State Leaders

Via Maxpreps.com

Kills

#28 Elise Marchais

Assists

#6 Sadie Smith

Digs

#52 Anna Burns 

Shaping the Right Stuff

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said, "Basketball isn't about running plays; it's about making plays." Many plays shaped "got to have it" moments in 'available' video.

Video link 

At 2:15:29, Duxbury serves 24-22 with double "match points." 

First, Sabrina McArt supplies craft over power at the net.

Continuing the play, Sadie Smith makes the situational dig of the year, extending the match for Amelie Johnson to "rainbow" a kill over the Dragon defense. 

Third, at 40:32 in the first set, Duxbury staged an early rally from a 7-2 deficit. Melrose leads 9-8. Adriana digs a tough serve, Sadie sets Alisa Dautovic, who delivers a kill off the block. "Stops make runs." 

Fourth, at 47:30 Melrose exerts force with Dani DiGiorgio digging a near-certain point, allowing Sadie and Alisa to convert another lost point into a winner. 

Fifth, set two, trailing 5-3 at 57:43, sport rewards extraordinary effort. Dani with another "dolphin dive" turns an ace into a Melrose point. Modern women's sport reveals skill and athleticism. 

Sixth, set four, trailing 19-13 Melrose needs playmakers. At 2:04:19, Sabrina McArt and Amelie leverage timing, technique, and athleticism with a key block. 

Seventh, trailing 23-21 at 2:14:36, Melrose works to avoid going to match point. Adriana with an excellent dig, Duxbury keeps the play alive, and Elise "hits through" and scores. The "will to hit" inhabits the hearts of competitors. 

Many more plays showed the grit of both teams. Regrettably, the video ends at 7-8 of the fifth set. 

"Adversity Is Your Companion"

Appreciate adversity. Failure shares feedback. "This is who we are" and "That is how we respond."

Volleyball informs a near-infinite set of variables. A ball ticks over the net, a block barely lands out, a float "knuckles" at the last minute and finds a point. You control none.

The Dodgers came off two consecutive World Titles with a massive payroll and hubris to match. 

Three of the four MLB finalists appeared in the bottom 12 of payroll. The Dodgers had over twice the payroll of the Brewers. "Money can't play." 

Consider great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln. Mandela suffered 27 years of imprisonment and Lincoln lived crippling depression, "Lincoln's Melancholy," to become who most historians consider a nation's greatest president. You've heard about Wilma Rudolph, born prematurely, later with crippling polio, told she likely would never walk, and won three Olympic Golds in sprinting in 1960 at Rome. Maya Angelou recovered from childhood abuse and mutism to become one of America's great literary voices. 

Hyperbole, thy name is blogging. Comparing a couple of volleyball wins under adversity to legendary historical figures ranges far over the top. A relevant quote, "Sports doesn't build character; it reveals it." 

Rolling over opponent and opponent would be great. MVB doesn't bring that overwhelming size or talent to the court. At times, the lineup looks like 5'8" clones carved from the same marble. Often, that's enough with "No mind." 

 

Learn Every Day

Adapted from my basketball blog. 

Vision into Action pic.twitter.com/sr0y8UY1xx

— Always Keep Learning (@AlwaysKeepL) August 31, 2026

Coach Nick Saban asked, "Are you spending your time or are you investing it?" 

Ordinary actions (reading, exercise, nutrition, thinking) create extraordinary growth. 

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Our attitude, choices, and effort define our progress. 

James Clear described a friend who writes three pages a day - resulting in publishing three books annually. 

Kobe Bryant took a thousand shots a day during his offseason, fashioning a top ten career. 

Larry Bird shot five hundred free throws daily before school and became one of three members in the 50/40/90 club along with Steve Nash and Kevin Durant...not too shabby for an OG. 

What's our learning framework for basketball or another sport?

Dr. Fergus Connolly favors:

• Skill
• Strategy
• Physicality
• Psychology

Boost skill with deliberate practice, ideally against competition. "Repetition makes reputations."

Enhance basketball IQ with reading, clinics, and video study. "Video is the truth machine." 

Become more physical with regular strength, conditioning, and recovery. "Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care." Remember that sport rewards athleticism. 

Raise your resilience with mental reps and a mindfulness practice. "Have you taken even one mindful breath today?" 

Commit to daily improvement...like Kevin Durant, who wakes and asks, "How do I get better today?"

Lagniappe. Purpose.  

