Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Sport Reflection This course bared a striking similarity to our Seminar in Sport Administration

course with the strong focus upon leadership and organizational/administrative dos and don'ts.! It provided a more in-depth focus on the organizational makeup, different styles and their effectiveness.! Just as in Seminar in Sport Administration, I gained a tremendous amount in this course from self-reflection over former leadership and subordinate roles I held.! I probably learned most from the evaluation of what went wrong or what not to do.! ! Another extremely helpful takeaway from this course were the insights gained from my interview with a sport professional.! I spoke with Carol Callan, the Women's National Team Director for USA Basketball and she gave some great insights from her own experiences and the observation of others.! Fittingly enough for this time of the year, Callan discussed two of the head coaches who are contenders in this years Womens Basketball Final Four here in Nashville - Geno Aureimma and Tara Vanderveer. She stated these two accomplished coaches reached their respective success and continue to grow in those accomplishments with very different leadership styles. She raved as to Auriemmas shockingly intimate approach he takes to his role; he seeks to know every detail about everyones background with whom he works from his star point guard to their team bus driver. On the other hand, Vanderveer takes a less vocal approach. Both coaches are tireless workhorses - extremely dedicated and intense in the success of their organizations. Both are current reminders that success is not created by luck but by hard work. ! For the Sport Leader Profile assignment in this course, it comes as no shock to find out my sport leader profile was done on Kay Yow. Her leadership approach was a lead-by-example transformational model. She embodied every aspect of the transformation leadership model. She always (1) articulated the vision she wished the organization would achieve, (2) convinced all players and staff of the practicality of that vision, and (3) expressed whole-hearted confidence in the team to achieve said vision. (Chelladurai, 2009). Coach Yows inner being was forever discontent with the status quo. She always strived to be the best at everything and encourage others around her to do the same. Every former player or staff member of Coach Yow would tell you there was never a worse feeling than the feeling that you had disappointed Coach Yow. The teams philosophy (adopted from Coach Yow) was to give it your all. All Coach Yow wanted was your best; because, if you truly submitted your best effort, there was nothing left to criticize or be disappointed with. Coach Yow integrated Bass 1985 Transformational Leadership view; she composed charismatic leadership, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration in every leadership approach. (Chelladurai, 2009). Coach Yows presence and perseverance through difficult times always inspired those that witnessed her fight. The one thing no one can argue with is her ability to lead by example. Her focus was always placed upon the betterment of her team from all aspects of life: mental, physical, and spiritual. Finally, Coach Yow always abided by the philosophy that different approaches worked differently for different people. That is why she never used the same approach with each team or player. If she felt there was a lull in the teams motivation, she would mix it up with some type of variety. For example, instead of practice one day, the team might go on an obstacle course together or play flag football that day instead of basketball practice. Keeping the interest of her players and pursuing the development of her team was never an issue for Coach Yow. This model was apparent in everything Coach Yow did, it was even written on the stairs as you entered Reynolds Coliseum; John Woodens Pyramid of Success was painted on the

stairs, which led from the womens basketball locker room up to the gym floor. Coach Yow wanted each player and staff to see those fundamentals every day before they started their work for the program. The following remains there today: wolfpack women steps to success competitive greatness, industriousness, self-control, cooperation, enthusiasm, confidence, intentness, team spirit, alertness, friendship, condition, initiative, loyalty, poise, and skill. (Williams, 2012). My developed leadership style has evolved from the several good (and bad) examples I have seen; however, the crux of my leadership style has been molded from the transformational leadership style of Coach Kay Yow.! Coach Yow, along with most other successful leaders I have had the pleasure of working with have been somewhat self-taught leaders who fully believed in working their way up to the top.! With Coach Yow, she initially set out to become a librarian.! Her first job as a high school basketball coach was not something she sought out, it was a position which was placed upon her as a condition of employment.! So, she read coaching books and gained as much knowledge as possible to be successful.! She worked her way up through the line from high school coach to a college coach who did the team's laundry and ironed their uniforms to a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach.! ! This type of blue collar grassroots approach is one which I fully embody and wholeheartedly believe.! Working in every facet of your profession, from the ground up, is extremely important to me.! I feel this approach allows you to become a much better leader in every aspect:! (1) you know the business inside and out, (2) you are able to gain a sense of empathy for your employees, and, in turn, (3) you gain much respect from your co-workers for the effort in being willing to do all jobs and responsibilities, not just the glamorous ones.! Coach Yow always said, Greatness does not lie in doing the extraordinary but in doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. (Williams, 2012). She believed in people. She believed in guiding people and treating people equally and fairly. She always had hope and acted with dignity, grace, and respect for others. She lived a life which she hoped others would model, which garnered her upmost respect of her players, the collegiate coaching community, and the world. This is the standard I have set for myself in my professional and personal life. When you use this type of model, you are bound to motivate!and establish a team willing to give their all in furtherance of your organization's mission.! Perhaps the greatest example of Coach Yows transformational leadership approach was embodied in her 2006-2007 team at N.C. State. Four games into the season, Coach Yow was forced to take a leave of absence because of the serious progression of her breast cancer. In all, Yow missed 16 games that season before returning to the bench to coach the annual Hoops for Hope game versus Virginia on January 26, 2007. (Kay Yow Foundation, n.d. ). After her conquering return, Yows team won 10 of their next 11 games, which included her 700th career victory and a win over then No. 2 ranked University of North Carolina. On the evening of the teams win versus rival North Carolina, the court inside of Reynolds Coliseum was named Kay Yow Court. The exciting victories continued for the Pack throughout the ACC and NCAA Tournament. In the ACC Tournament Semifinal game, the 2006-2007 N.C. State team knocked off a then unbeaten and top-ranked Duke Blue Devils. The team, led by its enthusiastic and inspiring leader, went on to earn the respect of all of womens basketball that year and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The squad advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before their all-inspiring run was ended. (Kay Yow Foundation, n.d.). This 2006-2007 squad was one which embodied everything Coach Yow ever taught. They looked adversity in its face and ran through it like it was simply a cover of fog. That team put into practice the verse which Coach Yow signed every time she gave an autograph, I can do all

things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13). A reminder I will use everyday of my life.