John Calipari on creating a winning culture: "The whole idea in our program and culture is about achievement. The culture here is about being competitive. The culture here is learning to battle and fight like hell for your opportunity." Doc Rivers on leadership: "Leadership, at times, can be very lonely and it can be very unpopular. But if it's coming from the right place, from a place with no personal agenda, then leadership is powerful." Kirby Smart on delegating: "My first years as a head coach, I wasn't nearly the leader that I was capable of being, because I wasn't delegating enough. If you warn morale to be good, you'd better allow for creativity among your staff. And I really think that's an area in which I've grownâ¦into a much more patient coach and leader, not to mention much easier to work for.
" Nancy Lieberman on self evaluating: "I self-evaluate in real timeâ¦And I try to always humble myself. Humility is confidenceâ¦I have to be intuitive in my self-assessment and reflection of the energy I'm giving to the universe. I try to lead with love and kindness, and a smile." Nick Saban on team culture: "Mediocre people don't like high achievers. And high achievers don't like mediocre people. So if everybody doesn't buy into the same principles and values of the organization, at the same high standard, you're never going to be successful." Kim Mulkey on evolving the program: "Great leaders evolve with time and get better with timeâ¦As a leader, you may have good leadership qualities and may have done things in a positive way, but if you stay the same and you don't evolve and learn, then you become stagnantâ¦You have to evolve and understand what motivates people right now.".