0:00

Luke: This is episode 42 of The "I" in Win podcast

0:04

Jim: we're teaching our kids about the value of hard work.

0:06

even if the success wasn't what it has been, I would still

0:09

believe in this message to send the kids about, doing all the

0:12

little things right on the field and in your life is gonna those

0:15

pile up and we'll get success. Luke: Hey everyone. Welcome to another episode of The "I" in

0:33

Win. The podcast that features uncommon leaders who focus on

0:36

people rather than outcomes. Really excited to introduce

0:39

today's guests. We have coached Jim Konrad, who is the head boys'

0:43

soccer coach, Dean of students and assistant girls' soccer

0:46

coach. That's a mouthful. You've got a lot of jobs that are coach

0:49

at Naperville north high school in Illinois. We're going to cover

0:52

a lot of topics with coach, including his interesting path to

0:55

education. What it means to be back at his Alma mater, leading

0:59

the men and women at Naperville north high school, the challenges

1:02

of being a head coach, most importantly, how focusing on

1:06

people have led to the combination of three state

1:08

championships, 16 conference titles, and four final four

1:13

appearances coach Konrad. Thanks for being on the show today.

1:17

Jim: Thanks for having me. It's a real honor and I'm excited to

1:19

talk. Luke: Let's talk. about your interests. Path to education

1:23

after a successful playing career you decide to enter medical

1:27

school. So first, what was your initial thought? What were you

1:29

studying in medical? Jim: Well, my, my, my grandfather was a dentist and I always loved

1:35

math and science as a kid. And. School was something I did pretty

1:37

well at. And so that kind of was the path, to when like I want,

1:41

you know, how do you win at life? You become a doctor or a lawyer,

1:43

right? Writer going to finance themselves. Let's set that up. It

1:46

goes to be a I'm interested. It'll be a neat field and give

1:49

back to the world. but as I finished college, I started

1:52

coaching a club team. And, um, my brother, Jay who's who's younger

1:57

than me was an educator who was going into education. And I

1:59

started doing this real poll. Um, and so while I was in medical

2:02

school in downtown Chicago, I would drive home, afterschool

2:05

some days, and then on the weekends and coach these boys.

2:07

And I just felt a stronger and stronger pull to coaching

2:10

education. So after my second year, I met with the school and

2:14

asked for a year off to pursue education to see if it was the

2:17

right fit. And I, uh, fell in love and, and never looked back.

2:21

So, um, it was, uh, it's, it's been a great move for. absolutely

2:24

love them and educator. And, I taught science for a while, but

2:27

now I'm administrator. So, uh, it was the right path for me.

2:29

Luke: So let's talk specifically what it was about coaching that

2:34

youth team that ignited this passion of coaching and teaching.

2:39

Jim: Uh, it's cliche to say, you know, to see kids grow and become

2:43

a better version of themselves, but it really was true to see the

2:46

excitement in kids as they developed. Um, Technically

2:51

tactically. And then as, as young men, I mean, I was a kid, I was

2:54

22 years old when I started doing this. And so seeing the impact

2:59

you can have on a bunch of 14 year olds, through coaching, was

3:03

powerful. And then I think the part that really gets is the

3:05

emotional part where, kids are. Shy and they learned to compete,

3:09

you know, kids compete. They want to do with class. your best kids

3:13

kind of learn how to take care of others. So there's those little

3:15

sub categories within the team, that you see role growth. And

3:18

then at that age too, you get, there's such positive feedback

3:21

from the kids and parents. And at that age of my life, that felt

3:24

great, right. To have someone say, Hey, thank you for what

3:27

you're doing for my kids. and seeing the kids grow, um, you

3:31

know, my dad also was a businessman and he. I said, I

3:34

went to work every day. I provide for my family, but never loved my

3:37

job. And you just would always hammer us saying we have to love

3:41

what you do do. So that makes a difference in the world. We will

3:44

love your life way more than I did as a provider. So, um, all

3:47

those things kinda came together and, uh, yeah, like I said, I, I

3:51

stepped away from med school and haven't looked back. Luke: Yeah, absolutely. Uh, it does sound cliche, but you don't

3:58

realize the impact you are having on kids until you actually step

4:02

into the arena. Right? It's easy to sit up in the stands and

4:05

judge. But when you're actually out there each and every day,

4:09

working with these kids and to me after a practice, when a kid just

4:13

says, thanks, coach. That really means a lot to me. And those are

4:17

the moments that keep you coming back, right? Just those simple

4:20

thank you's. And, uh, how far it really, really, uh, you know,

4:24

take someone in life because I like you did not start in

4:28

education. And my football coach called me. I was like, Hey, I

4:32

really need a freshman year. And I'm like, man, it's interesting.

4:35

I was 22 years old, just like you. I never really thought about

4:38

coaching and I stepped out there and like first, second day, I

4:43

come home and tell my fiance. I'm like, I'm in this is it let's go.

4:48

And, uh, it was funny cause I, I never thought about it until I

4:51

stepped out on the field and I absolutely. Also, we share

4:55

another similarity and we are at our Alma maters how to feel 1997,

5:00

you get hired back at Naperville w Naperville north. Excuse me.

5:03

What's it mean to you to be back at your home? Jim: I had a, at a wonderful experience as a kid here, you

5:09

know, I refer to the, my freshmen soccer. Yeah. When you got those

5:14

old vinyl jackets with the matching color sleeves. And I

5:17

thought I was the coolest kid in the world that I had a Husky

5:21

soccer jacket and that feeling. And I was fortunate that, um, I'm

5:26

biased obviously, but Nicholas has a special place where they

5:29

truly, value excellence across all areas. You know, not just our

5:33

program, but from our special ed kids to our math team, to our

5:38

just team all the way up the chain of the football for.

