Before my second season, Coach Walsh was hired as a consultant. I couldn’t have been more excited because in addition to being one of the coaches I most admired, he also was one of the guests whom Professor Albaugh had brought into class when I was a graduate student at UOP, and just beginning to formulate my coaching style . . . .
It was very interesting to see how the assistants reacted when Coach Walsh entered the facility or a staff meeting. They had such a sense of respect for him and he was held in such high regard that they were nervous and on edge around him. Because of his intimidating presence, he was typically left alone for most of the day. Since I had not been there when he was leading the organization, I didn’t feel that sense of protocol— and he certainly didn’t insist on it. I was quite comfortable around him and stopped by whenever I could. In his office we would spend hours chatting and I would ask him a variety of questions about how he changed the culture of the Niners, including the details of his philosophy. For me, it was an incredible experience, as he was able to explain to me the spectrum of his approach, ranging from personnel decisions to coaching decisions and more.
We talked a lot about the quarterback position. Coach Walsh was one of the great quarterback gurus in the history of the game, and he convinced me that everything a coach does in designing his offense should be about making it easy for the quarterback, because his job is so difficult. He believed that everything should be structured with the quarterback in mind. We talked a lot about the discipline that was necessary to do this when designing game plans, structuring practices, and calling plays.
One time when we were talking, I asked Coach Walsh what he looked for in evaluating quarterbacks. If the entire offensive game revolved around the quarterback, what kind of player was he looking for? His answer was simple, a revelation. “All I’m looking for,” Coach answered, “is a guy who can throw a catchable ball.” He went on to talk about Joe Montana and said that what made him so special wasn’t that he had the greatest arm in the game but that he could be relied upon to throw a ball that could be caught with near-total consistency. That’s an incredibly rare thing in a player— and a totally unique insight by a coach. I still think about Coach Walsh’s “catchable ball” today when I evaluate potential quarterbacks during recruiting, draft preparation, or free agency and have never forgotten the importance of building an offense that is focused on protecting the quarterback, first and foremost.
Coach Walsh and I also talked many times about eliminating doubt and how much easier it is to perform when you truly believe in your preparation. That led us to a discussion about preparation and practice. Coach Walsh was a great believer in “contingency planning.” His approach was that preparation and practice sessions should be designed so that the performer is trained for all potential outcomes and events. When you plan and train for all possible contingencies, you eliminate surprises and, in turn, eliminate a huge source of doubt that so often make us tighten up.
Coach Walsh applied the concept of contingency planning not just to practice but to all aspects of his program, including personnel, scouting, coaching, training, travel, teaching, public relations, and nutrition. In all areas, he wanted to have a plan for everything that could possibly happen. The basis for the philosophy was simple but brilliant— have a plan for all eventual outcomes, and you’ll be prepared. To accomplish this, a coach must prepare a step-by-step approach that encompasses all possible results.
What I learned from Coach Walsh during my time with the 49ers was that this approach can apply to all facets of your personal life, as well as your working life. There is, however, another side to this; for better or worse, once you start down this path of contingency planning, the quest to cover all bases never ends. Once I accepted this line of thinking and incorporated it into my daily life, everything changed.
Often, when I left his office, I felt the same way I had with Coach Grant in Minnesota: privileged to pick the brain of one of the great minds in my profession. It was as though Coach Walsh let me in on his professional secrets. By the time I left the 49ers for the Patriots, I felt I really understood the reasons behind the San Francisco 49ers’ profound success. Because Coach Walsh was so open to share his insights and so generous with his time, I felt that I understood it in a way that was available to few outside— or even inside— the organization.
Carroll, Peter N.; Roth, Yogi; Garin, Kristoffer A. (2011-08-02). Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion.
