The Best Leader… "Bob Stoops"

Posted by Scott Williams
10 Comments
January 7, 2009
Leaders | Leadership | Quotes | Sports

bob-stoops“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”   ~Harvey Firestone, Founder of Firestone Tires

Let’s take the quote above from Harvey Firestone as the premise for defining The Best Leader.  It’s not enough just to lead a group, inspire some people, be liked by many, have a title, have some success…   Those are just steps in becoming The Best Leader. 

In my opinion the University of Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops is “The Best Leader,” and it’s not because he is loved by the Sooner Nation, he has the Title of Head Coach, that he can inspire others, or that he has won a National Championship.  The reason he is The Best Leader is because of his growth and development of the people around him primarily the coaches on his staff.  Since Bob Stoops has been head coach at Oklahoma look at how many assistants have gone on to be NCAA Div. 1 Head Coaches:

  • Mike Leach- Texas Tech
  • Mark Mangino- Kansas
  • Kevin Sumlin- Houston
  • Chuck Long- San Diego State
  • Mike Stoops- Arizona   
  • Bo Pelini- Nebraska

This is an amazing coaching tree and they are all doing a great job with the exception of Chuck Long; as a matter of fact Kansas, Arizona, Houston all recently won their bowl games.  I am a firm believer that, as a leader it’s about the leaders that we produce.  When I was a Warden, I wanted to and did produce other Wardens and not just other Chiefs of Security or Deputy Wardens.  Go Make More Head Coaches…  Not Assistant Coaches, but rather Head Coaches!  BTW- Bob Stoops will be the best Coach tomorrow… Boomer Freakin’ Sooner!

  • As a leader are you about making head coaches or are you staff just part of the team?
  • What are your thoughts and or experiences?
  • http://preacherpen.wordpress.com Pastor Ron

    Well, pastor, I've got to train people to work both here in the local church, and get some ready to go out into the world, away from here, so they might be productive leaders as they journey through life. We are a very small congregation which has many needs. Several of my young people work in the local church as Sunday School teachers, Children's Church teachers, musicians and the list goes on. I can't just send them away, as there's a real need here. I do encourage them to pursue ministry, and be sensitive to where the Spirit of God might lead them.

    Bob Stoops is a classy guy, but probably won't be carrying the BCS title home tomorrow night; that honor will likely fall to Coach Urban Meyer. For further enlightenment, please visit my most recent post, which should give you some insight into the matter. Honestly, both coaches are to be commended for their efforts.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Avery Avery

    I think Stoops has an awesome philosophy…

    His job is to get people to do what they don't want to do naturally, to push them past what they think they are capable of and to train them to live out the maximum of their potential…

    Stoops is a hard coach, and demanding of his people… but never does he allow anyone to talk bad about his team mates… and that is the way he sees it… team mates… not "his team"..

    Whenever he has the opportunity, he doesn't speak about his own personal accomplishments, but the accomplishments of those who have surpassed the barriers of trials, and are living out their full potential…evidenced by thousands of interviews…

    He is a great leader, and he doesn't have to say so… he is a great leader because of who he is…

    His leadership is best exampled in that where football is concerned… he pours out everything to make everyone else look good… push through the adversity and live out their full potential… as a result, he also reaps the rewards…

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/iChilly iChilly

    "The authority by which the Christian leader leads is not power but love, not force but example, not coercion but reasoned persuasion. Leaders have power, but power is safe only in the hands of those who humble themselves to serve." John Stott

    ~ something I read often…

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/ScottWilliams ScottWilliams

      Nice Quote!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ScottWilliams ScottWilliams

    @Avery & @PastorRon- Thanks for the depth of your comments!

  • http://preacherpen.wordpress.com Pastor Ron

    I thought your questions were answered, but apparently not. What I was attempting to say was I am encouraging my people to become "head coaches" by encouraging them to listen to the Spirit's direction before heading out into the world. Let me apologize if that point wasn't more clear. I would love to send these young people out, but they are not ready yet; thus, they are part of the team now. I want them to become head coaches one day.

  • http://arewestillcool.blogspot.com cool dad

    As I'm awake at 3:52 AM, I thought I'd stop by to add a friendly Go Gators! :)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Beaconhillnw Jim

    Bobby Knight said:""Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win." A great coach teaches that thought process of what it takes to win and stay on top. When you get to the top, everyone else wants a piece of you.
    In ministry, it's about finding creative ways to get people to change their perceptions about how they should live and look at God's Word as the way to live.

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