Dave Smart is the coach at the Carleton University in Ottawa. I was unlucky (then) and lucky (now) that I had the opportunity to play against his teams for 3 years (when I attended Ottawa University). To put it simply, Coach Smart is a hard to take, tell you like it is, my way or the highway kind of coach. Most other players and coaches disliked him every which way to Sunday. He always stuck to his guns and preached his systems. The best players would never go and play there because to Dave, basketball was a team game and the best team won. He believed the good teams won with Defence.
By his 3rd season his job was on the line, as the team had an OK record for his first 3 season, but he was such a hard guy to play for players were quiting half way through the season. They were transferring to other schools and complaining to the Athletic Director.
In that 3rd season they ended up winning a CIS National Championship by following Dave Smart's systems. What follow was this:
- 4 more National Titles in a row (losing this year in the final, which would have made 6)
- A new gym
- Asst. Coaching job for Canada's National Team
- All his players with National Championship experience/memories (and rings)
- 3 years hosting Nationals at their school
The take away here is this...what are you willing to go through to play on the winning team?
Matt & Jeff had people leave and try and run them out of business because others felt they demanded too much. They stuck with their systems and trusted themselves enough to keep pushing forward despite obvious negativity. Look at what they have accomplished over the last 12yrs:
- Top 40 under 40
- Publishing Company
- MPL
- 2 training facilities + 1 franchise
- People "chomping at the bit" to franchise into their company
- and the list goes on...
I will do what it takes to play on this team, because I want to win...
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