be/y1-7w-bJCtY?feature=shared.

My name is Jessi Morrison and the leader that I have chosen that inspires me is, Jose Altuve. Jose Altuve is a Venezuelan born second baseman and plays for the Houston Astros. Altuve has been with the team since 2011 and has seen the trials and tribulations that have come along with being part of this organization. The city of Houston recognizes him as our hero, captain, and face of the team. After experience three consecutive 100 loss game seasons. The Astros rebuilt themselves, with the continuation of Altuve still playing apart in this team. By 2017 the Astros had achieved their dreams of being World Series Champions, but this didn’t stop there. Scandals came out about the team cheating and the Astros became every other teams number one enemy. The villain of the league. What inspires me about Altuve is the way that he has handled all of the scrutiny of being casted as a villain for a continuation of almost 7 years now. Through many interviews, Altuve has remained true to his teammates and the organization and having no part of this. Whether true or not, he has never given into the criticism and has been respectful and professional, towards journalists and opposing teams fans and players. Altuve also inspires me because of his ability to keep the team strong through the changes after 2017 that they faced. He has continued to stay true to himself, the city, and the club. The way he has carried himself is something that many should look up too. I chose this clip of Altuve after winning the World Series because of his gratitude towards his team, but also how deserving he feels for all of his teammates to achieve a goal like this one.

https://youtu.be/vk7i8mvlZxY?si=RivOOJBU0E1Yt28d

Hi, my name is Mark Henke. The leader I have chosen for this assignment is Tom Brady. Known to most as the GOAT, Tom Brady has been a quarterback in the NFL for 23 seasons. Spending his first 20 at the Patriots and 3 with the Buccaneers. In his career, Brady has won 6 Super Bowls between his two teams. His leadership on and off the field has created a winning culture for not only one team but two. Tom Brady is known for getting in the face of his teammates and seemingly yelling in anger. To most this can seem like a terrible teammate and an even worse leader, but in the video attached he explains how this method is so effective. He talks about how being a leader is all about caring for your teammates and wanting the best for them. The first step of this process is to build relationships with others. In order to care for your teammates you must have a good relationship with everyone. Tom Brady is able to yell in the face of his teammates because he has a relationship with them and they have respect for his leadership. They know that Tom is not just yelling because he wants power of them, he is yelling because he wants his teammates full potential. This is the importance of caring in leadership positions. You want what is best for your team. In the video Tom explains that with all of his success he has already done it all, he wants to see his teammates reach their full potential and help those around him. That is what makes Tom Brady a great leader.

https://youtu.be/UqCrXlCJJ4U?feature=shared

My name is Will Jennings, and the leader I chose was Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player to ever live and in my opinion, he is. Jordan’s career was defined by winning. He won plenty of individual accolades but more importantly, he won 6 NBA championships in the form of two separate 3-peats. To win in the NBA it takes a great leader and I believe Jordan was just that. Having said that Jordan was a hard leader to get along with for some. He wasn’t known for being nice and at times he could be flat-out rude. Every leader has their flaws though. Jordan’s biggest strength as a leader though was the fact he never asked anyone to do something that he didn’t do. To me, that was his greatest leadership quality. Off of the court, Jordan was cordial but on the court, he had standards and expectations for everyone to follow including himself. If you didn’t follow those standards he was going to push you to do so. To some, this can seem rude but he pushed his teammates to be better versions of themselves and that is a great trait to have. Michael’s ultimate goal was to win and he was going to do anything to reach that goal. Having said that he wanted his teammates to win as well. Jordan may not be perceived as the nicest leader but there is no doubting his success. As he stated winning has a price and so does leadership. Whatever that price was he was willing to pay it even if it cost him his reputation as a “nice” guy. Overall while at times unconventional Jordan was a great leader.

