Theres no place like home for Dillard High School alum, Eddie Frasier.

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Frasier absolutely loves Dillard High School Panthers.

The first-year head football coach came home to the Panthers and he brought success with him.

At 34 years old, Frasier led the Panthers football team to an undefeated (10-0) regular season, finishing an impressive (12-1) overall.

Some critics say that the strength of the schedule was his best friend, but at the end of the day, you still have to play the game.

And the Panthers havent seen this kind of success in 30 years.

This year alone, Frasier added these accolades to his resume: Broward County Coach of the Year; 6A-8A Head Football Coach of the Year (which he humbly shares with his coaching staff); Broward County Team of the Year and All County nods for some of his athletes.

His winning ways did not go unnoticed by his peers.

Coach Frasier was also one of 32 head coaching candidates nominated by their respective local NLF teams for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. Shula is the winningest coach in NFL history and the only coach to record a perfect season including winning the Super Bowl.

Frasier represented the Miami Dolphins as one of the best to do it on the high school level.

Though he did not win this one, the criteria to be considered is an honor and makes one proud to know that this is what peers think about you.

Character, leadership, integrity, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success are all good management traits.

Young, Black, talented, respected and successful coach had a Cinderella season for his first year out.

Frasier is one of the rare few that came back to give back.

Seems as though coach Fraser had a date with fate.

He went away to school and he came back in 2008 and started laying the groundwork to land his dream job of one day coaching at the school where he left his heart.

Once he graduated from college, he came back to Fort Lauderdale and started coaching at Lauderdale Lakes Vikings, one of youth programs at which he played. Some of his old youth coaches, who he says made an impact on his life, let him come back and start coaching.

He went from being an assistant coach at Lakes to being a head coach there. He won a state championship for the youth level at Lauderdale Lakes.

Success breeds more opportunities and he started to get a lot of offers to come to high school programs because of his connection with the youth league kids.

But he says he didnt want to go anywhere but his alma mater Dillard.

I got the opportunity in 2013. I coached the middle school flag football team at Dillard (6-12 grades) winning two county championships, said Frasier. And a lot of the guys now are the guys I coached in middle school. From there, he was promoted to a JV coaching spot and won 13 straight games.

After paying some dues and having success, Feb. 1, 2019 is a day coach Frasier will fondly remember as the day he was promoted to the position of head football coach of the Dillard High School football team.

Live for Dillard is the motto that he guides his team by. He says Dillard is a lifestyle.

That lifestyle he wants to introduce his team to express is pride in being a Dillard Panther.

I am very committed to making sure that Dillard football is back where it needs to be, coach Frasier told The Miami Times.

Its always nice to see a hometown boy come back and make difference in the community from which he hailed.

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Dillard alum Eddie Frasier: The head coach who came back to give back - The Miami Times

DALTON, Ga. A north Georgia high school coach has been recognized by an NFL panel that includes coaching legends like Don Shula and Tony Dungy as the High School Coach of the Year.

The NFL announced Tuesday that Matt Land of Dalton High School was being honored with the award, which will come with a $15,000 prize from the NFL Foundation ($10,000 of which will go to the Dalton program) and tickets to the Super Bowl.

Just to be mentioned in the phrase Don Shula is an honor in itself, Land said in a release. I think just the recognition of what the award stands for--it stands for integrity, achievement and making a difference in your community. That's why I coach. I love wins. I love championships, but at the end of the day, I want to see kids lives changed. I thank God that this is the way that he lets me do it.

Land has coached the Dalton Catamounts since the early 1990s and has sent more than 20 players to college football programs, the NFL said.

We are incredibly proud of Coach Land for how he has represented his family, school, and the great state of Georgia he truly is deserving of being named the Don Shula Coach of the Year, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in the release. Coach Lands commitment to his players and community over the last 10 years is a genuine reflection of his character and further demonstrates the life skills taught in and through football by coaches like him make an impact far beyond gameday.

The committee that voted on the award included Shula, Dungy, former NFL quarterbacks Mark Brunell and Chad Pennington, former NFL linebacker Willie McGinest and other football executives and representatives.

According to his Twitter feed, Land also recently attended the Pro Bowl and met with other coaches and NFL figures, including Drew Brees.

