Most of us probably have an idea which players on the roster provide leadership to the rest of the guys. Well, whoever they are, it's time for them to lead by example and by every other means available:

Play hard all the time.
Play as a team.
Buy in to the way the coaching staff wants to do things.
Show some combination of joy and/or ferocity when you're wearing a Cal jersey (practice or game).
Be proud and glad to be a California Golden Bear, even if you've just lost a few: You still have it pretty good!

If I have shown any "negativity" the past week or so, it's because I haven't really seen this. It is my expectation for the team. The staff needs to foster this and the player-leaders need to help implement it.

If Coach Fox needs to crack a few eggs while he's making his omelette, I will try and be patient, but I've already just endured 2.1 miserable seasons (throwing in the Bakersfield game there).

Go Bears!

Big C said:

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Most of us probably have an idea which players on the roster provide leadership to the rest of the guys. Well, whoever they are, it's time for them to lead by example and by every other means available:

Play hard all the time.
Play as a team.
Buy in to the way the coaching staff wants to do things.
Show some combination of joy and/or ferocity when you're wearing a Cal jersey (practice or game).
Be proud and glad to be a California Golden Bear, even if you've just lost a few: You still have it pretty good!

If I have shown any "negativity" the past week or so, it's because I haven't really seen this. It is my expectation for the team. The staff needs to foster this and the player-leaders need to help implement it.

If Coach Fox needs to crack a few eggs while he's making his omelette, I will try and be patient, but I've already just endured 2.1 miserable seasons (throwing in the Bakersfield game there).

Go Bears!

---

The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

So he should just let the players do whatever they want? No team rules,no offense shoot when you want. Loaf on defense. Ok.

calumnus said:

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The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

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I don't know about that. Seems like most of the great coaches nowadays are disciplinarians: Coach K, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, Rick Pittino, for example.

Golden One said:

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calumnus said:

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The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

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I don't know about that. Seems like most of the great coaches nowadays are disciplinarians: Coach K, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, Rick Pittino, for example.

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It worked for top programs because they could get away with it. That time is over. Even Coach K has had to change his ways. It was one of the reasons Monty retired and saw that DeCuire had the right demeanor to get through to kids.

oskidunker said:

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So he should just let the players do whatever they want? No team rules,no offense shoot when you want. Loaf on defense. Ok.

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Of course not, don't be absurd. First of all, the OP was saying the players need to be the leadersand enforce rules, etc.

To your point: you need to assume players want to succeed, they want to get better and they want to win. Your job as coach is to convince them that you can help them do that. Get agreement on team rules and strategy. Tell them we are going to play hard defense every possession and if you don't I'll assume it is because you are tired and I will put someone else in. No anger, just expected consequences. A season like this, encourage, encourage, encourage, praise ever good thing, make it as fun as possible or you will lose them.

Golden One said:

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calumnus said:

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The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

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I don't know about that. Seems like most of the great coaches nowadays are disciplinarians: Coach K, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, Rick Pittino, for example.

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Good post, but please take Rick (Hookers?What hookers?) Pitino off the list ASAP.

calumnus said:

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Big C said:

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Most of us probably have an idea which players on the roster provide leadership to the rest of the guys. Well, whoever they are, it's time for them to lead by example and by every other means available:

Play hard all the time.
Play as a team.
Buy in to the way the coaching staff wants to do things.
Show some combination of joy and/or ferocity when you're wearing a Cal jersey (practice or game).
Be proud and glad to be a California Golden Bear, even if you've just lost a few: You still have it pretty good!

If I have shown any "negativity" the past week or so, it's because I haven't really seen this. It is my expectation for the team. The staff needs to foster this and the player-leaders need to help implement it.

If Coach Fox needs to crack a few eggs while he's making his omelette, I will try and be patient, but I've already just endured 2.1 miserable seasons (throwing in the Bakersfield game there).

Go Bears!

---

The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

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I agree that this is on Fox. However, a coach can be a disciplinarian and ALSO inspire and promote. It's tough, but possible. I don't know if Fox has ever demonstrated that ability. I'm also hard pressed to think of any active or recent coach who has, that isn't at a blue chip program.

calumnus said:

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Golden One said:

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calumnus said:

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The way I see it, Mark Fox has a $8.25 million contract to be the leader. It is his job to inspire and promote teamwork and team unity. He is not going to be successful in this day and age, especially, at Cal, especially at this low point, as a disciplinarian. Players will flock to the portal and recruits will stay away in droves.

---

I don't know about that. Seems like most of the great coaches nowadays are disciplinarians: Coach K, Roy Williams, Tom Izzo, Rick Pittino, for example.

---

It worked for top programs because they could get away with it. That time is over. Even Coach K has had to change his ways. It was one of the reasons Monty retired and saw that DeCuire had the right demeanor to get through to kids.

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When your program recruits itself you can be a douch. Everyone else? A players program.

calumnus said:

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oskidunker said:

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So he should just let the players do whatever they want? No team rules,no offense shoot when you want. Loaf on defense. Ok.