https://vimeo.com/417745814

My name is Trenity Haynes-Vallery, and the leader I chose is Sydney McLaughlin-Levorne. Sydney McLaughlin-Levorne is a 24-year-old Track & Field Olympian. I chose this specific video because Sydney gives us a glimpse of her journey, process, support system, mindset and growth. Sydney is the reigning Olympic and World Champion in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of (50.68). She holds several world records, gold and silver Olympic Titles. She is also a part of the USA Gold Medal 4x400m relay team. Sydney is fearless and continues to practice growth in her craft. I strive to have a Sydney Mclauglin-Levorne mindset. She appreciates the journey/process and the outcome. What is defeat? Losing doesn’t mean you’ve been defeated; it means you have room to grow. Sydney has done a phenomenal job looking at the glass as if it is half full. She didn’t get first in the 400m Olympic Race in Paris, but she had a great opener. She teaches her fans and supporters that losing is never a goal, but a good start/race is always a win! People are always going to have something to say and the key to mastering life is to be content within yourself! A true leader knows that there is always room for improvement. Fun fact: I love how her husband, Andre Levorne, stats that she is still a human-being, a wife, and a woman. Leaders are people too and they go through the same emotions as everyone else! Sydney McLaughlin-Levorne is my idol and I hope you all learn something from this video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV9b23R9fu8

My name is Logan Watson and the leader I decided to choose was Gregg Popovich. The reason I chose Coach Pop and this clip is it shows how many people believed in Popovich and why so many people look up him and his journey he has had to the NBA. As some leaders do, he learned from other people and other leaders to create his own way to lead others. The way he a created a team that trusted each other and worked hard to get the success that they created in San Antonio. Under Popovich the Spurs were able to win 5 championships and had 23 straight seasons with a winning record (most all-time). As a head coach is has the 5th highest winning percentage with 0.667 with 1,310 wins. He was also named coach of the year 3 times and all-star head coach 4 times. Other than being one of the greatest coaches all time, it all comes from his way of leadership. There are many other achievements he has all supporting my claim but those are just some of the best. Popovich’s way to develop players and maximize their potential is why the Spurs have been so successful. His team has always been known to create a culture that has strong professionalism and selflessness. He’s always emphasized a mentality of team first and character development. I watched the spurs growing up and it was always special to see what Gregg Popovich created in San Antonio by bringing in players from overseas and bringing the best out of them. To be in the NBA as a head coach for 26 seasons and the contingency to be successful and standing by his ways is why he such an effective leader. Using communication and building relationships with his players is why I think he has been one the most elite leader in sports alone. There are multiple stories on how Popovich genuinely cares for his players on and off the court. With the young team he has right now, you can almost see with this season how they drafted Wembanyama and are trying to build a team of young players into a top team in the west. The way Gregg Popovich coaches and the leadership qualities he has is what makes him one of the greatest leaders in sports. The clip is his Hall of Fame Speech from his induction into the Hall of Fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCZS7qH7xCk

My name is Adrian Urbina and the leader that I have chosen is Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson is best known for being the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys during their dominant run in the 90s, winning them two Super Bowls in back to back years. He arguably turned the franchise around from one of the worst to one of the best and coined the phrase “How ’bout them Cowboys!”. He is known as being one of the most motivational leaders in sports and is beloved by all of his former players and fellow coaches. The clip that I chose to summarize was one of him right after the first half of the Cowboys and Packers playoff game a couple weeks ago. The Cowboys went into the game as heavy favorites and came out sluggish and trailed by 20 points at halftime. During the halftime show, Jimmy Johnson channeled his inner coach and fired up a speech for the Cowboys team, encouraging them to not give up and keep fighting even if they were down by a lot. Even though the Cowboys still ended up losing the game, the speech that Johnson gave on live television gave me chills while listening and definitely fired me up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMylmv18MT8

My name is Jared Kessler, and my effective leader is Jimmy Butler. I grew up in Spring, TX, right by his hometown of Tomball. I chose the video clip because it tells his story from a young age. He had a hard childhood that most of us could not imagine. He has become a great leader; the video makes you appreciate him even more. Butler stresses the value of teamwork despite his unique abilities. Positive and cooperative environments are more likely to be fostered by leaders who put the success of the team before their own accomplishments. Butler is not merely a talker; he also acts. Setting a consistent example for the beliefs and behaviors expected of the team is known as leading by example. When leaders embody the values their teammates strive to meet, team members are likelier to follow them. Butler has a reputation for working tirelessly. He sets an exemplary example for others by always refining his abilities and training. When a leader puts in the effort required to succeed, teammates are more likely to appreciate and follow them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9SBWVNfsaM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPNo844Crcw