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Dalton football coach Matt Land named Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year - 11Alive.com WXIA

Culture Shock: Cowboys Rob Davis On His Job Description And The Most Important Room in the Building - Mike Fisher, Cowboys Maven

When reports came out that Mike McCarthy had hired Rob Davis as assistant head coach, many were baffled given his history as a player and executive, but not as a coach. Davis explains his role.

Its pretty fluid right now, Davis told us. Mike and I have a long history and relationship. I played for him (for a decade as the Green Bay long-snapper), worked with him, volunteer-coached at St. Norberts College. But Ive been a life coach for long time. Most of my post-career has been around the life-coaching space, trying to develop high-performance teams and develop young men into being better men and better players.

It occurred to us that Davis almost sounds like a McCarthy lieutenant and maybe a liaison into the locker room. And indeed, he told us that he will be connected to the leaders in the Cowboys player programs department (Bryan Wansley), the executive wing (Todd Williams, COO Stephen Jones right-hand man) and the scouting department (Will McClay).

All-encompassing, Davis said of his role, adding, The locker room is the most important room in the building. No disrespect to any other offices, but Mike wants to make sure the locker room is operating at a high level.

Could the Cowboys look to revive the Jamal Adams trade? Its among three proposed trades for the team to pursue.

Blockbuster: Trade pick No. 17 for Jamal Adams

[Adams] can make plays from any alignment, but theres no doubt hes most comfortable in and around the box, where he can consistently make an impact against the run and pass. Adams is outstanding at attacking his run fits and knifing his way into the backfield to make plays as a blitzer. In coverage, he has the rare ability to provide tight-man coverage against tight ends while possessing the football intelligence and instincts to succeed in zone coverage. Also, Adams is a much more reliable tackler than the Cowboys previous strong safety, Jeff Heath.

The only argument against trading a first-rounder for Adams is that it sacrifices some future financial flexibility at a time when the Cowboys cap space is likely to shrink heavily if and when they sign Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper to mega contracts.

A player selected in the first round comes on a relatively cheap contract while being under team control for at least four years. Adams, on the other hand, is entering the final years of his rookie deal, so if the Cowboys wanted to keep him long-term, theyd have to re-sign yet another player to a big contract in the immediate future, shrinking the money pool they would use to improve the rest of the roster.

McCarthy is definitely bringing in a lot of guys he knows in the coaching ranks, but they also come with a lot of experience.

With four former head coaches and a former defensive coordinator already on board, experience is clearly one of the hallmarks of the new staff being assembled by Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.

But its also one that is coming to be known for its familiarity with McCarthy as well as its diversity, as highlighted by the recent hire of Rob Davis as assistant head coach.

-

Davis is also the seventh coach with personal ties to McCarthy. Offensive line coach Joe Philbin, linebackers coach Scott McCurley, assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko, and Harris worked with him in Green Bay. Offensive assistant Scott Tolzien was a backup quarterback for the Packers.

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan hired McCarthy as offensive coordinator when he was named head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.

Ex-Cowboys player DeMarco Murray continues his transition into coaching.

DeMarco Murray transitioned from playing football to coaching it last year and now hell be continuing on the coaching path at his alma mater.

The University of Oklahoma announced on Monday that Murray will be their running backs coach during the 2020 season. Murray coached at Arizona last year.

Murray holds school records for all-purpose yards, kickoff return average and touchdowns scored. He is also second in school history in rushing attempts and kick return yards, third in rushing touchdowns and seventh in rushing yards.

Now that the Cowboys have undergone a coaching staff change, will there be an emphasis on going out and getting players to fit the preferences of the new group?

I know the core decision makers are still in place, but with a new head coach do you think free agency might be more of a priority than past years? Im not expecting high-end signings, but it does seem a tall order to address defensive line, starting safety, starting corner, and any needs on the other side of the ball solely through the draft. - JEFF PARSONS / AMARILLO, TX

Rob: Well find out in March when market opens. I do expect some of their impending free agents to be re-signed. Thats pretty much a must when you have this many expiring contracts. I still expect them to take a more opportunistic than splashy approach to free agency, but theres no doubt in my mind that the front office will listen to the new staffs preferences with regard to personnel. Systems and philosophies are changing this year, so thats important.

