Consistency

This fall, I heard Paul Lusk, head coach at Missouri State University, speak to a group of high school coaches.  One of his concluding messages was, “Never let your attitudes or actions tell your first hour class whether you won or lost.”  I think that is just terrific.

I have been around coach Kruger for over 25 years now.  I played four years for him, and have coached with him for more than 10 years.  I have literally seen him come into work after hundreds of games.  Every day, he is the same.  He may have stayed up all night watching film after a loss, or he may have taken everyone to dinner after a win (and thenwatched a couple of hours of film).  But every morning, when he walks into the office, he is the same.  He wants each person to feel good.

Keep in mind that he is also the most competitive person whom I have ever been around.  He hates to lose.  He hates playing poorly even worse than losing.  He talks to our guys about competing and playing great basketball.  If we line up and give a great effort and lose, then we will shake our opponents’ hands, watch the film, and try to get better the next day.

Every day, our goal is to get better.  Every day, coach Kruger wants to know, “What can we do to get better?  How can we help our guys improve today?”  It may sound simple, but that is really what it is all about.

We started the season with a 9-1 record.  Currently, we are struggling in Big 12 action.  The approach is exactly the same, now, as it was the first 10 games.  We are going to be positive.  We are going to search for answers.

We are not going to scream and curse at our guys.  We are not going to punish them by making them run sprints.  Some staffs employ those strategies and they get good results.  If coach Kruger really thought that running sprints or stadium stairs would help us improve, he would do it.

“Do we need to watch more film with the guys?  Do we need shorter practices?  Longer?  More defense?”  Ego is never involved.  Coach will be positive and steady.  However, he is always open to input from the players.  Our great seasons are the ones when the players “buy in”.  When the players take ownership and invest, great things happen.

When we lose, coach Kruger takes the blame.  When we win, he gives all the credit to the players.  It has been that way after every game for 26 years.  It will be that way until the day coach Kruger retires.  We play Iowa State on Saturday.  I don’t know what the result will be.  However, I do know what will happen the next time I see him.  Coach Kruger will walk into the office, give everyone a pleasant greeting and ask, “What do we need to do, today, to get better?”

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