5:41

There's only been a real commit to excellence and kind of celebrating each other. Um, and so in high school, I truly love

5:47

my experience in the soccer program was special. We had a

5:49

great coach, Dr. Dave Hoover was a, you know, it was a legend in

5:53

the eighties and nineties and early two thousands in the soccer

5:56

community. And I was forced to play for him. so when I got a

5:58

chance to come back and coach, I coached with him for six years,

6:01

which was really neat experience. With my coach. And then when I

6:05

took over, he stayed with me for three years as my assistant. So

6:08

it's really the dream situation, to be a younger coach, come in,

6:12

have an opportunity to, to gently make some changes, that I want to

6:16

see in the program with my coach still there and then have his

6:19

support as I move forward into that coaching role, which, uh, no

6:23

matter how much you think you're ready for it, having someone

6:26

there to hold your hand and kind of guide you through those first couple of years, really, as a helpful.

6:30

Luke: Your success that you have had as a head coach, I'm sure

6:33

you've had opportunities to coach at the next level. Why have you

6:37

chosen to stay at the high school level? What is it that keeps you.

6:43

Jim: Again, I, this sounds cliche, but it's such a pure

6:46

level. Um, especially in a public school where the bus drops off

6:49

the kids you get and you, and you're in these kids really

6:52

buying into the program, knowing it's It's a four-year process.

6:55

you see the young kids, complete games, watch the older guys play.

6:59

and they're so excited to be a part of that varsity level. It's

7:02

just, it's an exciting place to be. you also have the true

7:05

integration of the classroom, you know, into the, um, into what

7:08

you're doing. I see kids at school every day. I'm around

7:11

them. I see them interact with their peers. I just, you can have

7:14

such a big impact, at the high school. I think it'd be fun to

7:18

coach the Constable as well. Um, it's just that my high school

7:21

experience a love of education, the classroom, and all that we

7:25

can do at high school, I would just, it just makes it a special,

7:27

arena for me. Luke: You referenced earlier, you're thinking you're ready to

7:31

be a head coach, but there's no way you're ever truly ready and

7:34

you need some type of mentor to get you along. Difficult first

7:38

couple of years, what are the challenges of being ahead of.

7:43

Jim: Uh, kind of a cute story. When the head girls coach Steve

7:45

Goltz has been phenomenally successful. Um, but he just went

7:48

through state championships as well. He was my assistant for

7:51

years and gave me a hard time as my, about during tryouts and cuts

7:54

and some play, you know? And I said, coach, you know, you, you,

7:57

your heart hurts for kids. We have to deliver bad news, you

8:00

know, and, and as a young assistant, you know, he's like,

8:03

come on, it's, you know, it's not that hard, but. The first day of

8:06

him being head coach, he walked in my office and said, Jim, I'm

8:09

really sorry. He's like, I get it. Now. I understand now how

8:13

hard it is and how difficult it is to run a program and monitor

8:16

the coaches and understand the parents and take care of kids.

8:19

Like I, I get it now. So I'm not that I enjoyed the told you so,

8:23

but it was a, it was kind of cool to see a young guy, cause he was

8:27

very, always started, kind of go through that process. So, I think

8:31

some of the channels. you have to really believe something. So you

8:35

have to believe something about your program and how you're going

8:37

to handle kids. And if you do that, every decision becomes very

8:41

easy. for instance, if you value keeping kids in the program,

8:44

that's what you value. You're going to make every decision

8:47

about size of teams, levels of teams, how you handle the trial

8:50

process. You're going to handle it differently than someone who

8:53

believes in. I want to have a small roster, so. Focused on more

8:56

time with each kid. Um, and if you have someone to guide you

9:00

through some of the pitfalls, and rules you might make at a great

9:03

coach, tell me once Jim, when you take over, just be careful to

9:07

never make a rule, you don't want to truly live by. and so little

9:10

tidbits of advice like that, or when we get, uh, a parent email,

9:14

which, you know, doesn't happen as often as people make it seem,

9:17

you know, out there, but it's good to have a mentor that you

9:20

can say, Hey, you know, how should I work? I want to keep the

9:22

relationship solid with this parent or this player. So please

9:25

help me, navigate those situations. and then all the

9:28

things you might forget as a head coach, there's so many things

9:30

that we have to do outside of the field, that having someone that,

9:32

that reminds you, Hey, it's time to fill out this form. It's time

9:36

to submit this document. It's time to make sure the buses will

9:39

be there. Um, having someone like that is really helpful.

9:42

Luke: So since you brought up the parent piece, I think that's,

9:46

that's becoming more and more delicate balance for head coach

9:49

in any sport. how do you manage that relationship? How do you

9:53

create relationship with your parents, that you get them in

9:59

your boat rowing in the same direction? Because I think that's

10:02

really important. To the enjoyments of both the coaches

10:08

and the kids, and even the parents, once everybody is on the

10:12

same page and realize that, you know, here's the mission and I'm

10:17

gonna do everything I can to help your son or daughter. And it may

10:20

or may not go well for your son and daughter. And you're going to

10:23

have to just trust me that I have their best interests at heart. So

10:26

how do you develop those relationships with. Jim: you know, I, I'm fortunate as are you to be in the community

10:32

that I went to school. And so, you know, I'm coaching kids of

10:36

people I went to school with, or that we grew up in the same

10:38

community. And so I think there's a little bit of built in trust

10:41

there, but with that said, um, I think, really focusing on loving

10:46

on the kids, and that doesn't mean that you can't be hard and,

10:50

and coach them and, and, and hold them to a standard. But yeah.