“The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge.”

— Aristotle

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) August 31, 2026

Three-quarter Pole and Duxbury Stats

Melrose completes the 75 percent mark of the regular season with a quality road win at Duxbury.

Record 

Total  12-3

ML12  7-3

Ranking

Only the MIAA power rankings matter for seedings, matchups, and sites. It's unlikely that MVB can move into the three slot and seems likely to fit into Division 2 from four to six. 

Remaining Schedule

This week Melrose hosts a pair of solid clubs, Wakefield and Marblehead. The focus shifts to Wakefield which knows Melrose well. 

Trending

The operative word for MVB is distribution. They have distributed leadership with strong coaching and captains. They have distributed scoring (three double digit kill attackers today), service points, receives and digs, and a top three Melrose All-time setter (my opinion). I thought Sadie Smith partly willed the team to win today. 

Perspective

A viable argument says that MVB 26 is the polar opposite of MVB 25. The former gets scoring from the pins, the middle, and even the pipe. Serving is better, pin blocking is better, and defense is more experienced. MVB 25 relied on heliocentric gravity from Sabine Wenzel who established the single-season kills record, surrounded by a talented but inexperienced cast.

Health

Bumps and bruises accumulate over the season. Losing Ella Friedlaender to injury hurt. Everyone hopes her recovery postop goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. 

Others have recovered; another theme is "no excuses." 

Summary

Skill, luck, and health all compound to create opportunity. The "Anson Dorrance" term for the final stretch - continual ascension. 

Hudl Broadcast (Replay) at Duxbury

Link 

Varsity starts about 32:48 

Game 15: Melrose 3 Duxbury 2

Matinee idols...

Melrose faced the dragon's lair, escaping with a 25-17, 17-25, 26-28, 26-24, 15-7 win in Duxbury. Only a ferocious comeback in the fourth set fashioned the improbable win. 

The win over the MIAA D2 7th-ranked Dragons (11-4, power ranking 3.22) raised Melrose's record to 12-3. 

Melrose raced out early with superior offensive and defensive volleyball and captured the set handily.

Duxbury returned the favor in the next stanza, with improved defense creating better offensive chances. The hosts left no doubt that MVB was in for a long afternoon. 

Duxbury held an edge for most of the third set until Melrose tied it late at 22. With Melrose leading 26-25, they had a chance to close out the set but an attack soared long and Duxbury capitalized with the 28-26 set win.

The Dragons continued their dominance into the middle of the fourth set. A Scott Celli timeout trailing 13-19 allowed Melrose to rally. Melrose narrowed the gap, but Duxbury regained a big edge to 17-22. Melrose went into high gear at that point with a combination of big plays and Dragon errors. Melrose managed to even the score late on an Amelie Johnson "rainbow" kill to the corner and held serve to win 26-24.

The fifth set brought more of the same. Melrose took a 3-0 lead and a Duxbury timeout shaped a counterattack. Teams traded points and Duxbury held a 8-7 edge at the break. But Melrose knotted the score and rode an Elise Marchais service run to a lead. With the score at 12-9 (IIRC), Johnson delivered another dagger to go up 13-9. Melrose scored again followed by a Dux rally to 14-11. Sabrina McArt, who was immense, delivered the final point off a perfect quick set by Sadie Smith, and the ball fell harmlessly to earth. 

Both teams continually refused to yield as much of the second half played under narrow margins. 

Melrose overcame adversity with aggressiveness and grit, as MVB struggled a bit with consistency under Dragon service pressure. Once again, attack distribution among Elise, Adriana Santoriello, Alisa Dautovic, Sabrina, and Amelie kept Duxbury off balance. 

Liberos Gen Overlan and Anna Burns faced down many tough attacks along with DS Dani DiGiorgio. 

Melrose notes:

Coach Scott Celli described a "great win" in postgame comments. The adversity overcome on the road by his young but experienced team marked another signature situational win. 

Former Melrose setter Amanda Labella (MVB 2003) was in the crowd with her daughter Bella. 

Stat Leaders

"There are three kinds of lies - lies, damned lies, and statistics." - popularized by Mark Twain

Massachusetts Leaders

Kills

#36 Elise Marchais

Assists

#9  Sadie Smith

Digs

#71 Anna Burns

Team Leaders

 

Great Speeches Series

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Every day offers an opportunity to "prove it." 

Empower yourselves. Show up. Show out. Bring the receipts. 