David: I expect it to look a lot like last year, to be honest. The Cowboys arent going to splash cash on outside free agents, but they will address their needs. Robert Quinn and Randall Cobb both played big roles for this team. I imagine well see signings like that reasonable and affordable with high upside.

If the Cowboys are forced to walk away from one free agent, Byron Jones is the name that keeps coming up.

The Dallas Cowboys could theoretically bring back quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones. But thatd be extremely prohibitive, even for a team with nearly $80 million in salary-cap space.

So since Dallas cant realistically let go of Prescott or Cooper without taking a big step backward on offense, Jones will likely have to go.

Hes probably their best corner, but thats the issue. A 27-year-old outside cover man with a Pro Bowl on his resume will likely command a large deal on the open market. Dallas cant afford to get involved in that game, especially with talented youngsters Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis already on the roster.

The Cowboys should focus on Prescott and Cooper, let Jones strike gold elsewhere, re-sign the inevitably cheaper Anthony Brown and pick up another corner early in the draft.

BTBs own RJ Ochoa is out and about in Miami for Super Bowl LIV and on Monday night he spoke to a handful of former Dallas Cowboys: Charvarius Ward, Anthony Hitchens, Morris Claiborne, and Miles Austin. You can hear those interviews on Tuesdays episode of The Ocho.

Make sure that you never miss an episode from Blogging The Boys by subscribing to the Blogging The Boys podcast feed!

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Cowboys news: McCarthy hire Rob Davis will work toward creating positive locker room culture - Blogging The Boys

Tributes honoring NBA superstar Kobe Bryant took place soon after the news of his passing in a California helicopter accident. USA TODAY

Harvard pitching coach Brady Kirkpatrick, teammates with Aaron Judge and Jeff McNeil on that famed Cape Cod League team in 2012, stared at his phone and could barely breath.

He learned about Kobe Bryants death on Twitter, but hours later, scrolling through for the latest updates, he saw the names of the other victims in the helicopter crash.

John Altobelli, his beloved coach from that summer, and close friend.

Altobelli's wife, Keri.

And his daughter, Alyssa.

Im sitting at the kitchen table, Kirkpatrick told USA TODAY Sports, and I couldnt move. I didnt move for 20 minutes. I was in complete shock. I couldnt believe it was real.

I still cant.

Just three weeks ago, Altobelli, 56, was being honored as the national coach of the year at the annual American Baseball Coaches Association convention afterwinning his fourth state title in his 27 years at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif.

He coached Judge,McNeil and other future major-leaguers during his three years with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League.

Here he was having the greatest time of his life, honored as the national JUCO coach of the year, Kirkpatrick said, talking about his family and life and everything else. He just loved his family.

I cant believe hes gone.

News of Altobellis death sent shock waves around the baseball world, with players like McNeil tweeting how instrumental he was to their success.

This is a man who was absolutely beloved in the collegiate ranks, touching so many lives that Orange Coast College associate coach Nate Johnson called himthe Kobe of the junior college baseball world.

He could have coached at any level, I mean any level, said Michigan baseball coach Erik Bakich, whowas friends with Altobelli. He was incredible to be connected to so many coaches among so many levels. He just had that personality that you gravitated towards him. You always wanted to be around him.

I recruited quite a few of his players, and one of the constant themes as that they were always really good kids. His former players talked about his ability to influence them as a man, a future husband, a father.

He was in it for much more than baseball.

John Altobelli died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday.(Photo: Orange Coast College)

Altobelli and Bryant became friends through their daughters playing on the same youth basketball teams.

Bryant would occasionally visit Altobellis games, give pep talks, and Altobelli would rave about Bryant to his friends.

He talked about what a good guy Kobe was, how down-to-earth he was, and how real he was, said Scott Pickler, the Hall of Fame collegiate coach at Cypress College and one of Altobellis closest friends. He would go on and on about him. They were pretty tight.

He used to tell me how Kobe made it so much easier traveling to his daughters games by helicopter. They were doing that more and more.

So when I heard the news about Kobe Bryant, I just hoped Alto wasnt with him.

Then when Tim Matz [OCC assistant coach] told me that only was John there, but also his wife and daughter, Oh, my God.

Pickler, whose teams played about 100 games against Altobelli over the years, said they never once had an argumentor even got remotely mad at one another.