10:53

Showing the key that you care about them and not just with your

10:56

words. so some things I, every year I meet with every kid who is

11:01

an aspiring varsity kid in the off season, and we have a real

11:03

honest conversation about how the last season went, what their

11:06

aspirations are for next year and how do we get from a to B and I,

11:10

and I try to be very honest with them so that there's no illusions

11:14

about where they fit in with understand that things can change

11:17

and you work hard, good things. and I also want that to any kid

11:20

in the program. So we've got about a hundred boys in the

11:22

soccer program and then I make time to meet with them and kind

11:25

of lay out their path and explain the challenges. And, and I think

11:29

that that helps. Um, and then, um, I know Douglas later, but

11:34

some of the things we do in the program about focusing very much

11:37

on character and some of the, non soccer things. and I think

11:42

parents appreciate that we are trying to do more than just that.

11:46

and that as a coach that buys you some social capital with the

11:51

families that know that, Hey, this person does care about my

11:53

son. They're trying to do the right things. They're upfront and

11:56

transparent. and I think those things all work together to do

11:59

creating a healthy environment. Um, and I, and as I've gotten

12:03

older, it's way easier. We know when you're 25 or 30, it's really

12:06

tough to step into that coach because the parents are older

12:09

than you. And, you know, Now I'm also with the, you know, in our

12:12

blue orange scrimmage, I'm very pointed with my families and

12:16

parents about my expectations of what I want the program to look

12:19

like. I would expect I'm going to represent the program, including

12:21

the parents in the stands, how we treat officials, other other

12:24

fans. Um, I think just being open to being very honest of your

12:29

expectations, it puts her in the right spot going into this.

12:33

Luke: Another interesting aspect that you deal with each years,

12:36

you have to kind of shift your mind from head coach to assistant

12:40

coach come springtime when you're helping out with the girl soccer

12:44

program, how do you shift your mind from going from being the

12:48

guy that makes all decisions to be in the best assistant coach?

12:53

Jim: That's really fun. And the soccer world, there's quite a few

12:57

situations like us. So we kind of switch roles, you know, I'm his

13:00

assistant, he's mine. And it's really a great situation because

13:03

one we're like-minded tactically and how we do things and beliefs,

13:07

which makes things wait. And you would be hard to, it'd be hard to

13:09

be assessed for someone who doesn't share the same values.

13:12

Processes rules as you that'd be hard. So I'm, I'm fortunate in

13:16

that respect, but, being a head coach, the roller system is fun,

13:21

right? Because you truly there for the kids and purely coaching.

13:24

And my mind is always, always been what what's gonna help Steve

13:28

the most right now, is it managing these three girls who

13:31

are upset, right. And that are while playing time or, or are

13:34

working on something specific or can I pull three kids away that

13:37

needs me to specific, um, Training in a certain area or is

13:42

it just being another set of eyes for him and kind of whispering to

13:45

him, things that I see during a game, that while he's focused on

13:48

one thing, I can be focused on another, but really it's more,

13:51

you know, being a sounding board and someone that's shares in the

13:56

pressures and responsibilities of the head coach. but I've, I've

13:59

loved being an assistant coach and I'm very I'm and I'm. Able to

14:03

escape them to be humble. This is I'm the second guy now. And,

14:06

whatever he needs I'll I'll do. If I need to film, I'll go run up

14:09

and film the game for him. But, uh, I, I enjoy that role. I'm

14:14

truly loving head coach, but I love being an assistant.

14:18

Luke: So let's put that head coach hat back on. How do you

14:21

create lasting relationships with your assistant coaches throughout

14:26

your program to make them want to come back each year, want to be a

14:30

part of your program, and really ultimately you want them to treat

14:35

the program as a, as if it is their own and it's not just

14:38

yours. So what do you do to create those relationships with

14:40

your coach? Jim: Well, I think part of that is, is having a program that

14:46

they're proud of. So I hope that by doing the right things at the

14:51

varsity level and treating kids the right way, that they're proud

14:55

to say I'm a part of this program that the varsity, the outfacing

14:58

piece of ballroom looks good. the second piece is probably. Our

15:02

summer camp program, you know, we have all hands on deck and, uh, I

15:06

use it kind of as a coaching clinic, as much as a player's

15:09

clinic. So I am, providing detailed drills exercises for the

15:13

guys for every day of camp throughout the summer. So it's

15:16

our time to kind of, kind of reorganize the staff and citizens. What we believe in these are the drills exercises I