Hi, my name is Diego Saenz. I picked Lionel Messi as my leader as I believe he does a great job at leading others by his actions and in a humble attitude. Since Messi came into the spotlight, there has always been this misconception that he can’t be a leader as he shies away in the big moments. Critics blamed him for not being able to lead his country to an international trophy as well as for not being vocal. Regardless, Messi made sure to quiet the noise during the 2021 Copa America. Prior to this tournament, Messi had won it all at the club level with FC Barcelona, from 4 Champions Leagues to 6 Ballon D’Ors. However, he had yet to add an international trohy to his already outstanding trophy case. After 3 final losses, including a World Cup loss as well as a temporary retirement, Lionel Messi was ready to prove himself during the 2021 Copa America Final. In this video, Messi proves his leadership by leading by example from the frontlines. He addresses the whole team prior to the game, addressing their concerns (players being away from their families for 45 days), and motivating them to go out to the pitch and bring a trophy to their beloved Argentina. Since this video surfaced, Messi has gone on to lead Argentina to a World Cup trophy, once and for all, silencing all the previous comments condemning him for not being a leader.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpR9P14BAfo

My name is Drum Harrison, and I believe that Dan Campbell is an extraordinary leader of the modern-day era in sports. I chose this clip as during this time, the Detroit Lions haven’t been great and have gone through some tough losses. Dan Campbell’s leadership personality trait falls in with being resilient daily and never giving up hope as his main goal with the teams is to win a Super Bowl. Dan gives it his all with the Detroit Lions prepping them for success in any way, shape, or form. He understands his team’s and coaches’ needs and pursues to do the best he can to provide for those needs to help better the team. As of today, Dan is currently in the NFC Conference championship against the 49ers with plans of winning the Super Bowl. The Lions at one point were 3 and 13 and at their lowest, and because of Dan Campbell’s passion and resilience for the future, he could help claim the Lions their first Super Bowl in history.

Howdy! My name is Ashley Wright and the person I believe is a motivating leader is motivating leader is Aly Raisman. Aly Raisman is mainly known for her time as a USA Olympic gymnast. However, she has come to be known for her resilience, bravery and strength as a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of team doctor, Larry Nassar. From this experience, Aly Raisman has become a leader for the fighting against sexual abuse, body positivity, and mental health. She has given various speeches regarding these topics to multiple audiences. As far as being a leader goes, I think Aly Raisman is a great example. She inspires others to be who they are, to be strong, and stand up for what is right. She was resilient in coming back after being knocked down and came back even stronger. The video I chose is more a statement than a speech, however, I believe is highlights her strength an individual and how she can reach and touch an audience. The video shows Raismen giving a speech at Larry Nassar’s sentencing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtK4CDbaFhA

Howdy, my name is Zach Kizer and the motivational leader that I have chosen to cover is former NFL quarterback Drew Brees. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to choose Mr. Brees as he is well known for his impassioned pregame speeches and servant leader mentality. In this clip, Brees has returned to his alma mater Purdue to give some inspiration to the football team as they begin to enter BIG 10 conference play. Something that really stuck out to me in this video is how just like we talked about in class, he managed to build togetherness through calling on different position groups and used words of encouragement to either compliment their current performance or issue a challenge for a certain group to take on head first. Creating a positive environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and worth in their role has been shown to enhance performance and have a long lasting effect, and if everyone on the Purdue roster feels as if they play a vital part, they are more likely to play harder and more physically. Additionally, he demonstrates high levels of passion by repeatedly using the phrase “there is no better time to be a Boilermaker” and having high amounts of energy with a louder tone to direct the attention to himself and his words. Positivity is contagious, and if others see that you have the drive to reach for success, then those who look up to you are more likely to feel that same motivation to reach a common goal. However, what I appreciate the most about Brees is his willingness to serve others and the community. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Brees at a charity event when I lived in Lubbock, Texas for an organization called Team Luke Hope for Minds. The charity was originally set up by the former Texas Tech Men’s Tennis coach Tim Siegel after his son suffered a traumatic brain injury which left him permanently in a wheelchair. It turned out Siegel’s son Luke was a huge fan of Brees, and because of this he flew out to Lubbock show his support and bring our community together for a common cause. The way he treated me and others at this event was astonishing, as he showed massive amounts of humility and compassion which created such a welcoming environment. Brees’ leadership abilities and personality have allowed for him to truly become one of the greatest NFL players ever, both on and off the field.
https://youtu.be/PWN_FEBwdO4?feature=shared

