“Professionally - I had the opportunity to play sports throughout my youth, in high school and college. Early on, I decided I wanted to be a coach so I tried to learn everything I could about all positions on the team.” PlayWantedSchoolOpportunitySportsTeamPositionYouthCollegeHigh SchoolDecidedCoaches Author:LaVell Edwards
“I went to many coaching clinics, talked to other coaches, read articles, books, etc. Anything I could do that would help me prepare to be the best coach possible. Fortunately, the coaches I had as a player were good men and were excellent role models in setting priorities and relating to the team members and coaching staff.” MenBookHelpingRolesPlayerTeamMembersModelsCoachesPrioritiesSettingSettingsExcellentCoachingBeing The BestHelp MeEtcGood ManRole ModelsArticlesStaffClinicTeam MemberBest CoachesCoaching Staff Author:LaVell Edwards
“Even though I did not go into college teaching, I believe the education I did receive helped me to become a better coach.” BelieveI BelieveTeachingCollegeCoaches Author:LaVell Edwards
“Much of coaching consists of teaching and communicating ideas, concepts and philosophies to the players and my education helped make me a much more effective coach.” IdeasPhilosophyPlayerTeachingConceptsCommunicateCoachesCoaching Author:LaVell Edwards
“The Wyoming game in 1974, my third year as head coach. My first year, we were 7-4; the second year, we went 5-6; the third year started out 0-3-1. Some of the players got together and had a team meeting to get a few things straightened out. Starting with the Wyoming game, we won 6 straight games and won our first conference championship, the second in BYU's history. We went to the Fiesta Bowl, the first of many bowl games for the Cougars.” YearsFirstsTogetherGamesPlayerTeamThirdsMeetingsStartingCoachesBowlsChampionshipConferencesWyomingHead CoachesCougarsByuFiesta Author:LaVell Edwards
“Edwards commented as he signed an extension to his contract. They had changed coaches every three or four years before my getting the head job. It was just going to be a matter of when I got fired. There were a lot of people that felt that.” PeopleYearsMatterJobsThreeFeltJusticeFourChangedCoachesContractsFour YearsExtensions Author:LaVell Edwards
“And I want you to know that I have had the greatest support from President Bateman. I could coach as long as I want to and never felt any pressure to reach a decision.” KnowsWantLongFeltPresidentDecisionSupportPressureCoachesI Want You Author:LaVell Edwards
“Edwards recalled that he once planned to coach until he was 60 as he signed an extension to his contract. I was about 62 before I ever remembered that's what I had set up. . . . Now I'm already making plans for next year and recruiting. That's the reason for this. I just feel good right now.” FeelsYearsReasonNextPlansRight NowCoachesPlanningFeel GoodRememberedContractsExtensionsNext Year Author:LaVell Edwards
“When I started I knew it was a matter of when, not if, I would get fired. That's because that was just the past history of the previous coaches that had been there.” IfsMatterPastCoaches Author:LaVell Edwards
“When we have adversity we oftentimes tend to look around and think that we're the Lone Ranger. We tend to believe that we're the only one who has problems. And we always look around and see others who are more talented, taller, smarter, handsomer, or faster. I can assure you, everyone has problems-even football coaches. The ability we have to handle this adversity will determine the degree of success that we will have in life.” ThinkingLifeBelieveLooksI CanProblemBeliefAbilityFootballDegreesAdversityDetermineCoachesHandleFasterSmarterLoneRangersFootball CoachLone Ranger Author:LaVell Edwards
“What keeps you motivated? The challenge of putting all the elements of a team together and seeing how you do and what you become is the thing that I still enjoy. I also enjoy the associations and relationships with the players and other coaches - to be in the arena, so to speak. I still enjoy that. I'm also at the point, though, that if we're not doing well - it's tough enough as it is - that I'm not going to be hanging on just to be hanging on. Because it's not anything I need from an ego standpoint or anything else. I just thoroughly enjoy what I'm doing.” IfsNeedsWellsStillsEnoughTogetherSpeakEnjoyChallengesJusticePlayerSeeingTeamEgoElementsToughCoachesMotivatedAssociationArenaStandpointHanging OnKeep You Motivated Author:LaVell Edwards
“Late in the third quarter the Cougars were behind 12-0. Duva had completed 5 out of 20 passes. Edwards looked at Gifford Nielsen. Giff had never done a thing, in practice or anywhere else, to give us confidence in him. . . . . . . the coach said later. He sent him into the game anyway. First play was a 19-yard completion. Second was a 6-yard run. He threw again on the third play to running back Dave Lowry who ran 37 yards for a touchdown.” GivingFirstsSaidDonePlayRunningGamesBehindsPracticeLateThirdsCoachesRanQuartersYardsCompletionDaveRunning BackTouchdownsCougars Author:LaVell Edwards
“After announcing that the 2000 season would be his last before retirement: Last winter I made the decision to coach for only one more season. I have been wrestling with the timing of announcing that decision. After seeing the outstanding attitude and work ethic of this team, I came to the conclusion that it's best to get the announcement out of the way now so we can focus on the season and avoid the repeated distractions that come from questions about my retirement.” WayHas BeensMadeWould BeLastsWorkDecisionAttitudeFocusSeeingTeamEthicsSeasonsWinterCoachesConclusionRetirementWrestlingDistractionTimingWork EthicOutstandingAnnouncementsAnnouncing Author:LaVell Edwards
“I could sum it up in one thing: A guy has to be what he is. He's got to coach and have a philosophy based on his own personality. You see too many coaches trying to imitate other coaches, trying to be someone else. It's all right to emulate the qualities of good coaches but I don't think you should imitate. You've got to be yourself.” ThinkingShouldTryingPhilosophyGuySportsQualityOne ThingPersonalityCoachesBeing YourselfEmulateGood Coaches Author:LaVell Edwards