15:21

expect everyone to be doing. And in the coaching points in the

15:24

neck, I think then that gives them some confidence. I'm also

15:26

very fortunate. My whole staff are soccer guys, which is a rare

15:29

thing. Okay. We have five levels, all coached by guys who were

15:34

played at a, at a, at a solid level. That's not common. So I

15:37

know I'm blessed to have that. I also have 1, 2, 3 of my coaches

15:43

are guys that played for me at some point in their career. Um,

15:46

so that's another, you know, that I kind of raised them in what, in

15:50

our programs, beliefs. Right. And now they're, they're back

15:52

coaching. And so, and then, you know, I also want to give them

15:57

some autonomy. You know, we, we play a certain style and a

15:59

certain system, but if there's a time when they feel like, Hey

16:02

coach, we'll do what you asked. But, for the success of this

16:05

level, can we tweak some things? And it's always, of course, of

16:08

course you can, because we want kids to have the opportunity to

16:11

win and feel successful. and building the programs is

16:14

important, but those feelings are important to. And so, uh, yeah,

16:18

I've been, I've been very lucky, to do that. And then when, you

16:20

know, the guys are great about stopping by for senior night,

16:23

always. And if there's a game coming up and they can be there,

16:25

you know, if their family time allows them, they'll, they'll sit

16:28

on the bench with us and kind of be around the guys. And, uh, and

16:31

obviously then the big celebrations, right? The banquets and those sorts of things. We have the whole program together

16:35

and try to celebrate what everybody does. and each coach

16:38

and, and all that they've given program. Yeah, I think the

16:43

combination of those things, it's made a really healthy environment

16:46

for our staff. Luke: So earlier you referenced being the head coach and having

16:50

to have difficult conversations with kids, maybe it's, they're

16:53

cut from the team. They're not a starter. Those are definitely not

16:57

fun conversations. Within the school day, you have the title of

17:02

Dean of students. Also not always the most positive role of the

17:07

day, right? I mean, you have to have difficult conversations with

17:10

kids again. And I know from talking with you prior to us

17:13

recording the episode that you really valued the relationships

17:16

with kids and you want to have a positive impact on their lives.

17:20

So how do you, as the Dean of students. And the head coach,

17:24

essentially, you're seen as the bad guy, a lot of the times,

17:27

because everybody loves the assistant coach. How do you still

17:31

develop those positive relationships with the students

17:33

there in a day and your players afterschool? Despite having to be

17:37

the bearer of bad news sometimes. Jim: I think the kids here, the knucklehead kids would know that

17:43

I love them too. And I think that, you know, we treat kids

17:47

with respect. Again, sounds so cliche, but it's, but I mean, you

17:50

know, you respect them and you can talk to them about what

17:53

happened, why it had. At times admit, I agree. That was really

17:57

funny what you did. I still have to punish you for it, but I, I

18:00

get why you did it. and then work through the impact on those

18:04

around them. And then kid the kids understand they do. There's

18:07

sometimes they're frustrated, but I think if you take the time to

18:09

listen and process and explain, almost every time that this

18:14

student knows that they deserve whatever discipline is, and then

18:19

there's times where if you sit and talk and hopefully you're

18:22

proactive at times, you can develop that relationship and

18:26

some good faith. And when you're fair to them, and you're talking

18:30

with their parents, you'd say some positive things yet. Johnny

18:32

made a big mistake today, but he handled it well. He was honest

18:35

with me, you know, I see my school is a really good kid. He

18:37

just made one mistake and the kid feels like, oh, this person isn't

18:40

just beating up on me. They're supporting me. We talk about the

18:44

mistake. Not that he's a bad guy. Um, and that starts to earn you

18:48

back that, social capital with the kid that you can, then when

18:51

you need it, you can draw on it. and I think the kids see you're

18:54

fair. and you treat people the same way. You know, my kids go to

18:57

school, I've called both of my children down to give them the

18:59

tensions and I make them get a pass from me and I make them walk

19:02

down and check in. And, and I think that hopefully that

19:04

consistency as a Dean helps and the same thing with head coach, I

19:08

think, um, like we said earlier, you don't make ones. You want to

19:11

file. you better treat your star the same way as you treat the

19:14

last kid on your team. And, um, when kids see that over and over,

19:19

when you do bear, you know, give someone bad news about playing

19:22

time, a starting position honors at the end of the year. I think

19:24

if you're, if you kind of hold true to what you believe in all

19:27

your kids can deal with it better, they can handle those

19:30

tough conversations because they know that it's coming from a

19:32

place of care. and, uh, and. Luke: So I know your kids are older now, but back in the day,

19:38

when you had a drive in the school, what happens if you're

19:41

late to school and it's your fault? I mean, who has to serve

19:43

the dimension then? Do you have to put yourself in tension?

19:47

Jim: I got the magic binder. Excuse him, I guess if I had to.

19:50

But yeah, there, they knew the stakes that they were if they

19:53

were late in the morning. So I, my daughter's a swimmer, so she

19:55

was here like at five 30 anyway, but, um, yeah, but, uh, yeah,

19:58

we've, we've navigated that throughout. Luke: So your program is built upon a slogan, nothing without

20:05

work. Why did you decide upon that?

20:08

Jim: As I mentioned that the former coach, you know, Dr. David

20:11

Booker, he was, we've been kind of known since the program

20:15

originated as kind of a hard hat, hard nose work harder than

20:19

anybody type program. And I grew up in that program in my, dad was

20:22

a big, like. Blue-collar play hard. You earn what you get type

20:26

guy. And, and I think I'm going up in that and then seeing how

20:31

that impacts the team and success you can have from just being

20:35

tenacious and working hard. definitely shaped me as a player

20:38

in person. and so when I came back, that's always been, we've

20:42

embraced that as a program, but I was reading about, um, the coach

20:47

over in England. He had that thing on his desk and I thought,

20:49

boy, if that's, if there's nothing. Truly is what our

20:54

program is about. Your name will not. And so we adopted it, um, it

20:59

was around 2009 or 10. I've been a head coach for a few years when

21:02

we saw that it was just kind of, you know, lightning bolt and

21:04

every boy the program can tell you that that's what we're about.