He was a fierce competitor, he just got after it, Pickler said. As competitive as we both are, we were just as friendly after the games as before them. There was never a falling out. Just two competitive guys who enjoyed the competition.

He could be tough, but never once did I hear anybody talk bad about John. He was so respected by every coach.

BRYANT:Don't shy away from Kobe's complicated legacy

MORE ON KOBE:Final interview offered window into NBA legend's motivation

When Michigan reached theCollege World Series in 2019, the team's players madea pulling-the-rope gesture after extra-base hits toshowthey were all pulling together. Altobelli was the one who came up with the idea, and when one of his former players, center fielder Cody Brewer transferred to Michigan, he passed it onto the Wolverines program.

That pull-the-rope mantra was straight from Coach Altobelli, Bakich said. He had such a major influence over all of coaches at all of the levels."

Altobelli won more than 700 games in his career at Orange Coast, but no one judged him by wins and losses, rather his success making young men better, on and off the field.

I remember we were in dead-last place all summer when I played for him, Kirkpatrick said, but it never felt like that. We still had a blast because of his passion on and off the field. There was no pressure. He just wanted us to go out there and figure things out for ourselves.

He built such strong relationships with everyone, and Ive never forgotten that. I try to do that with my own players now.

Matt Hyde, the New York Yankees northeast scouting supervisor anda liaison to the Cape Cod League, called Altobelli a role model for all of the collegiate coaches. He made sure it was never about him. It was simply about his players.

Coaching the best players in the country in the Cape Cod League he wasn't caugh tup in the winning and losing, Hyde said. "He was comfortable enough in his own skin to just let his players play. He allowed them to be themselves and not be afraid to fail, which is a big deal in that setting. There was that trust factor. Thats what really stood about it with me.

You run across people once in a while that are very genuine and authentic, whos just so incredibly gracious, and that was him. Everybody wanted to be around him.

Agent Scott Boras, who lives in the same neighborhood as Kobe Bryants family, frequenting the same church, certainly could understand how Bryant and Altobelli became close friends.

Boras saw thekindness and generosity asAltobellitriedto make a difference in peoples lives. When starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel was without a job until June last summer as a free agent, Altobelli routinely volunteered to let Keuchel use their facilities and pitch against his players.

John was the kind of guy who wanted to advance any players needs, Boras said. He wanted to win, but he viewed his own program as helping student-athletes into four-year universities and beyond. He had one of those personalities that he was always asking what he could do to help, and never wanting anything in return.

Just a wonderful, wonderful man with a vibrant, young spirit.

Famed UCLA baseball coach John Savage talked about Altobellis legacy during dinner Sunday with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who played for Savage, along with his wife, Amy. They talked about the pain of losing a giant in the Southern California baseball community.

He was really a legendary coach who made such an impact on junior-college players and their families, Savage said. His energy, his willingness to help people that were on their way up, or on their way down, he touches so many lives.

Beau Wright, 29, who now works in the cargo division at Los Angeles InternationalAirport, remembers being a broken-down young pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery when Altobelli reached out.

He had just dropped out of school at UC-Irvine, wondering where life would lead, when Altobelli offered him to work out with his baseball program in hopes of rejuvenating his career.

I was young, I thought the world was crashing down, didnt know where to turn, Wright said, and there he was for me.

Wright went to Orange Coast College, began pitching again, was drafted in 2010 by the Miami Marlins, and had a three-year professional career.

That wouldnt have happened without Coach Alto, Wright said. He was pivotal in me continuing and furthering my career. He meant so much to me.

I was just thinking about the last hitter I ever faced in spring training. We were playing the Cardinals. And I was facing J.J., his son.

Life works in so many mysterious ways.

The last time Altobelli was with his team was Saturday at practice, with itsseason-opener scheduled for Tuesday. He told the team he was flying with Bryant to see his daughter play at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, but if anyone needed him, please dont hesitate to call.

They all gathered Sunday, current players, alumni and parents, maybe 150 people in all, to mourn together.

It was beautiful, it was touching, Orange Coast College athletic director Jason Kehler said. He had such a passion for the game, but even more he had a passion for Orange Coast baseball.

The championships are there, the wins are there, but his success will be measured by not only making them better ballplayers, but better people.

Thats what Ill remember.

They will gather again Tuesday for their game against Southwestern. The players told Kehler and the coaching staff they wanted to play. Really, they needed to play.