Howdy! My name is Charlotte Longbottom and the person I believe is a great leader is Jason Kelce. Jason played for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 years and was team captain for 6 of those years. He shows great leadership traits and has done such good things for the Eagles. He is confidence and knows exactly how to talk to his team. The team has had many successes with Kelce as a captain. He is known on the team to have powerful speeches and especially known for the speech at the Super Bowl Victory parade in 2018. Kelce is also a very down to earth guy and is authentic in his ways. Overall Jason Kelce has proven to be one of the greatest leaders in the NFL. https://youtu.be/6-KCWLlDPNQ?si=E5w_BtQVoU4XxS8Y

Howdy, my name is Brooke Brombach and a leader that I find motivating is Mclain Ward. Mclain is a five-time Olympic medalist and is very well known in the show jumping community. He is very positive, believes that you have to work for it and is very good at listening to others. In McLain’s young 20′s his father was wrapped up in horse killing scandal which ended up putting him in jail and also banning him from any United States Equestrian Federation events. His father was one of his biggest cheerleaders so he had to have some preservice and strength to keep going in this sport. Now that he is in his 40′s there have been many times that he is coaching the next generation of Olympians. He does a great job in those lessons of clearly communicating what you should be doing and why. This is rare to see from trainers and coaches in the show jumping industry. The video I included is an interview after he almost won the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Class. I feel this is a great example in how he is a great leader. When the interviewer asked how he felt, he is not blaming anyone but instead mentioned how he was actually happy with his round, even if it was not the winning ride. When it comes to leadership, I feel it is very important to have empathy and be understanding. There are times things don’t always go your way which is the message that I also got from Mclain in his interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KppFfFdbNY

Howdy, my name is Jordan Priest and the leader that I have found is Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter is one of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game of baseball, but he was not only known for his skills and accolades. He was also known for his great leadership on and off the field. Communication is key when leading people but it has to be done in the right way for it to be effective. Jeter was committed to the Yankees earning him the Captain title which is very big in the Yankees franchise. My favorite trait that made me choose Derek Jeter was how he lad by example through the way he played the game. He mentioned how big being honest was along with trusting people to make yourself a great leader. In the video, he mentioned that he never did anything for the camera or media which shows how humble he was and that his intentions were pure. Many people in the baseball industry look up to Derek Jeter because of the leadership that he has shown throughout his time as a player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJyTIZKM2xo

Howdy, my name is Alec Hankins and the leader I have found is Tim Tebow. The reason that I have chosen Tim Tebow as my leader, is because of the leadership that he showed with the 2008 Florida Gators Football Team. Following a loss to Ole Miss, Tebow was distraught after he really wanted to finish the season undefeated. Instead of continuing on about the loss, Tebow decided make his infamous speech, which would go on to be known as the “Promise Speech.” He promised that there would be no player, play as hard as him the rest of the season and never see anyone push a team as hard as he would. He concluded saying that no team will player harder than the Gators the rest of the season. So what came of this? Tebow fulfilled his promise. Because of his leadership on and off the field, Tebow led the Gators to a National Championship win over the Oklahoma Sooners. I chose this clip because it is the perfect example of not letting a loss ruin everything, and push to keep fighting no matter your circumstance. Tebow led this team with all of his heart and effort, and that is why they were able to call themselves National Champions.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlIQFf7A5wY

