Spring Break
The Coach's Playbook
Calhoun Talks About New Book And Lessons Of Success
Ashley McGown
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Focus
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Calhoun, a South Boston native who celebrates his 36th year as a collegiate head coach this winter, discussed how sports have positively affected his life and how he entered the field of coaching to return the favor to upcoming young athletes.
When he was just 15 years-old, Calhoun's father passed away. He recalled being in the middle of playing a baseball game, when all of a sudden, someone came onto the field and told him his dad had died.
Calhoun described the moment that he found out about his father's death as the instant he went from being a 15 year-old, carefree kid, to an adult who went home and told his mother he would take care of her, his four sisters and five year-old brother.
"Flexible thinking," he said, is one of the seven keys to success described in his new book. "You will get knocked down."
"Talent determines what you 'can' do in life. Motivation determines what you 'decide' to do." Calhoun said. "Attitude determines 'how well' you do it. Nothing great in life can be accomplished without enthusiasm."
The rest of Calhoun's keys to success follow along these same lines. He describes himself as "much more than a guy who coaches basketball." He said that, in order to be successful, one must get up every single day at 6 a.m., exuberant about the day to come. He calls this "Winning Every Day."
Calhoun played sports as a young boy, but was forced to drop out of college to help support his large family. After almost two years, he went back to school and started to play again. He decided to go into the field of coaching afterward because it gave him the chance to compete and also to give back to upcoming athletes, he said. By the age of 28, Calhoun had already become a head coach.
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