The words “woman” and “women” do not appear in either the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution. Do you believe that is either an accident or an oversight? 

In 1851, the former enslaved person, Sojourner Truth, spoke truth to power with this brief speech. Kerry Washington shares a dramatic reading of "Ain't I a Woman?"

One Word Changed Everything for This Coach

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A post shared by Boston Celtics (@celtics)

Coaches lead, teach, and organize. Most of all they model excellence. 

Just as we want our teams to be worthy, set standards for ourselves. 

The Celtics' Joe Mazzulla said the word that got his attention was "Dad," as Deuce called for Jayson Tatum.

Positivity. No one shapes a positive life from a negative attitude.

Enthusiasm. Nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm. 

Values. Teams' play should reflect shared values - competitiveness, preparation, unselfishness, unity, resilience, gratitude, sportsmanship, humility. 

Excellence. Bring the best version of ourselves at home, school, work, and play. 

Consistency. Bring the same attitude, quality decisions, and effort daily. Dad had a saying, "Street angels, house devils." Don't. 

What do these share? They mirror The Fourth Agreement, "Always do your best." Fans respect a team that reveals the character of their community. 

 

 

The Training Environment*

*Adapted from my basketball blog

"In life and in sports, I have always believed that one of the most important decisions you can make is: Choosing your surroundings in terms of people and environment." - "Habits That Make A Champion" by Allistair McCaw

Our environments shape us. In Freakonomics, readers learned that one of the prime educational factors was the number of books in the home. Exposure to books impacts childhood learning.

Our training environment matters...the culture and the people who surround us.

LeBron James invests over a million dollars annually in his training environment - nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, basketball.  

Coach Mike Krzyzewski's fingerprints are all over The Bear...and he didn't know it. “The other thing is that you’re not gonna get there alone. You know, be on a team. Surround yourself with good people and learn how to listen. You’re not gonna learn with you just talking. And when you do talk, converse, don’t make excuses. Figure out the solution, and you don’t have to figure it out yourself. I always wanted to be part of a team. And obviously, I wanted to lead that team. What an interesting life it is to be a leader.”

Environment includes where we train, with whom we train, how we train, and freedom from distractions. Excellence doesn't survive distractions. 

The "self-made man" remains a myth. Everyone gets help as "mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Recognize this and share credit. "Althea Gibson, one of the first black athletes to cross the color line of international Tennis and the first African American to win a Grand Slam title once said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.”" - Allistair McCaw in Habits That Make a Champion

Paraphrasing Harry Bosch, the Michael Connelly hero, "Everything counts or nothing counts."

Improve Our Training Environment

• Surround ourselves with good people and listen.
• Find a mentor. 
• Invest in yourself. Excellence extracts a price. 
• Train without distractions. 
• Recognize people and things holding us back.

Lagniappe. Allistair McCaw shares environmental musts. His Habits That Make a Champion is a must read for coaches. 

10 Traits of a High Performing Training Environment: 

1. Involves people of high character 
2. Drives high standards and values 
3. There is psychological safety 
4. Has competent coaches and support personnel 
5. Is growth minded 
6. There is consistent feedback provided 
7. Includes other high performing athletes 
8. Provides the appropriate facilities and equipment 
9. Motivates the athlete to work harder 
10. Teaches life skills, not only athletic skills

 

Updated Power Rankings

Melrose holds onto the fourth spot in D2. Burlington and Woburn slip in ML12 power rankings. 

Melrose travels to number seven Duxbury tomorrow. 

 

"Own It"

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Chase perfection and find excellence.

No game, player, coach, or analysis inhabits perfection. Everyone wants decisions, plays, and sentences redone.

In Good Writing, Allen and Lamott prioritize writing good sentences. Then shape them into paragraphs, chapters, and compete works. 

In volleyball, make each play the "production unit." Sometimes a directed, quality serve ends the play. Move on. Next play. Stream that 'sentence' into a paragraph. 

In the fifth set against Belmont, at 11-7, Sabrina read the attack and prey becomes predator. That happened because Gen and Sadie made adjustments and kept the play alive off the rafters. 

That sequence sets up "The Kid" to serve out the match. 

Whatever happens, own it. 

Statistics Versus Belmont

The stat sheet is marked up today:

Attacking:

Three players with a dozen or more kills, led by Alisa with a career best 13.

Serving: 

Elise and Anna both with 19 service points. 