Howdy my name is Phichaksn Maichon and today I am going to tell you why Lewis Caralla is one of the best motivational speakers I have ever heard. Starting off by how he’s using an aggressive passive voice to indicate the motivation by trying to hype these players up. Lewis is also very straight forward with his guys by telling them that winning isn’t fair and how winning doesn’t care how hard you work. I think that is one of the greatest points he could have given, he also stated that sometimes people who don’t work as hard get to win, you just have to accept the fact that life isn’t fair. Another trait that I think really shows that he’s a good leader is that he seems to be very motivated and giving 100 percent towards his speech, he is doing the best he can to show his emotions and the love towards coaching. Another brilliant example that he has also given would be an example of telling your kids about yourself. He wanted everyone to vision life in the future when their kids ask them about the past. He has mentioned that would want to be the guy who gave it his all or be the guy that says “if”. Another reason he’s a great leader would be he’s not just looking at a certain area of the people who were sitting, he’s walking around making everyone feel responsible. Lastly, he’s moving his whole body a lot showing lots of energy and power which resemble strength towards the team.

https://youtu.be/9EQYP3xOZ80?si=njjogGvdmSArm1kz

Howdy, my name is Blake Binderup, and as an athlete, I have been around several very talented leaders. I have found that Coach Jim Schlossnagle, the head baseball coach at Texas A&M, is one of the greatest leaders in college baseball. As a coach he has to posses the qualities of a leader. Communication is one of the biggest things a leader needs to do and as the head coach of a big time college baseball team he has to be able to talk about what he wants in certain situations on and off of the field. He also has to be able to build trust with not only his coaches but also his players. The best teams rely on each other to pick up the things that other people on the team were not able to do. The people involved have to realize that they cannot complete every task they are given and that the others can help do the tasks to eventually become successful. As a player under Coach Jim Schlossnagle I know that he is the best leader I have ever been around and he has communicated very well to our team and to me and I also know that I can trust him with anything involved in my life and not only baseball.
https://youtu.be/n2NXIX5if94?si=S4klbLqA-JynMV0p

Howdy! My name is Lauren Sossaman and I believe that Gary Blair is a great example of a motivational leader. From his early days with South Oak Cliff High School, through his leadership of various collegiate programs, he transformed the lives of players, coaches, and the game of basketball. I chose this clip because it demonstrates how Blair was so much bigger than women’s basketball. As he looks back on his career, he says “the things I truly value are building great relationships, learning from others, and making a positive difference in the lives of young people while also making so many positive memories.” I believe this truly sums up how Blair was throughout his career. His greatest strength was as a relationship builder. He created close bonds with his players and coaching staff and treated everyone as if they were a friend. He motivated them, believed in them, and genuinely wanted to see them succeed in all aspects of life. In addition, his charismatic personality made him a natural at influencing and managing people. Players said he always made them believe they were better than they really were which allowed them to push themselves beyond their limits to fulfill his vision of what they could achieve. They wanted to be the best for him and live up to the belief he had in them. Blair communicated openly and laid out his expectations while being flexible as he did not micromanage the team and trusted them to find the best shot. In doing so, he gave his players confidence in their abilities. This confidence carried over to his coaching staff as he was not afraid to delegate to them and had faith in their decision-making. Blair’s coaching style enabled personal growth for his players and coaches. However, Blair’s influence was not limited to the court as he spent his life and career giving back to others. He was a strong advocate of giving back to the community through his involvement with the Special Olympics as well as helping children and adults with disabilities. All in all, Blair’s leadership style is anchored by his love of the game and care for those around him. His impact on the game of basketball, his players, coaches, and the community has been immeasurable. Even in retirement, Blair continues to look for ways to positively impact the game and the lives of others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXo-h93YZUg

