I learned long ago that athletics is a microcosm of life. Simply said, how an athlete reacts in the heat of competition will be directly proportionate to how they respond to similar situations in life. How many times have you seen an athlete fling a plaque across the gym floor after taking second place? How many times have you seen an athlete punch the wall in anger or disappointment? How many times have you witnessed destructive behavior, swearing, finger pointing, locker banging after a heartbreaking loss?

Too many! It is our charge as coaches and educators to start coaching more than X's and O's, techniques and tactics and start coaching life.

If we allow our athletes to act this way, how are they going to respond when they lose a job! How are they going to handle a divorce? How are they going to respond in real adversity?

If they can't handle the little things now, how in the world are they going to survive during the tough times of the future?

I grew up in the days of Lombardi. Discipline was dealt out by loads of conditioning, by pain, as a way to reinforce proper behavior. What I learned, I taught.

I can remember disciplining a couple of collegiate freshman for sneaking a keg of beer into their dorm room. I brought them in for a conditioning session at four o'clock one morning. We ran and we ran until there was no one standing. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing. Now, I am more likely to sit down and talk man-to-man about the decisions one makes and the consequences of ones actions, than I am to punish them physically.

A few years ago Bobby Bowden of Florida State University and Tom Osborne of the University of Nebraska were under the heat and scruitiny of the media for not throwing off a couple of athletes from the team who got in trouble in the community for breaking the law.

Both Osborne and Bowden used suspensions and brought the athlete back on the field. Many people felt the action was totally based upon winning, and needing these athletes on the team. I saw it that way too. But now a little older and wiser, I know that you cannot have an affect on an athlete if they are not on your team. I can't help or influence them if they are outside the program.

When I was a young coach, full of testosterone and had my eyes n winning and success, I let a lot of stuff on the periphery slide. Now I jump on everything.

Training, travel and competition have a lot of lessons in it, and it is best to be teaching, correcting, rebuking and encouraging throughout. Life is full of teachable moments. Coach, take the time to teach something that will impact your athletes for their lifetime.

I used to be all wrapped up in producing champions on the mat. We had a motto here at UM-Morris that we were "producing All-Americans on and off the mat." I used to get pretty excited about every All-American and Academic All-American that we produced through our program, now I get more fired up when I see our graduates produce in life.

My goal today is produce "All-Americans" who shine in business, education, medicine, and coaching. I want to produce "All-Americans" who are great spouses, great parents, great citizens, and great employees. You can only do this if you coach using each and every opportunity to form and mold a life.

A great double leg takedown, a great curve ball, or even a super jump shot might earn your athlete a medal, all-conference or all-state honors, or even a college scholarship. But a person of character, or integrity will go farther.

Lessons of delayed gratification, self-discipline, how to handle disappointment, mental toughness training, and going head-on through the heat of adversity will sharpen an individual who will be able to cut through anything thrown in their path.

If you care enough to coach, care enough to coach 'em for life!