Ball handling: 

Sadie with 33 assists

Digs:

An astonishing six players with double digit digs. Probably the first time that has ever happened. Coach can comment on that. 

Receptions:

Four players with double digit receptions 

Set Three Highlights (vs Belmont)

The "toolbox" allows for different answers. The fastball gets defenders on their heels. That sets up offspeed pitches. And the tips bring defenders in, limiting their reaction time. 

 

Aggression. Force. Toughness. Call it what you like. Remember CAR-T - consistency, aggression, resilience, and toughness.

Sometimes, the correct decision is "keeping a play alive." Or fall in love with easy. Other times, bring the rain.  

Elise continues to deliver wherever installed in the lineup. 

MVB doesn't score here, but not from lack of effort. Dani and Gen being Dani and Gen craft two remarkable digs. Pancake but no syrup this time. 

More defensive Dani with a payoff from Elise. 

No point, but more excellent reaction time at the net. Undersized but overly competitive. 

Know who you are. 

 

More Highlights - Belmont at Melrose

"Show, then tell." Words paint pictures but pictures impact us directly, viscerally.

How many times did fans say, "Wow?"

Both teams proved "worthy" opponents. A long rally followed by an Alisa Dautovic pipe attack.  

Attack distribution matters. Amelie Johnson scores from the right side.

 

Better teams have at least three offensive threats. Melrose had three players with at least ten kills - Alisa, Adriana Santoriello, and Elise Marchais, scoring here. 

Belmont's stout defense kept plays alive until they could attack. 

Finding holes in the defense challenged MVB throughout. Here Sabrina scores. 

Position, timing, and "pressing the block" into enemy airspace scores points. Adriana gets "hands on" here. 

Alisa Dautovic's return to full participation showed off her full range of skills.

 

The Socrates Tests

Philosophy literally translates to "love of wisdom." Socrates was among the leading practitioners of philosophy in ancient Greece. Follow his logic in the test of the three sieves (filters):  

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1. Is it true? 

2. Is it good? 

3. Is it useful? 

Gossip and rumor fly in an era of social media run wild. Untruths and conspiracy theories are abundant. As listeners, we're tasked with separating truth from fiction.

Truth

Investigative journalist Bob Woodward of The Washington Post, explained that his job entailed finding the best available version of the truth. He insists on documentation and confirmation of sources.

After he wrote his book The Brethren, about the Supreme Court, Woodward was contacted by a former court clerk who said that a quote attributed to him was incorrect. Woodward invited him to his home and showed him the quote in the clerk's handwriting. The clerk said he would have sworn that was not true. 

Separating truth from fiction often isn't easy. It takes discipline and patience not to spread unverified information. And our memories fail. 

Before spreading rumors, use the first filter, "Is it true?" 

Goodness

Consider whether a rumor is good or harmful. If someone says, "Did you know that she wrote the whole term paper using AI?," it's certainly not good and unknown whether it's true. 

Even if you could verify that it were true, it fails on the second filter, "Is it good?" 

Useful 

Does the information we will hear in a rumor or conspiracy help us navigate our world? "There's a rabid animal in our neighborhood." That would be useful to keep ourselves and our pets away from that animal. The most common 'suburban' rabies vectors are raccoons and skunks, and less often foxes and coyotes. All live locally, so the useful information is to stand clear. 

Before circulating or hearing rumors or gossip, whether about volleyball or anything else, think about these three filters and save ourselves and others troubles. 

Another approach is applying the THINK acronym, derived from those Socratic sieves. 

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Acronyms are often easier to recall. 

Every one of us has passed on information that doesn't meet these values. Sometimes that's from ignorance, others from not thinking well. Make the effort to pass Socrates' tests, wisdom from ancient times. 

Lagniappe. Trust. Hat tip: Larry McKenzie

Trust is a foundational value for high performance organizations. 

Game 14: Melrose 3 Belmont 2

With the match of critical importance to both teams, Melrose held off Belmont (11-3) in five sets - 20-25, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, and 15-7.

The win boosts the Melrose record to 11-3 headed into another "Fists of Fury" match in Duxbury Saturday.

MIAA power rankings (playoff seeding), ML12 tournament seeding, and a big crowd for "Dig Purple Night" added to the drama.

Each one point margin of victory adds 0.05 rating points and the win helps Melrose hold off Belmont for third place in the ML12.

After a slow start, Belmont took control of the first set with exceptional defense keeping play after play alive. Melrose couldn't "climb the hill" as Belmont conceded nothing.