Howdy! My name is Lauren Sossaman and I believe that Gary Blair is a great example of a motivational leader. From his early days with South Oak Cliff High School, through his leadership of various collegiate programs, he transformed the lives of players, coaches, and the game of basketball. I chose this clip because it demonstrates how Blair was so much bigger than women’s basketball. As he looks back on his career, he says “the things I truly value are building great relationships, learning from others, and making a positive difference in the lives of young people while also making so many positive memories.” I believe this truly sums up how Blair was throughout his career. His greatest strength was as a relationship builder. He created close bonds with his players and coaching staff and treated everyone as if they were a friend. He motivated them, believed in them, and genuinely wanted to see them succeed in all aspects of life. In addition, his charismatic personality made him a natural at influencing and managing people. Players said he always made them believe they were better than they really were which allowed them to push themselves beyond their limits to fulfill his vision of what they could achieve. They wanted to be the best for him and live up to the belief he had in them. Blair communicated openly and laid out his expectations while being flexible as he did not micromanage the team and trusted them to find the best shot. In doing so, he gave his players confidence in their abilities. This confidence carried over to his coaching staff as he was not afraid to delegate to them and had faith in their decision-making. Blair’s coaching style enabled personal growth for his players and coaches. However, Blair’s influence was not limited to the court as he spent his life and career giving back to others. He was a strong advocate of giving back to the community through his involvement with the Special Olympics as well as helping children and adults with disabilities. All in all, Blair’s leadership style is anchored by his love of the game and care for those around him. His impact on the game of basketball, his players, coaches, and the community has been immeasurable. Even in retirement, Blair continues to look for ways to positively impact the game and the lives of others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXo-h93YZUg

Howdy! My name is Haley Phillips, and the leader that I think leads others well and motivates others is Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow is most known for leading his college football team to two National Championship titles, and also for becoming the first underclassman to win the Heisman. Tim Tebow is a great leader because he is humble, and gives credit to those around him. He has integrity, works hard, and he remains focused. I chose this clip of his speech about embracing the grind because I think he does a great job of storytelling to show his point. This speech is about being willing to work hard and to embrace our “whys”. He emphasizes the importance of having non negotiables to meet goals, lead a group, and overall be a better person. This speech does a great job of motivating others to lead their teams by being themselves and creating a culture of buying into “who you are”.
https://youtu.be/6JrvGKmFeOE?si=2PMhGUe6rjlyNKDD

Howdy! My name is Blake Richardson and I am choosing to use Dak Prescott as an example of a strong leader. Throughout his career, Dak has been a very strong leader, despite what you think of his skills in his position. As you can see in the interview, Dak has a strong understanding of being a leader and how crucial that is. He notes that being a good teammate and knowing his role has been one of the biggest growths and qualities that have expanded and benefited his leadership role. Along with that, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, said that Dak is the “Best leader at QB he has seen”. Which is high praise considering how long that Jerry has been involved in the game. Similarly, teammates have said the exact same thing. Players like Brandin Cooks, Ceedee Lamb, Micah Parsons, and many more have openly talked about the strong leadership skills that Dak has. Dak has shown respect to his teammates, practiced what he has preached, and always remains positive in games. Those are some of the biggest attributes and characteristics that make Dak the strong leader that he is.

https://youtu.be/_Yxg_c2RnmM?si=jjaubrZYLutc2vcz

Howdy my name is Seth Weitzel and I want to talk about why Kobe Bryant’s The Path to Greatness speech was one of the most motivational speeches ever. First of all Kobe Bryant was one of the best basketball players to every play the game and that was for many reasons. The biggest reason was his mentality, also known as mamba mentality. Kobe’s mentality was unmatched was a key factor in his success. The speech he gave was a great way for an ordinary person like myself get a glimpse into that mentality and try and better our selves. Throughout the speech Kobe talks about how he had a drive to be the best player and the world and nothing was gonna stop him. This was his mentality all the time and there was no days off. The type of leader that Kobe was is something special because it’s very rare to find. Kobe led by example more than anything and was very tough on people near him. Kobe’s leadership was shown through his toughness and the work he put it day in and day out. This speech is very motivating especially coming from a sports legend like Kobe Bryant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTRBnHtHehQ

Howdy, my name is Luke Williams and the leader I chose is Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen. In class last week, we discussed themes for leadership and attributes that most leaders posses. While thinking of why Verstappen is a leader I was able to draw a handful of connections to our lectures in class. Despite his sport being a lot less of a team sport as others and Max himself not being incredibly vocal he posses a lot of quality characteristics. Such as; having a vision, being himself, being committed, being passionate, and being decisive. Verstappen is a man with a plan, since even before he entered the sport of Formula 1 his goal was always the same, win a world championship. Max has always been passionate and committed to whatever he does, whether its his karting at a young age or formula 3 on his way to his seat in F1. What makes Max Verstappen so admirable as a leader is that he has always just been himself. He has faced a lot of adversity and difficulties as he was raised his father was always incredibly strict on him and pushed him beyond his limits constantly even while at such a young age. However it has allowed him to reach a league of his own and something that all the other drivers look up to. Max has reached his goal of winning a world championship and has actually won 3 in a row, however he is not satisfied and continues to push himself to win more and break more records year after year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBto2iPKc_A