Coach Alto wouldnt want it any other way.

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Landing ideal clients is partly what youre in the career coaching business foryou want a business, not a hobby. Back in 2010, when I started my first corporate job as a career coach, it wasnt very trendy. Just look at how many rsum writers and career coaches you can find on social media. Its proof of how thats completely changed. Entrepreneurship is also becoming a popular career change path for many reasons. In astudywith over 3,100 individuals by Guidant Financial and SBTA companies, there was a 27% increase in those who started their business because of dissatisfaction with corporate America.

I dont know if thats why you started or plan to start your coaching business, but because youre reading this, I know you care about serving with excellence. Before I share these five mistakes, let me just say I dont always have it all together. Vulnerability, trust and authenticity are key in the coaching relationship, so we should model it too.

Your marketing mindset isnt beneficial.

You may be great at what you do, but if youre not top of mind when your ideal clients need you, it doesnt matter. Remember, you cant control elements of the buying process, but you can control what you do to increase visibility. Set metrics on those things and have faith that clients will come.

Here are a few more marketing truths:

Youre afraid to collaborate with other coaches.

Life isnt a solo sport, and thats why others come to us. They value support through information, empowerment and guidance. To add to our conversation, I spoke to three career industry leaders whove been recognized multiple times by global organizations.

My direct competitors are a terrific source of inspiration, growth and referral leads. Ive also built incredible friendships with other rsum writing experts and career coaches. Coaching is a personalized service and requires the right match for the clients background. Im never afraid to put that professional or job seeker in the hands of that better suited and trusted coach.

Collaboration with industry colleagues is a secret weapon of the experienced entrepreneur. I am an expert at navigating Silicon Valley and the high-tech space. By referring out people that do not align with my zone of Genius those in law, for example I can continue to work with those individuals I am best suited to serve, ensuring their continued success.

When I speak with other coaches, I can really see how my expertise in story is an advantage. I trust my niche more, and they send any client wanting deep level story strategy my way. Collaborating with other career coaches has also helped me refer people who arent the best fit, and we also share ideas to make all our services stronger.

You feel uncomfortable charging what your services are worth.

The first step I go through when helping startup service-based entrepreneurs is fleshing out their business to increase uniqueness and viability.Heres a resourceon the average career coaching costs per hour and per package by Noomi, a professional coach directory. You need fewer clients when your pricing is higher, and its a less taxing way to hit your ideal monthly income goals. Youll probably also see an improvement in your client outcomes as people tend to be more emotionally and mentally vested when theres a bigger financial investment.

Youre running on empty.

According toGallup, 67% of employees say they are sometimes very often or always burned out at work.Researchalso shows that entrepreneurs are more at risk of burnout because were highly passionate, more socially isolated then employees and operate in high uncertainty.

Based on what burnout theorists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North developed as a12-phase model for burnoutscreening, development and implementation, here are a few things to do and remember.

You dont have the right resources.

There is a lot of noise out there in the coaching world, and to get ahead, you need the right resources. Resources to serve your clients with style and excellence, to build your business and for your personal and professional development. I like to think of resources in three terms: intangible thingslike time and money, tools, and of course your network, which can open up opportunities.

Join my freeFacebook groupand receive inspiration, support and resources to start or build a career coaching business.

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Have You Made These 5 Coaching-Business Mistakes? - Forbes

Hofstra coach Joe Mihalich seen in a December 2014 game. Assistant coach Mike Farrelly is on the far ... [+] left of the photo. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Hofstra mens basketball coach Joe Mihalich provided Forbes.com contributor J.P. Pelzman with a rare opportunity last week: a chance to experience game preparation from the inside. Pelzman was permitted full access to the coaches film session and the final three practices as Hofstra (14-6, 5-2) got ready for its Colonial Athletic Association game against visiting Delaware (13-7, 3-4). Heres how it went:

TUESDAY, JAN. 21

There is adryclothwithin easy reach, but JoeMihalichsmind sometimes is moving so fast that he will ignore it. Instead, he will use his index finger to wipe clean the plastic erase boardon the desk so he candraw up a new play in response to what he has just seen in the film session.