Melrose got off fast in the second set. At 10-4 setter Sadie Smith attacks a second ball and gets a kill.  

In a defining sequence in the second set, with Elise Marchais serving, Melrose goes on a massive run with everyone involved. 

Melrose held a massive lead before Belmont had a late rally to close the set to within 25-13. 

Melrose continued strong play in the third set, with huge contributions from setter Sadie Smith, the liberos (Anna Burns, Gen Overlan), defensive specialist Dani DiGiorgio, middles Elise and Sabrina McArt, right side Amelie Johnson, and "all-six" players Alisa Dautovic and Adriana Santoriello. The result was a hard-earned 25-18 win, putting Melrose up 2-1. 

Belmont does not quit. Only 30 kills from Sabine Wenzel prevented Belmont from winning last season in five sets. And Belmont continued their exceptional defense throughout. 

In the fifth and tiebreaking set, Belmont bounced out in front 2-0 but Melrose struck back with four consecutive points, and led 8-5 at the exchange of ends. 

Elise Marchais threw in a couple of service points to lead 10-5 before Belmont scored. At 10-6, Alisa Dautovic fired in a key kill to extend the lead to 11-6. After Belmont scored, Sabrina had a massive block to bring the lead back to five at 12-7 and Alisa "aced out" the set for the margin of victory. 

What went well?

• Melrose avoided slow starts. 
• MVB got exceptional performances from multiple, multiple players. 
• Even when a few players struggled, they held firm with the conviction to hit and refind the "hot zone." 
• Excellent communication with negligible balls hitting the floor. 

What went poorly? 

The biggest "negative" was Belmont's exceptional defense. In the style of a later round playoff game, Belmont never quit. 

What were the enduring lessons? 

Stick to the game plan - aggression, aggression, aggression. 

Melrose Notes: 

Coach Scott Celli said after the match, "We knew it would be like this." 

The MVMMS Gym hosted a large and enthusiastic crowd, a definite playoff atmosphere.

Former MVB stars in the house - Gia Vlajkovic (varsity assistant), Elena Soukos (another "Triple Crown Winner") and big sister Manon Marchais. Also parents of former stars including the Vlajkovic family, Rachel Johnson's parents and Leah Fowke's dad. 

Reading beat Burlington 3-1 to maintain their stranglehold on the ML12 two seed. 

 

Into the Danger Zone - Melrose Hosts Belmont Thursday

MVB 26 hosts a key ML12 match Thursday.  

Bite at the Apple*

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. *Some AI assist in this piece. 

You never know when, or whether, you will get another "bite at the apple."

Athletes sometimes presume another season, another tournament, another big match, another healthy year, another opportunity will come. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't.

Celebrated play assures nothing. Talent guarantees nothing. A great regular season doesn't mean a favorable ending. Favorites lose.  Underdogs surprise. Opportunity has an expiration date.

Players from championship teams sometimes speak years later about believing there would be another chance. It never came.

That's reason to relish the opportunity before you. Favorite or underdog doesn't matter much. When the ball goes up, you get your bite at the apple.

Study the Game

Preparation begins with understanding. First, understand yourself. "To thine own self be true."

What do we do well? Where are we vulnerable? Which rotations score? Which struggle? Can we pass the toughest server? Do we defend tips? What happens out-of-system?

Self-scouting requires honesty. Knowing yourself eliminates surprise.

Then study the opposition. "Know your enemy."

Where do they score? Who's their "go to" option? Who struggles in serve receive? Does the setter reveal direction? Does an outside hitter tip when pushed off the net? Can their middle close the block?

Information doesn't win. Applied advantage does.

Craft Winning Plays

Do what you do best.

Good passing creates choices. Quality serving reduces theirs. Put your strongest players in positions to succeed. 

Then attack weakness. Serve a vulnerable passer. Make a slow blocker move. Force an uncomfortable hitter to swing from an uncomfortable location. If the defense cheats, use the space emptied.

Sun Tzu's advice survives because it is simple:

Utilize strengths. Attack weaknesses. Fall in love with easy.

Avoid Losing Plays

Many matches aren't won. They're gifted.

Service errors. Free balls into the net. Poor communication. Overpasses. Bad decisions after good defensive plays.

Control what you can control.

Exceptional opponents will "get theirs." A great hitter will terminate balls. A great server may score an ace. Don't convert an earned point into four unearned ones.