Howdy, my name is Jacob Villanueva, and the leader that I have found is Doug Pederson, former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and current head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. I chose Pederson because of his unique ability to guide all the personalities of an organization (team) together to form a unit that can perform above its expectations. The 2017 Super Bowl run when he was head coach is the first point that comes to mind. The team had a unique blend of personalities, and Pederson was able to make all of them a unit that battled some of the toughest advice and constant doubt a champion has faced in the sport. He was also not afraid to listen to others, as highlighted by the infamous clip of Nick Foles suggesting to him to run a trick play that would go down in sports history as an all-time great moment. However, the biggest highlight of his leadership is, I believe, the clip of his postgame speech from the Super Bowl. In it, he shows emotion and engages the team in light banter, all while uplifting them as individuals who form a unit. He guided through the emotion of the moment to deliver a poignant and heartfelt speech that I believe encapsulated the spirit he brought to the team. In addition, the appeal to the individual is what makes him such a great leader, as he recognizes the value in seeing each cog rather than just trying to oil up the whole machine. These attributes are what I believe make him an excellent leader, which is why I chose him, and this clip highlights that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQLDkwQycY4&t=101s&pp=ygUnZG91ZyBwZWRlcnNvbiBwcmVnYW1lIHN1cGVyIGJvd2wgc3BlZWNo

Howdy! I’m Addison Latiolais and a leader that I find motivating is Simone Biles. Simone Biles is known to be the greatest gymnast in history. She has earned 7 olympic medals over her career so far; 3 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. What stands out to me most about Simone Biles is how in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics, Simone decided to pull out of the women’s gymnastic final to protect her mental health. Mental health in sport is so important as it is something many athletes deal with yet still, many don’t speak out enough about it. Although Simone knew might receive backlash and hate from fans, she still decided to step away from the competition in hopes to help her mental health. This decision was so brave to me as she is one of the best gymnasts in the world, with many people expecting her to perform a certain way, and yet she didn’t let other people’s expectations keep her from “fighting through it” and continuing to compete. This might sound easy but as a competitive athlete this is a very hard thing to do, as I have felt this exact thing. Two years later after Simone felt her mental health had improved, she returned to competition and continued to blow the field away. Her story resonates with me and is something I look up to because it’s a reminder that it’s okay to step away from something you love if it’s not what’s best for you at that time and that other people’s expectations of you shouldnt keep you from focusing on yourself and what you need.

https://www.google.com/search?q=simone+biles+mental+health&sca_esv=602346591&biw=1440&bih=815&tbm=vid&ei=DK-3ZZsBnuXk2g-m-Ie4CQ&ved=0ahUKEwibt4PW4IKEAxWeMlkFHSb8AZcQ4dUDCA0&uact=5&oq=simone+biles+mental+health&gs_lp=Eg1nd3Mtd2l6LXZpZGVvIhpzaW1vbmUgYmlsZXMgbWVudGFsIGhlYWx0aDIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDMgsQABiABBiKBRiGAzILEAAYgAQYigUYhgMyCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDSJUZUMwCWIwXcAB4AJABAJgB_QGgAbUPqgEGMC4xNS4xuAEDyAEA-AEBwgIGEAAYFhgewgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgsQABiABBiKBRiRAsICDhAAGIAEGIoFGJECGLEDwgIIEAAYgAQYsQOIBgE&sclient=gws-wiz-video#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a38de8f5,vid:sbXKlanRcH4,st:0