21:07

And like I said earlier, if you have something that you believe

21:10

in that makes other decisions easy, and if kids know. If you

21:14

don't work hard here and the boys or girls program, you're not

21:17

going to play period. You might be Uber talented. If you don't

21:20

work our job. Step one of that. As we run a fitness test, every

21:23

year, Stanford fitness test is eight levels, and varsity kids

21:26

have to pass it. And if you don't, you run after practice.

21:30

And that shift in, in what we've done is helped us because in the

21:33

old days I would make the kids run and run and run and run. And

21:36

now we never run during the seasons. We don't, I mean, maybe

21:39

one time, because our is tough. We play a lot of, you know,

21:42

intense games, and to protect the boys legs and their mentality.

21:46

We, if you come in fit, we don't make your run. And that, so the

21:49

first thing we're teaching them is if you work hard before you

21:51

get here, your life's better. Our life. As a team, we will be

21:55

healthier. We'll be more. and so that's been a big indicator. And

21:58

then, when we make decisions about kids between levels or

22:01

playing time, we always reference the hard work piece. And

22:05

sometimes admittedly, a kid can work harder than anybody else,

22:08

and it's just not in the cards. Right. Other kids would be more

22:11

talented and work hard too. so, yeah, I think, every coach, every

22:14

level talks about it, ad nauseum, um, it's on everything that we

22:18

do. And I think when, you're lucky as a coach, when you can

22:23

win a game, you win a big game because your kids worked hard.

22:27

Now you can draw from that bank, right? So you guys that worked

22:30

hard, it happened for us and they start learning those. They start

22:34

seeing the value of it, and then it becomes, you know, just, you

22:37

start rolling downhill where that moment. Carries you forward from

22:41

year to year and your senior, your juniors, and it becomes

22:43

expectation, in the program in the community. I would hope that

22:46

if you ask any person in Naperville, they would say the

22:49

name of our soccer program. Those kids work so hard everyday. And

22:52

that's what we're do. Luke: Previous episodes I've had the same conversation with

22:57

coaches have taken a slogan and transforming it into where it's

23:01

actually your call. And by culture. I mean, it's your

23:05

actions, it's, it's your behaviors. And those, those

23:08

behaviors are what leads to your results. And what you're

23:11

describing is really your culture, your culture is this

23:14

idea of working to reach your goals. This might be tough for

23:20

you to answer, but if I walked into one of your practices or

23:25

went to one of your games, because I don't have access to

23:27

your. Your date of your testing, your right that's hard data to

23:31

prove that kids are working hard. I don't have access to that. So I

23:34

just come and I see Naperville north soccer play. How am I going

23:38

to be able to register that this is the culture. Like this is

23:43

clearly a culture of hard work. And I understand it's a tough

23:46

question. I was just curious how you can monitor and make it

23:49

tangible for. Jim: I can give you a couple examples and I want to look a

23:53

quick offshoot. The, and a lot of coaches do a different slogan

23:56

every year, and I would struggle with. 'cause I feel like you're

23:59

trying to reinvent culture every year or a new slogan. So we have

24:03

this, as you know, we're over a decade of this, just pounding

24:06

this into the community and the kids. And I think that helps with

24:09

that. But to your question, I know you're not a soccer guy, but

24:12

your kid plays so you can appreciate this. I think that, if

24:15

a soccer person is watching our team, they would know that we

24:20

value our work by the fact that we do all the little

24:23

non-glamorous things as good as possible ever single day. For

24:28

instance, you know, on the weak side, defense are outside back

24:32

will be inside shoulder goal side every single time, not most of

24:37

the time, every single time. And those are things that go

24:39

unnoticed, but that we celebrate that every chance we get, um, in

24:44

the program, because those are the things that make you successful and win. And you're in, you're tying in that message

24:50

of, if you work hard to do these little things, right. Even the

24:52

team that's better than using the, we really struggled to get.

24:56

If you're inside shoulder, they'd also noticed that every kid in my

24:59

team will track defensively. I'll have forwards tracking back 80

25:03

yards. And that's not something that typically is celebrated in

25:06

soccer, because if you want to talk about playing pretty soccer,

25:09

the beautiful game, connecting 50 passes. And at north, we are very

25:15

outspoken. We will win in a different way. We're not going to

25:18

play as pretty sure we won't in. You might not like our style. but

25:21

you're gonna have to prove to me and the kids. And your style is

25:24

going to be more successful and the message we're teaching our

25:27

kids about the value of hard work. even if the success wasn't

25:32

what it has been, I would still believe in this message to send

25:35

the kids about, doing all the little things right on the field

25:38

and in your life is gonna be those pile up and we'll get

25:41

success Luke: let's talk about once they graduate, have you seen this

25:46

culture of hard work where kids have come back and told you, Hey,

25:50

coach, this has really impacted me and helped me in the real.

25:55

Jim: Absolutely. And, and. You know, as I've gotten older,

25:58

right? Those relationships are even more special where kids that

26:01

I've coached, kids are now in their thirties, you know, and

26:03

kids in their forties, I've gone in and they've got, children are

26:06

home and, and they will. And that we all have these friends of kids

26:09

sharing memories of their time in the program, whether it was a

26:12

brutal day of running or a terrible loss or a great win. but

26:15

yes, they, they will reference lessons. They've learned.

26:20

Conversations we've had about dealing with their own kids. Some

26:23

of my guys are now coaching, right? And they will call and try

26:27

to Institute the things that we've done the program. And

26:30

probably the best example is I had a kid a couple years ago,

26:34

Allen Iverson, who happened to score the game winning goal in

26:37

two of our state championships. And he actually has it tattooed

26:40

on his arm is our saying in Latin, tattooed on his forum.