MikeFarrelly,Mihalichsassistant for nine years at both Hofstra and Niagara, has seen this move many times. On this day, by this point, hes been narrating his breakdown of Delaware game tape for more than 90 minutes.Farrelly, who had the scout of the Delaware game, painstakingly put together voluminous amounts of highlights (called cutups in the business) of nine of the Blue Hens previous ten games. (Mikes scouts are so detailed,Mihalichsays. He prepares us like no other. I dont want to miss anything,Farrellysays.)

The purpose is to illustrate the opponents strengths, weaknesses and, most important, tendencies. This enablesMihalichand associate head coachFarrelly and assistant coaches Speedy Claxton and Colin Curtin to put together the game plan.

So many (head) coaches,Farrellysays after the film session, you get the feeling, they drop the practice plan on the desk and this is what were doing today, and this is what were going to do for the game, but (Mihalich) is always actively seeking input. He doesnt want a yes man. He wants fresh ideas of looking at things.

Farrellythen cites how Curtins scouting report correctly predicted what NC-Wilmington would run on its final offensive play five days earlier, which helped Hofstra ice a narrow victory.

Farrellyruns through everyone who plays significant minutes for the Blue Hens. Delaware's biggestoutside threat is its leading scorer, Nate Darling, andFarrellyis adamant that Hofstra cannot let him get open catch-and-shoot chances. On the inside, the Pride must be wary of bruising 6-7, 220-pound power forward Justyn Mutts. Mutts,Farrellynotes, hasnt made a three since Dec. 2, so if he catches the ball outside the arc, he tells the other coaches the same thing he will tell the players later about Mutts.

Because Delaware coach MartinInglesbyis in his fourth season, many of the Blue Hens bread-and-butter offensive and defensive philosophies havent changed all that much. Thats whyMihalichtends to assign the same assistants the same teams year afteryear.

OnceFarrellysfilm session is over, the lights go on inMihalichsoffice and the head coach, with input from the staff, begins work on some offensive and defensive sets he believes will be effectiveThursdaynight. After bouncing ideas back and forth forawhile, I think thats a recipe, he concludes.

Three days earlier, the decisive basket in Hofstras loss to College of Charleston came on an offensiverebound, so boxing out on defense is a point of emphasis in that afternoons practice, withMihalichhaving someone chart the amount of times a player misses a boxout.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22

Besides watchingthe same Delaware film review the coaches saw the day before, the players receive a sheet with bullet points, summarizing the individual things they need to know for their respective positions.

The challenge,Farrellysays, is how do you take all the ideas and everything that youve seen and whittle it down to what they can handle? They're 18 to 22 years old, they dont have the hours that we put in watching the scouts, so how do we transfer that in the most efficient way?

This is the heavy install day of thegameplan, thus there are many different drills, withMihalichconstantly reaching into the pocket of his shorts to check for the next one and call it out.Meanwhile, workers begin installing the temporary courtside seats at the Mack Sports Complex, a vivid reminder that gameday is drawing closer.

If you think about it from an academic perspective,Farrellysays, the game is the final exam, and hopefully theyre prepared. You're their teacher for those last couple of days, those last reviews, and how can you take what youve seen and translate it to the court? You have to know it so well and then you have to transfer that knowledge to them.

Practice ends with special situations, a simulation of end-game circumstances, in this case, the Pride ahead by two or three points in the final seconds. But no matter what combination of defenders are out there, and even withFarrellyand Claxton huddling with their respective groups before each simulation, they cannot close the deal toMihalichssatisfaction.Sohe punts the basketball in the direction of the locker room.

The emotional impact of the kick is more important than the physical distance, and Mihalich follows it up with his post-practice words. Still livid, he manages to praise his players nonetheless. Although they all are in a tight circle at midcourt, his booming voice likely is audible throughout the empty arena.

The message? You guys are as good as anyone in this league. You can win this league. But its up to you.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

Hofstra did win the CAA last season, but only the regular-season title, losing to Northeastern in the final of the crapshoot known as the conference tournament.In a one-NCAA bid league such as the Colonial, one bad game in March can wreck and entire season of good work.

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 06: Head coach Joe Mihalich of the Hofstra Pride argues a call during the ... [+] semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Conference Tournament college basketball game against the William & Mary Tribe at Royal Farms Arena on March 6, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Among the busload of regretsMihalichhas over that defeat is the fact that he believesFarrellyat least wouldve gotten a sniff for low- and mid-major head coach openings had Hofstra earned its first NCAA tournament bid since 2001.

