What Bill Belichick and Nick Saban Have in Common

Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” 

His words accurately describe the long-standing friendship and professional relationship between two of the winningest football coaches in America: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. Within 24 hours of one another last week, each left his position, Belichick from the New England Patriots, Saban from the University of Alabama. 

Saban and Belichick have been dynamic leaders who achieved incredible success, winning multiple championships in their decades in football. As similar as their success and shared Croatian heritage are, how they behave, act and process information to achieve their success are as different as night and day. 

When they first united in Cleveland in 1991, Belichick as the head coach, Saban as the defensive coordinator, their football education was shaped from different defensive philosophies. Belichick was the patient tactician, Saban the more aggressive attacker. 

Their mutual respect allowed them to hold two opposing approaches at the same time, while learning from one another. They might differ in how to play the game, they never differed in what it takes to win a title.

Both men believe that to be a championship team or organization, everyone must be willing to sacrifice their personal agendas.

Both believed that while talent sets the floor, character determines the ceiling. Great talent that doesn’t work hard, will always lose to good talent that is well prepared.  

They both never thought their positions as the head of the team afforded them any entitlement, as both men were never chasing wins, rather perfecting their craft. 

Both men loved the process of the work, both never viewed the scoreboard as the measuring stick.  They didn’t need a scoreboard to inform them of their teams’ status. They were both able to diagnose and fix their problems.  

They believe in stringing good days together, never allowing outside voices to affect their mindset. They both were able to have incredible focus on the task at hand and never short cut their preparation, regardless of the opponent.

They both could see the non-obvious, understanding each week presents a different challenge requiring its own unique approach. Both men believed the most important word in the English language was “Next.” The “next” day, the “next” game, the “next” championship. They never rested on their prior achievements and always embraced with passion “next.” 

Both believed in creating a simple system based on sound execution, that could become complex based on the opponent. Starting simple allows complex, starting complex creates mistakes. Like all great strategist, they both believed the team with the fewer mistakes will always have a chance to win. Teams that can avoid losing first, then have a chance to win. 

And finally, both men believed their main function was to educate the players on how to play the game the right way. 

In an ever-changing world, the tenants of what made Belichick and Saban the best of the best will never change. What was successful when both started is still successful today.

Their foundational beliefs in the building of a champion will provide many in future generations a great blueprint. 

Evaluating Prospective Team Members: The larger your organization gets, the more specialized most of the roles become. It is important that everyone has respect for what the other functions and departments offer the organization.

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