26:44

There's really not a bigger compliment that big kids say, I

26:48

love this program so much. I'm going to put it on my skin

26:51

forever. and he's got education and I see him being someone that

26:54

might take over someday and get to that culture here at north.

26:57

Um, so I know it's kind of a dramatic example, but I think

27:01

that, my thing as a coach is that I want the program to be proud to

27:06

wear that t-shirt for the rest of the. That when they're 50,

27:08

they'll throw their Husky soccer shirt and they're proud to wear

27:11

it. and so I, yes, I do think the lessons of hard work have carried

27:14

forward with these kids. obviously I'm not taking credit

27:17

for kids going to college and doing well because upstairs

27:20

mainly their parents and their families, but, um, I'm thinking

27:22

that a small part of kind of teaching the value of.

27:26

Luke: Another thing you do off the field that are. We love to

27:29

hear is you assign a book to each level to read. let's first start

27:34

with the very basic question. Does this happen during the

27:36

season, or is this done during the off season?

27:39

Jim: It had happens during the season. And, um, you know,

27:44

obviously like all coaches, I read a lot of books on the side

27:46

and how do we get advantage and how do you get to. my brother

27:50

recommended the hardhat, by Gord, which everybody knows. and in

27:53

2016 I had kind of an interesting group of kids, a freshman, a

27:58

bunch of fresh on my varsity team, which is rare. So we're

28:01

talking to some special seniors and we had a good year, but I

28:04

just felt like we weren't quite connected. So it was a, it was a

28:07

rainy day. And I said, Hey guys, I got a kind of a goofy idea. I

28:12

know that it's kind of cheesy, but just please give me, give me

28:15

a half. I'm going to read to you like. And so the heart, I would

28:18

read a chapter two, I read that day and said, Hey, can you just

28:23

help work through this with me? Because I think sometimes we make

28:26

a mistake as coaches is when you act like what you're doing is the

28:28

most important thing in the world. It's going to change the world. Kids snip out, like, come on. It's like, let's be real. So

28:35

kind of coming out from that, that approach. And then, we read

28:38

that book together. Going into the postseason, um, between

28:42

stoppage, you know, and we stopped for a drill. All right,

28:45

guys, come on, let's read a chapter or two page chapter. So

28:49

it ended up being this kind of special story where the kids

28:52

bought into it. they believed in it. We, we ended up winning 21

28:56

games to win the state championship that year. The 21st one was, I mean, so it was kind of this kind of lucky thing for

29:00

me that the stars aligned. I introduced a book when the state

29:05

champion. And now kids were clamoring for what's the next

29:08

book. So, now at the level we draw, we read legacy, by James

29:13

Kerr, which is, uh, is about the New Zealand, all blacks and

29:15

they're 15 lessons. And that has been something that has truly

29:19

transformed our program. And I'll talk about that in a second, but

29:21

art hat we do at the JV one level and the freshmen and JV, two

29:25

levels, we read, the chop wood, carry water, books. And so the

29:31

coach will read those books to their players. After practice, we

29:34

get, if we don't make them do it on their own, because we all know

29:37

what happens, it's just not realistic. Um, at the varsity

29:40

level, I prepare a note guide for every chapter of legacy and

29:45

whether it be after practice or usually is before games for us, I

29:48

will hand out the, um, this handout with the key points and

29:51

we will talk through it as a group. I know that it works

29:55

because one, I think it's, we've continued to have, a higher level

29:59

of success than before we read books. But what really made me

30:03

feel great was when I listened to my guys be interviewed after

30:06

games or in the paper and they are quoting back the book. To the

30:11

paper, the key braces, you know, whether it be, you know, the

30:14

first chapter sweep the shed about being humble and doing work

30:17

for your teammates and, and pressures of privilege and

30:19

keeping blue heads. And you hear this, this constant theme from my

30:22

team about, lessons they learned from legacy. Um, it's made them

30:26

better kids and it increased the character of the program. And

30:30

it's also led to winning, which is a pretty good combination to

30:34

keep up. Luke: So is this something that's done once a week, you do it

30:39

everyday after practice. How often are you meeting and reading

30:43

the book together? Jim: We do it before every, before every game we have a

30:46

lesson. And so when I run out of legacy there's we use what drives

30:49

winning. it's another buy led better. And that's a book that we

30:52

will pick depending on the year and the team, what the team

30:54

needs. We'll pick out lessons from that book to kind of round

30:57

out the season, but we always revisit later. As we go into the

31:01

playoffs, the lower levels, we'll find days where they've got to

31:04

practice. so a non-game days they will do it in the grass after

31:08

practice. They'll sit in a circle and they'll, go through that

31:11

chapter of the book and discuss it as a group.