Howdy, my name is Cade Thornton. The leader I chose was Augie Garrido. Garrido was the baseball coach at the University of Texas (I know, sorry). He has won 5 national titles throughout his time as coach. He also has the most wins of any coach in the history of college baseball. Augie possessed many of the qualities of a leader. Augie was very genuine and real with people. You could feel his passion for the sport every time he spoke. Players and other coaches felt like they really knew Augie and had a relationship with him. Augie wanted to win. The clip I am linking shows a locker room talk. The clip might make him seem a little harsh, but it was very effective. After this rant, Texas won their next 10 games in a row, including the Big 12 Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8XwcBEIzDo

Howdy, my name is Elise Smoot, and the leader I chose is Inky Johnson. Inky is a retired football player who is now a motivational speaker. He had dreams and a plan to be drafted into a professional team, however, his football career ended early in 2006 due to an injury that permanently paralyzed his right arm. Inky uses his passion for the game of football alongside his testimony to not only share the gospel, but also motivate players to persevere when facing hardship. He often travels around the country to different football teams sharing his story—Texas A&M being one of them. Inky is personable, driven, and faithful to his mission. In the clip I chose, he talks about controlling the controllables, a concept athletes often struggle with. I chose this clip because it encompasses traits, as well as his desire to inspire athletes around the world.

Howdy, my name is Ashley Matter and I am choosing to use quarterback Philip Rivers as an example of a strong leader. Rivers played high school, college, and professional football, and is now retired to coach. I chose to write about him because in this interview I found, Rivers talks about pretty much his whole career and how he got to where he is now. In this interview with Crain & Company Rivers talked about how his father coached his high school and he wanted to follow in his footsteps and coach high school himself. Two things that he mentions in the interview is how he coaches his kids by saying that everyone is still learning and that it is okay to not know everything. He wants his players to grow in more ways than athletics. He wants to “coach the whole young man” and be a mentor for his players athletically, spiritually, and academically. An important message Rivers talks about is that now he doesn’t play football anymore, he says that venture and character are very important life skills that correlate in sports and in life. https://youtu.be/WBOxfS7rzLI?si=ShZmURjHm4R2O9H9

A recent leader that I have really fell for is CJ Stroud. Naturally being from Houston and growing up a Texans fan, I am always going to be a fan of whoever the Quarterback is. Whether that is Deshaun Watson, Matt Schaub, and even Tom Savage, I will always have a strong bias towards our QB. With that, never in my life have I been a bigger fan of a player, especially so quickly. Not only has CJ Stroud turned our team around on the field, but he has completely changed our culture. With the help of our new head coach DeMeco Ryan’s (also a great leader), they have made watching Texans football fun to watch again. CJ being only a year older than me, it really motivates me to be the best person I can be in all walks of life because if he is doing it at that age, what is my excuse? But the biggest reason CJ is my favorite leader, is how open he is about his faith. Personally, I have found struggle with finding motivation in being successful in “worldly views”, without it being egotistical but CJ has really changed that for me. As not only does he thank God every chance he gets, but he puts it into perspective how he is not a football player but he is a Christian and football is his platform. That has really hit home for me personally in having faith in everything I do, and just being the best Christian I can be. It has also made an impact on the team and even the league, with many players and coaches coming out talking about their faith and how much they have grown in that in the last year, with a lot of them giving respect to CJ for it. I believe CJ will be in the league for a while because of his faith and leadership, and he is the reason I have never been this excited for the future of my favorite football team.

Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@christhlete/video/7280718074779667755?lang=en

Howdy, My name is Erin Ducharme. For my leader, I chose Alex Bregman. Some may say he is not the best "leader" of the Astros but I believe he is due to his ability to change his mindset. Base ball is a game of failure, if you were to get on base 3 out of 10 times you would be considered an amazing player. That is a fail rate of 70%. The game of baseball causes the players to face falure head on. Alex Bregman (as shown in this video) talks about how he came into the MLB after being the number 2 pick in the draft and was in a slump. But when he begins to talk about it, its never a negative saying he was bad or that he was a terrible player, He talks about how he could improve or how he used his failures as learning opportunities to get better. I feel that this a quality that every great leader has or should have. To have the mindset that failure is a opportunity for growth as a leader is important because you can then instill it into you fellow teammates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCJb61VFoa8