Davis’s ‘lack’ of coaching is well documented: he doesn’t train with the US team and lists only his mother as his official manager.  However, Davis is largely considered the ultimate student of speed skating.

Instead of a dedicated coach, Davis takes insight from dozens of people:

Davis takes advice from numerous coaches — some connected to the U.S. national team, some not — and then synthesizes their guidance and sets his own course. His coaches are more like a panel of consultants

Also, like all Athleon teams, Davis isn’t afraid to utilize technology in his training:

Davis, who watches video of himself and opponents extensively, does receive some technical and staff support from U.S. sprint coach Ryan Shimabukuro on the road and short-track coach Jae Su Chun when he trains with that team. Former Olympian Kip Carpenter, now a coach, also provides logistical support, and Fenn says he has talked to Davis regularly the last two weeks in the final tuneup for Vancouver.

Finally, Davis uses old-fashioned pen and paper daily, literally journaling everything that happens to him on the ice.  From what he worked on to how he was feeling, from his mental processes to what he ate before a good training session.  He saves EVERYTHING, so he literally has an encyclopedia of his training.

Try writing a single page every day after practice this week.  Save it on Athleon.com or in a notebook.  How did practice go?  What worked?  What didn’t?  How was your attitude, energy level, and what do you think attributed to those factors?

Like Davis, once you know what works, you can replicate it and improve upon it, leading to continual improvement and perhaps the top spot on whatever podium you’re chasing.

1.  Demand higher expectations from your players, in referencing Tony Pike, the 5th stringer whom Kelly turned into a Heisman candidate, Kelly said: “He was caught in the same malaise the University of Cincinnati program has been caught in all these years.  A collective feeling of: ‘We’re happy to be here, but that’s about it.’”  Kelly told Pike to step up or go home.  It worked.

2.  Demand higher expectations from the program: Kelly refused to build a world-class program with sub-par facilities, and worked hard for better coverage from the press as well.  While the new stadium Kelly got may be unrealistic for your program, building support within the athletic department and faculty of your school is key to any successful rebuild.

3.  Demand higher expectations from your fan base: Kelly took it upon himself to earn the support and growth of his fan base.  “I realized at the beginning that I had to be at every chicken dinner, at every bar, at every community-service event, so the city could see the passion that I had for the program,” says Kelly. “That was the way to build support for it—that and winning games.”

Demand higher expectations, of yourself, your staff, your players, and your school.

I’m going to be a upbeat, excitable coach, not afraid to joke around with my players while keeping my emotions on my sleeve

or

I’m going to be strict, results drive coach that demands the best, keeping everything professional and buttoned up.

Yet somehow, the coaches who can artfully blend both are the most successful in reaching their athletes.  Look at Josh McDaniels, who’s brought the Broncos to 6-0 despite having the toughest off-season of perhaps any 1st year head coach in history.

Bleacher Report contributor Courtney Zierk said it this way:

When Josh McDaniels took over the Broncos last January, it was clear that his strategy was to immediately assert his authority onto a franchise that was losing direction under Mike Shanahan.  Trading Jay Cutler to the Bears was a clear indication that McDaniels would stand his ground at whatever cost—an attribute of a disciplinarian.

Now we’re seeing video clips of him on the sideline pumping his fist in elation like a teenager on steroids, mic’d-up snippets of McDaniels mixing it up with his players on the sidelines like he is just one of the guys, and even friendly embraces from formerly embittered players. These are all attributes of a player’s coach.

The reason the Broncos are winning games is because they are the most prepared team in the NFL week-in, week-out. They are prepared because the entire team has bought into McDaniels and his leadership. They have bought into his leadership because he has earned their respect. He has earned their respect because he understands the balance between camaraderie and authority.

As you prepare for your upcoming season, decide for yourself: Are you a ‘player’s coach or a disciplinarian?  What can you do to be both?