31:14

Luke: So does each kid have a. Copy of the book and you're

31:17

reading it to them or is it, how does. Jim: No. So at each level, the coach just typically has the, has

31:23

the books and I, I let the parents know in advance that they

31:26

like to buy the book. I think there, the kids don't need to, we

31:30

try to make it as easy as possible for the kids to absorb

31:33

the lesson and not give them a, another thing to do. Not that

31:36

would be valuable for them to do that. We just want to be

31:39

realistic about kids' time, coach's time. And so, that

31:43

reading and then having conversations about what they just read has proved to be valuable and like the price level

31:49

of that for them. Do the handouts. And then for the

31:51

seniors, every year I do, that's my gift to them is the legacy

31:55

book. With a note I write each day. Luke: And what do you do with the kids? He's a sophomore. You went

31:59

with the varsity, so. Rear varsity player for you, assuming

32:05

you keep using the book legacy. I know you said you keep going back

32:07

to that. Does it reach a point where sometimes kids like coach

32:10

I've, I've read this three times already. Are they because of your

32:13

success? Like let's do it. Jim: Yeah, it's funny. I asked the captains that this year,

32:18

because I had a couple kids who were four year varsity guys. Hey,

32:21

do you want to do something else? And they said, no. Legacy is who

32:26

we are. We have to do this book because the younger guys, the new

32:30

guys have to hear it and go, which we love to hear it again.

32:33

Um, and again, not making them read it and doing the kind of the

32:36

guided handouts I think has helped with that. so yeah, so I,

32:39

it, it felt good to know the kids, they, they truly believe in

32:43

it. and so, and I had the same concern that you just asked

32:46

about, but I was reassured by the boys that they want to keep

32:49

rolling. Luke: I know you're probably a humble guy. Most successful

32:52

coaches are very humble, which in my opinion, that's what leads to

32:56

their success. But let's brag a little bit while brag about ya.

33:00

Three state championships, 16 conference championships, and one

33:03

of the toughest conferences in the state, by the way, four final

33:07

fours, I think you had seven elite eights. So it's an amazing

33:11

career coach congratulate. And I know that the culmination at

33:15

success is due to these things. Like the book reading program,

33:20

like developing this culture of hard work, kids, getting tattoos

33:24

on her forearms says it all, like you said, with winning though

33:27

comes a lot of pressure. So how do you manage that pressure of

33:33

being selected? Jim: it's, it's real. I mean, there's no, you can't sugar. God,

33:37

it's, it's real. Um, and you know, we all dream of winning our

33:41

first state championship as a coach, you know, that's a, it's a

33:43

big thing. again, it's, it's easy to say, but trying to focus on.

33:48

What made you successful? and not getting caught up in the

33:52

accolades. It's, it's a tough thing. but I'm gonna go back to

33:55

the books and say that I, after the hardhat, I was looking for a

34:00

book about sustaining excellence and about the process, not about,

34:05

tactics or the technique, and I, that's why I found legacy. And

34:09

that's the whole tone of that book. These are the rules that we

34:12

live by and we don't talk about winning or losing. We don't talk

34:15

about it. And I think to a fault, I probably don't celebrate with

34:19

the boys enough where they accomplish things, the wins and

34:23

I, and I need to do better at that. because it is special to

34:25

win a conference championship and it is special when a regional

34:28

championship, but when you get to a point where all the community

34:31

and team cares about is winning state championships, it's those

34:33

things kind of go unnoticed. So they should be celebrated, but.

34:36

Anyway. So, part of the, the big push of legacy is humility and,

34:41

focusing on cleaning up the bench after games, carrying the balls

34:44

in making sure we do things the right way. at once one of the

34:48

things I'm really proud of about the program is I stole it from

34:50

guide Calipari with south. Um, and so after every game, my

34:54

captains walked across the field with a pin that we had in

34:58

customer. That actually has the book legacy on it and sweep the

35:01

shed and sportsmanship award. And my captains have to award that to

35:05

the player on the opposing team who exhibited the best

35:08

sportsmanship, during the game. And it's cool to see my guys walk

35:12

across the field. Carla, Tim together give a real quick little

35:15

speech award the pen, because when we win a big game, it resets

35:19

their mindset quickly to what, why are we. And when you lose

35:24

again, especially to rival and you have to humble yourself and

35:27

walk across the field and award a pen to somebody else. I think it,

35:31

again, it sets that tone and the culture of, we're not just going

35:35

to say things and have a pity party when we lose, we're not

35:38

going to run off the field, we're going to take it accepted, learn

35:42

from it. And we're still going to honor our opponents win or lose.

35:46

Um, obviously don't do that in the state tournament cause that's

35:48

an emotional time, but in regular season games, it's. kind of a

35:52

cool thing, for the program. I know it's an offshoot, but I

35:54

think that kind of plays into, hopefully it plays into your

35:57

question. Luke: Yeah. It's funny, what you mentioned about celebrating the

36:01

victories. Like you, I'm very process oriented. And I believe

36:06

in that so much that sometimes I probably diminish a victory

36:11

because let's be honest, it's hard to win. It doesn't matter if

36:14

it's one game or winning a state championship. It's, it's very,

36:17

very difficult. And I like you sometimes get so caught up in a

36:21

process that I probably don't let my. Enjoy that individual victory

36:26

enough, because it is a big deal or you win a regional

36:29

championship. You qualify for the state playoffs, whatever the case

36:32

may be. And sometimes because you're so process-driven, you're

36:36

right on, like, hold on. We probably should celebrate these

36:39

little victories because that too will help keep the pressure off

36:42

our backs because we're enjoying the moment. Right. That's really,

36:47

really important. But are you noticing kids are struggling a

36:50

little bit more. With process over results because I feel like

36:55

more than ever, we are so driven by results.

36:59

Jim: Yeah. Um, fortunately we've had that, we've had a great run

37:02

the last few years, you know, we've had a great run, so that

37:05

success has been there. I do, I hope I don't have to deal with

37:07

it, but I do worry about the year that we fall out early. Right. Or

37:11

we'd have a, we have a down year and, can you power through that?

