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This can be 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 We went to my outdated stomping grounds to sit down down with head coach Marcus Freeman to speak about management and the way, in some ways, he’s the CEO of their unimaginable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 accountable for each determination that impacts the individuals in this system and the outcomes which can be on the sector. So you do not make each determination, however you are accountable for each determination. That is necessary to ensure you 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 bear in mind strolling out of that door and seeing the workforce going loopy — all I wished to do was hug them. It wasn’t a couple of speech. It was an opportunity to rejoice and be along with your guys, proper? I inform them on a regular basis: I am a teammate. I may be the captain, however I am a teammate. I perceive the belongings you’re going by. I am on this battle with you. And I believe they respect that and so they perceive that. Strolling out that door is a second I will always remember and one I will cherish eternally.”
The which means of his mantra “Select Exhausting”
“It began a few years in the past once I was within the Notre Dame weight room and was understanding as our gamers have been being pushed arduous. And I bear in mind considering that you could select to undergo the motions or you’ll be able to select to go as arduous as you’ll be able to. And that is once I got here up with this considered ‘Select Exhausting.’ We put up an indication you see while you stroll into this constructing that claims ‘Select Exhausting.’ As a result of while you stroll into Notre Dame soccer, you have to have that mindset. We’ll select arduous immediately in observe, select arduous immediately in conferences, select arduous immediately within the weight room. And for the gamers, you are going to be challenged within the classroom, proper? You are going to be at school with a number of the most clever individuals on this world. And it is tough, however finally you have chosen to return right here so select arduous, settle for it, and know that the rewards from selecting arduous each single day cannot be discovered wherever else.”
Downside-solving philosophy
“When a workforce is not profitable, lots of people say, belief the method. My mantra is: repair the method. I spend loads of time evaluating every part 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 frontrunner, you do not need to have too many. Repair it with urgency.”
Retaining gamers within the age of the switch portal
“Look, when you’re the CEO of an organization, you bought to pay your workers, proper? Now if they will go some place else and make much more cash, it doesn’t matter what sort of firm you are working, they will in all probability go away. So we’ve to guarantee that our gamers can maximize the alternatives of identify, picture and likeness. That is necessary, 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 necessary. And that is a message for myself and our different coaches. Let’s guarantee that as arduous as we push them, as demanding as we’re, we’re not demeaning. We wish them to get pleasure from being part of this workforce and all the alternatives that the College of Notre Dame supplies.”
Try extra profiles of progressive and impactful leaders by visiting The CEO Collection archives.