Thats Joe,Farrellysays with a smile when that info is relayed to him. But, he says, he cannot afford to think about what the bump in pay and change in lifestyle from assistant to head coach would mean to him and wife Gina (shes pretty amazing for putting up with his schedule, he says) and sons M.J. and Ryan.

Youre so in the moment, he says. It's always how do you build and how do you get better.

Activity abounds on and off the court during the morning walkthrough as TV equipment begins rolling in for the CBS Sports Network telecast. Still, the atmosphere is mellower than Wednesdays final moments. In fact,Mihalichwinds up shaving about 20 minutes off the original hour and 20 minutes he had put on the clock.

Afterward,Farrellysays, it wasnt the greatest walkthrough weveever had. (ut) I think were ready. Well see.

The game begins with Darling doing exactly what Hofstra did not want on Delawares second possessiongetting wide-open for a three and draining it. The Blue Hens soon open a nine-pointleadbeforeHofstra responds with 18 straight points for a 25-16 advantage. However, Delaware leads 38-37 athalftime. The Blue Hens are up by as many as 11 in the second half before the Pride rally to lead by two.

Often, while Hofstra is on defense on the other side of the court,Farrellyadopts a mirror-image position a few feet behindbehindMihalich, both kneeling on the sideline.

It just happened,Farrellysays of his now-customary stance. I dont want a referee in my way. I dont want a coach in my way. If I'm going to talk these (players) through whats going on, I need a clear sightline."

Both men are standing for the final play, when Delawares Kevin Anderson gets one fateful step on the normally error-proof senior point guardDesureBuie and goes all the way for the game-winning layup in 5.8 seconds despite replays showing he clearly traveled. AHofstra official reminded reporters, no officiating questions at one point, but as angry as he was, a veteran coach such as the 63-year-oldMihalichprobably knew he wasnt getting that call at that moment.

We let a guy with a blue shirt dribble through five guys and make a layup. Shame on us, he said, but added, I'm not worried because I think these guys will respond. They care and they want to win. I know theyre willing to learn.

Buie said the final play was my fault. I take ownership of that and I'm going to change it.

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

The day gets off to a more promising start, with senior walk-on ConnorKlementowicz, a stalwart who goes about 120 mph in practice, being surprised by being awarded a scholarship by athletic director Rick Cole in the locker room. (He is the best walk-on I've ever been around in my life,Mihalichsays later.)

But once the game begins, it seems like more of the same, with Drexel power forward James Butler doing a reasonable Justyn Mutts impersonation. Despite owning only one road win all season, the Dragons lead 45-37 early in the second half. But 11 consecutive defensive stops reverse the momentum and Hofstra pulls away for a soul-satisfying 72-59 triumph.

We wanted to get right back at it, Buie says afterward of the quick turnaround.

As forMihalichspost-practice challenge, Buie said, It really is up to us. We've got a great team. It's not just the starting five. We've got a great bench. He believes in us so much. We believe in him.

And in the rest of thecoachingstaff, includingFarrelly.

Buie continued, He's a very special guy. I cant thank CoachFarrellyenough and I can speak for the rest of the guys. He's the best. He definitely will (get his own program). His work will show.

But for now, the show goes on. And on. Hofstra (15-7, 6-3), now in a three-way tie for second, visits Elon and conference-leading William & Mary on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.Farrellyhas the scout for the latter game.

It starts all over again, he said. I went home (after the Delaware game) and started watching William & Mary. Losing to them by 27 (on Jan. 2), weve got some things to correct fromlasttime.

The next day,Farrellyand his family planned to celebrate his wifes birthday. By 8 oclock that night, he expected to be hunkered down for a five-hour William & Mary film session.

But for people such as MikeFarrelly, they know no other way. Nor would they want to.

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A Few Days In The Life Of A College Basketball Team: Going All-Access With Hofstra - Forbes

Kansas coach Bill Self, left, congratulates Oklahoma State's Eddie Sutton after the Jayhawks' 80-60 loss to OSU in Stillwater, Okla., on Feb. 9, 2004. The game marked Self's first trip to his alma mater as coach of the Jayhawks. by Thad Allender/Journal-World File Photo

No Kansas basketball trip to Stillwater, Okla., is ever quite right for Kansas coach Bill Self without Eddie Sutton being a part of it.