37:15

Um, I think I'm fortunate. I think, the families in this

37:18

community really value the things that we value and they push, and

37:22

if enough kids are buying into it, they kind of get swept along.

37:26

Uh, but you're right. I think they're, that's why sports are so

37:29

important. I, you know, it seems like sports, the only real thing

37:32

left anymore where, you know, if you're better than me, I have to.

37:36

Right. You're going to beat, you're going to beat me and I've

37:38

got to either work harder to get better or accept the fact that

37:41

I'm not going to be able to win. and I think those lessons are so

37:44

valuable for our kids, that they are getting them through sports.

37:47

And, I think that's the power of a coach is navigating those

37:50

conversations about the importance of the process and

37:54

that it's a longterm, to tell kids you might not, if you come

37:57

to me and ask how you play more tomorrow, I probably can't help

38:00

you. But if you asked me about next year, I can, or your junior

38:03

year, I can't your senior year and talk about the long-term

38:06

process. And it's a wonderful thing when those things play out

38:09

and you can talk about the next generation of kids, with those

38:12

things. Um, yeah. And I, and I, um, I wanna talk about pressure

38:16

real quick here, because that you've mentioned that. And again,

38:19

to go back to the book, there's a chapter is called pressures of

38:21

privilege, and we emphasize the fact that it's so special that

38:25

you guys feel this pressure. Celebrate it that if we were one

38:30

of 15 right now, you wouldn't have an opportunity to feel

38:32

pressured because there'd be none and you wouldn't want to be in

38:35

that environment. You have to embrace it. and say there, you

38:38

know, the jurors, you were give us you that, um, that right. To

38:43

feel this pressure, and it's going to make you better and it's

38:46

gonna make it more special when you, when it's gonna stay when

38:48

you lose. But, it's, it's your. To feel this pressure, because

38:53

believe me, there's lots of people who would wish they could

38:55

feel the pressure you're feeling tonight, or, during the season.

38:58

Luke: That's a great point on pressure. And that's also a great

39:00

point. I w what you mentioned about the process and my final

39:04

question to you is with the challenges of being a head coach

39:09

with the pressures of success with that drive of following and

39:14

embracing the process, how do you keep your, why on the forefront

39:21

and the why being the kids? What do you do to. Recalibrate those

39:26

moments where you start to maybe focus a little too much.

39:30

Jim: I think you have to constantly. Remove yourself from

39:33

the program and look at a kid. I think I, I try to focus on

39:37

individual kids, you know, and how is this young person,

39:42

experiencing the program. And when you, cause you have to make

39:46

decisions for the program, but you also make the decisions for

39:49

each individual kid. And when I get back down to how do I make

39:52

sure that this kid, this one player has a great experience,

39:56

whether he's number 24 on the team or. that centers me because

40:01

there's times where you can get so wrapped up in the paper and

40:03

the accolades and stuff, but then kid number 24 7, the terrible

40:07

time, I feel bad. I don't want that kid to have a bad

40:10

experience. Like I said, I want him to feel proud of wearing the

40:13

t-shirt when he leaves. and so I have to constantly reset, my

40:17

focus on individual kids, making sure they're happy and taken care

40:22

of as well. The big picture of tactics and winning the big

40:26

games. and so, um, fortunately that's, you know, I've had my two

40:30

nephews have played for me. I've had plenty of family, friends

40:32

play for me. My son is here now. That definitely helps your

40:36

perspective too, when you've got people that, that are your

40:39

family, the program that makes you, um, always did a good job of

40:43

that. But I know I'm probably even more, especially thoughtful.

40:46

Um, but this is kids, a friend of my nephews, you know, I need to

40:49

take care of them if they're not playing. but, um, yeah, I think

40:52

focusing on individual kid and their, experiences. Luke: Yeah. I always said that that the greatest coaching clinic

40:57

I ever went to was when I became a parent. The kids started

41:01

playing sports and watching their interactions and their

41:06

experiences and what they say when they come home from practice

41:09

completely transformed me as a coach. So, that's really

41:12

important to get, to see both sides. And you really have a new

41:16

appreciation for your parents because it's always been an

41:20

adversarial relationship coach, the parent, and it doesn't need

41:24

to be. And I think when you become a parent, you could

41:26

relate. With the emotion and relate with some of those phone

41:32

calls or emails. And you may not agree with it, but at least you

41:36

get it. Jim: Absolutely. Luke: But with that coach, I really appreciate your time. I

41:40

know you're busy during the school day here and, uh, you

41:44

know, Just whatever you're doing, it's clearly working. You're

41:48

going to run. You're like Tom Brady gonna run out of fingers

41:50

for all those rings between the boys and the girls. So

41:53

congratulations to all your success on the field. And thank

41:56

you so much for sharing all your knowledge with our listeners. And

42:00

if anyone wants to get in contact with you, what would be the best

42:03

way for. Jim: Just the school email, uh, then they can find it on the, on

42:07

the web, but J Konrad with a [email protected].

42:11

Luke: All right. Well, Thanks so much And I hope you get to

42:14

experience some nicer weather. It's been a horrible spring in

42:17

Chicago land, but like you said, you know that you had a

42:20

successful spring season in girls soccer. If you're playing and

42:24

it's actually nice outside. So I hope you, I hope you get to

42:26

experience the nice weather hoping to do really well unless

42:29

you play that team up in Gurnee. That's the only, that's the only

42:32

time I don't wish you well, Jim: Thank you. Luke: This is episode 42 of the I in Win podcast. This is episode