---

Of course not, don't be absurd. First of all, the OP was saying the players need to be the leadersand enforce rules, etc.

To your point: you need to assume players want to succeed, they want to get better and they want to win. Your job as coach is to convince them that you can help them do that. Get agreement on team rules and strategy. Tell them we are going to play hard defense every possession and if you don't I'll assume it is because you are tired and I will put someone else in. No anger, just expected consequences. A season like this, encourage, encourage, encourage, praise ever good thing, make it as fun as possible or you will lose them.

---

This is not an either/or thing. A coach needs to adjust to personalities, to the team's situation, and to use a combination of encouragement and discipline. Some players only respond to one or the other but not both. None of it is one-size-fits-all as far as coaching goes.
It's also not just on the head coach. There's an entire staff, and good cop/bad cop works sometimes as well.

But any coach needs players who can lead, because the message coming from a player can have more impact, or at least amplify what the coaches are saying. Guys who work harder than anyone, who earn respect, they get listened to as long as they are also on the floor. You'd like those guys to be your best upperclass players. Unfortunately we've been lacking in impact upperclass players for too long.

bluesaxe said:

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calumnus said:

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oskidunker said:

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So he should just let the players do whatever they want? No team rules,no offense shoot when you want. Loaf on defense. Ok.

---

Of course not, don't be absurd. First of all, the OP was saying the players need to be the leadersand enforce rules, etc.

To your point: you need to assume players want to succeed, they want to get better and they want to win. Your job as coach is to convince them that you can help them do that. Get agreement on team rules and strategy. Tell them we are going to play hard defense every possession and if you don't I'll assume it is because you are tired and I will put someone else in. No anger, just expected consequences. A season like this, encourage, encourage, encourage, praise ever good thing, make it as fun as possible or you will lose them.

---

This is not an either/or thing. A coach needs to adjust to personalities, to the team's situation, and to use a combination of encouragement and discipline. Some players only respond to one or the other but not both. None of it is one-size-fits-all as far as coaching goes.
It's also not just on the head coach. There's an entire staff, and good cop/bad cop works sometimes as well.

But any coach needs players who can lead, because the message coming from a player can have more impact, or at least amplify what the coaches are saying. Guys who work harder than anyone, who earn respect, they get listened to as long as they are also on the floor. You'd like those guys to be your best upperclass players. Unfortunately we've been lacking in impact upperclass players for too long.

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Exactly. Sure, the HC and his assistants are the primary leaders, but it's like in football when they talk about having a "good locker room" or in baseball, a "good clubhouse".

I am reminded of Phil Jackson, when he was coaching the Bulls, talking about Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He said that when his two best offensive players also happened to be his two best defensive players and ALSO happened to be his two hardest workers in practice, it made his job a lot easier.

BTW, it is still not clear what Fox's leadership style actually is. When he first took the job, I was hearing "communicator" more than I was hearing "disciplinarian". That stupid promo video they made -- somewhat taken out of context, I believe -- might well have led people to the wrong conclusion. Or maybe not, who knows?

Back from the game (Fresno State). I went out of my way this evening to look for the players' attitude, as I was worried Fox might be losing the team. I watched them in warm-ups, on the bench and during TOs. I got up-close-and-personal as they came out for the second half and listened to Andre Kelly on the post-game. The good news is that I didn't notice anything that might concern me (in this regard).

The bad news is that we seem very limited, talent-wise.

Big C said:

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Back from the game (Fresno State). I went out of my way this evening to look for the players attitude, as I was worried Fox might be losing the team. I watched them in warm-ups, on the bench and during TOs. I got up-close-and-personal as they came out for the second half and listened to Andre Kelly on the post-game. The good news is that I didn't notice anything that might concern me (in this regard).

The bad news is that we seem very limited, talent-wise.

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Well the first is good news and the second is not news.

There is no pressure on Fox this year. No one expects a dramatic turnaround in year 1.

We are all rooting for these guys and hopefully Fox helps them be as good as they can be and still enjoy playing the game of basketball representing our university on the court while succeeding as students.

calumnus said:

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Big C said:

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Back from the game (Fresno State). I went out of my way this evening to look for the players attitude, as I was worried Fox might be losing the team. I watched them in warm-ups, on the bench and during TOs. I got up-close-and-personal as they came out for the second half and listened to Andre Kelly on the post-game. The good news is that I didn't notice anything that might concern me (in this regard).

The bad news is that we seem very limited, talent-wise.

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Well the first is good news and the second is not news.

There is no pressure on Fox this year. No one expects a dramatic turnaround in year 1.

We are all rooting for these guys and hopefully Fox helps them be as good as they can be and still enjoy playing the game of basketball representing our university on the court while succeeding as students.

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If you go back 7-8 months, I agree, but if you only go back one month, I think you'll see a number of players on this roster being oversold, as to what they might be able to provide THIS SEASON: Lars, Kuany, Joel Brown, Thorpe, Harris-Dyson and Gordon. There was speculation that we might win 7-8 conference games, with maybe an overall record approaching .500.

It was hype.