And remember: Stops make runs.

When the other team scores three straight, somebody needs to make the ordinary play that stops four from becoming seven. 

Momentum doesn't always require brilliance. It requires competence.

Maximize Focus

Reading the game begins long before match point. It begins in practice. Watch the setter. Read the hitter's approach. Recognize a bad set. Anticipate the roll shot. Hear your teammate call "short."

Concentration --> Anticipation --> Reaction --> Execution.

Mindfulness, playing present, matters. The last rally is gone. The next one lies over the horizon. Play this ball.

Build Resilience

Big matches seldom unfold predictably. Errors happen. The official will miss something. An opponent will make a spectacular play.

Now what?

Resilience accepts adversity. It shrinks the distance between adversity and effective action.

Practice that way. Practice tired. Practice behind. Practice after mistakes. Create disadvantage and solve it.

Play harder for longer.

The team that handles adversity best often looks surprisingly ordinary doing it. Calmer, not drama. Just another point.

Seize the Day

Opportunity is strange. You spend months preparing for moments that may last seconds. And when those moments arrive, no assurances come with them. 

The promise is opportunity. Study. Prepare. Compete. Help each other. Endure.

Take your bite at the apple; nobody knows when the next one is coming.

Lagniappe. Make few promises; keep them. Everyone makes errors; own them. Value your teammates; help them. 

Playoff Bound Thoughts

Successful teams go into the postseason playing well. Name universal advice for or truths about solid teams:

1) Do well what you do a lot.

2) Do more of what works and less of what doesn't.

3) Don't beat yourself (limit mistakes). Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla says that every game there are 10-15 possessions that you want over. 

As a team, ask:

1) What are our strengths? That include people, strategy, and execution. Apply these relentlessly. 

2) What realistic improvements are on the table? Where can points be saved via improved attack or better defense?

3) What weaknesses can we lessen or hide? How can we turn "C or C+ into B" or "B" into A-? 

Lagniappe. Good coaches obsess over being better. They never think that they know it all or that they can't find another edge. 

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Quotable Quotes

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. This blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose institution. 

First, everyone at the game was asking for Ella and how she is doing. "Shout out to Ella!"

No, it's not a JEOPARDY category. Today, examine quotes from outstanding coaches from Pat Williams' classic, "The Ultimate Coaches' Career Manual." 

Williams extracts wisdom from coaches across sports, some contemporary and some historical. 

DEREK DOOLEY (University of Tennessee)

"Do they respect your level of competency to put them in a position to succeed? They must think that you know what you are doing at every step, and if they listen, they will succeed."

BEAR BRYANT (University of Alabama)

You can learn from anybody. I don't hire anybody who is not brighter than I am. If they're not smarter than me, I don't need them. Little things make the difference. 

JOHN STEARNS (Washington Nationals Minor League Manager)

Make sure your players clearly understand their roles. The two key rules are: play hard and be on time. 

PETE ROSE (Cincinnati Reds)

Constantly emphasize winning, practicing, and having fun while practicing. You have one set of rules, but each guy is to be treated differently based on his personality. 

GENE MAUCH (Philadelphia Phillies)

Focus on the fundamentals. Play the percentages. Over the long haul that will pay off. 

RAY KNIGHT (Cincinnati Reds)

You are judged on your ability to evaluate talent. This is a key part of your value to an organization. We tend to evaluate young players too quickly. You've got to be patient and always lean to the players' side. 

TERRY FRANCONA (Boston Red Sox)

Work hard. Put your players first. Have fun. 

JOHN MACKOVIC (University of Texas)

You must dream big dreams to be something special. If you do not set the standards and values for your team, someone else will. Never trade your integrity for a quick victory. 

JOHNNY MAJORS (University of Tennessee)

You are a teacher and must love to teach. Your team must be disciplined. Your players must hustle and never give up. 

JIM YOUNG (Purdue University)

Get away by yourself and spend some time thinking. Devote time to meditate on your plans and new ideas. 

THERESA GRENTZ (University of Illinois)

You want your players to be critical thinkers, to be able to solve problems, and express themselves. Never take advice about your team from someone who doesn't know you. 

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI (Duke University)

I would allow my assistants to give their input and be able to coach. It should not be a one-man operation. The best way to gain respect is to tell the players the truth. Look them in the eye and tell them, "This is the way it is." 

Lagniappe. Encourage a sense of urgency with the first ball kill drill.