Coach Holtz has Birmingham Focused on the Process – Stallions Repeat as USFL Champions

Photo by Al Kornspan

Canton –  “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” Vince Lombardi has been reported to have said. However, it has also been reported that Lombardi claimed that what he actually said was, “Winning isn’t everything, but striving to win is.”  

For those of you in Alabama, or are University of Alabama football fans, the second quote might remind you of the philosophy of University of Alabama Football coach Nick Saban who constantly emphasizes the importance of the “Process”. 

Well, there is another football coach in Alabama that is very focused on teaching the process to his athletes.  

Who is that coach you might ask?

That coach is professional football coach, Skip Holtz of the Birmingham Stallions who just won his second USFL Championship in a row.

One of the first things Coach Skip Holtz, the son of the legendary Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz, talked about with the media was the process.

“Our goal was not to win the championship,” said Holtz. “That was not our opening leading goal. Our opening goal was ‘I don’t know how good we can be, but let’s make sure we are as good as we can be, and let’s just keep getting better every week. The goal of this football team is 1-0. And I was asked by the media yesterday, how have you done it, how have you gone 20-3. We didn’t try to go 20-3. We try to win one game at a time. Every time we have taken the field we just try to win one game at a time. And that’s how we were going to win this game, one play at a time.”

So as sports fans, what can were learn from Coach Holtz’s philosophy of success that he utilized to help his team win two straight USFL championships.  

First, in the field of mental performance coaching, coaches stress trying to focus on the process day in day out, rather than to worry about results. 

Secondly, mental performance coaches talk about trying to control what you can control and trying not to worry about what you do not have control over.  

The key of course is taking this philosophy that Coach Holtz utilizes in football and then trying to apply it to everyday life situations.  

Finally, when discussing coaching and things that can be applied to life, Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” and definition of success can be helpful in developing a positive outlook that can help implement Coach Holtz’s philosophy to everyday life.

Coach Wooden stated, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you’re capable of becoming.”

Have a happy and healthy Fourth of July holiday!