A Pink Slip, Then a Celebration

After the Long Beach St. men’s basketball team lost its fifth game in a row earlier this month, Coach Dan Monson texted his athletic director asking to meet.

Monson said he would resign at the end of the year, unless the team made an improbable postseason run, according to reports.  

When the AD said it would make more sense for him to leave immediately, Monson pushed back — and his boss decided he’d allow him to finish out the year.

On Saturday, just five days after being dismissed as head coach after 17 seasons with the program, Monson guided Long Beach State to an improbable Big West Conference Championship. The team will play Arizona in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

“When Jim Harbaugh says who’s got it better than him, someone needs to tell him Dan Monson,” the coach said after Saturday’s win.

The bizarre sequence of events has some key lessons for us:

1. Keep working, regardless of the circumstances

It’s easy in lame-duck scenarios to give up on our work and turn our entire focus to what’s ahead. But Monson felt he owed it to his players to stick around and keep pouring into them, despite the fact there was seemingly little in it for him. Now, he’s created an experience they’ll never forget, while garnering national acclaim.

Seemingly hopeless scenarios can have surprise endings if we go about our work the right way and continue investing in those we lead.

“They’re good people,” Monson said of his players. “They played for each other.”

2. Our records don’t always reflect our abilities

We’re typically judged on wins and losses, but our record isn’t always a perfect reflection of our larger capabilities as leaders. Monson likely isn’t a better coach today than he was eight days ago when he was let go, but he’s garnered widespread attention for his ability to guide his team amid bizarre circumstances.

Whether we’re on top or trailing at the moment, let’s not let the numbers on the board tell the entire story. There are almost always details that the general public cannot see.

3. The narrative can change in a very short time

A week ago, Monson was the coach who couldn’t get it done at Long Beach State. In the years to come, he’ll be celebrated as the coach who defied the odds to lead his program to the tournament.

He’s coached over 500 games with the program, but the story of his career changed, in part, over just 120 minutes.

It’s a crucial reminder that life truly does come at us fast sometimes, and our own narrative can flip for the better in days or even hours.

When Monson was interviewed by ESPN following the win, he didn’t blame his athletic director, nor did he make excuses for his team’s inconsistency all year.

He instead expressed gratitude for the journey.

“God has blessed me with a great career, and these kids have been awesome to coach,” he said.

“It’s life. It’s on to the next chapter.”

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