And Monday night the legendary former Cowboys coach was in attendance during the Jayhawks 65-50 win at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Introduced to the GIA crowd during a timeout in the second half of KUs victory, Sutton was serenaded with cheers from all over the arena, as Jayhawks and Cowboys alike took a moment to celebrate the 83-year-old coaching legend.

After the game, Self, who worked under Sutton at OSU from 1990-93, took the opportunity to appreciate and celebrate Suttons presence, making yet another plea for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to induct Sutton into its halls as soon as possible.

Hopefully hell be elected into the Hall this year, which he richly deserves, Self said during his postgame interview. Hes an amazing coach. I spent three years with him and the things we do every day are things that he taught us and taught me. As a coach, Id like to make Coach (Larry) Brown proud and (former OSU coach) Leonard (Hamilton) proud and certainly Coach Sutton proud by watching my teams play (and showing them) something that they would respect.

Self said he got word before the game that Sutton would be in attendance. And he came out of the locker room a little early to make sure he could get over to him to say hello.

Self saw Sutton recently, during an Oklahoma Hall of Fame event last year, and said he was happy to spend more time with him than a game-night handshake allows.

In Selfs eyes, Sutton, who won 806 games during his 37-year NCAA Division I coaching career at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State and San Fransisco, has meant as much to college basketball as anyone.

And he compared Suttons impact to that of Henry Iba, the longtime Oklahoma A&M/Oklahoma State basketball coach who coached Sutton and stuck around Stillwater long after his coaching days were finished.

I always thought Mr. Iba was taken for granted so much in this area because everybody was so comfortable with him because they saw him around all the time, said Self, who played at OSU from 1981-85. When you see somebody all the time, sometimes you maybe take for granted the magnitude of the role they play with making our game what it is. And I feel the same thing about coach (Sutton). I feel like coach has been around and everybody knows of coach. When hes around a lot, all those things I think sometimes people can take for granted the (impact) hes had on our game. Hes pretty awesome.

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KU coach Bill Self always thrilled to see longtime Cowboys coach Eddie Sutton | Tale of the Tait - KUsports

MIAMI (AP) -- Stopping short of saying the Rooney Rule is not working, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted Wednesday the league needs change to its minority hiring policy.

Though the league requires teams to interview minority candidates, only two African-Americans have been hired for 19 open head coaching spots over the past three years. The league has only two minority general managers among the 32 teams.

"Clearly we are not where we want to be on this level," he said at his annual Super Bowl news conference. "We have a lot of work that has gone into not only the Rooney Rule but our policy overall. It's clear we need change and do something different.

"There's no reason to expect we're going to have a different outcome next year without those kinds of changes and we've already begun engaging in those changes. Not just with our diversity committee, not just with the Fritz Pollard Alliance, but others. And trying to figure out what steps we could take next that would lead to better outcomes. It's clear we're all committed to doing that, and we have to make those changes.

"We will have a series of meetings which we've already scheduled over the next month to get that kind of dialogue going, to continue the dialogue to try to determine what are the solutions so we can have those better outcomes, he added."

The Rooney Rule, which has been adopted by other leagues and businesses, calls for a minority candidate to be interviewed for head coaching and executive openings such as general managers. Critics have said those interviews are often simply token responses to the rule and that the minority candidates are not seriously considered for those positions.

Goodell also addressed negotiations between the NFL Players Association and the league on a new labor deal. The current 10-year contract runs out in March 2021 and there is optimism on both fronts that a new deal would be finalized before this March when the 2020 league year begins.

"We've been having incredibly productive dialogue," Goodell said. "I think we've made a lot of progress at now seven or eight months since we began those discussions more formally.

"I think we've addressed difficult issues that face our league going forward and looking forward. I think both the players and management and everyone at the negotiations have worked to try to find creative solutions to make the NFL better and that's what you want."

As for putting a timetable on a potential agreement, Goodell wouldn't speculate.

"The process will close when the process closes, when all of us feel comfortable that we've reached an agreement that we want to go forward with," he said. "I don't know when that will be. I think it's more important to get it right."

One of the major bargaining points of a new CBA is adding a 17th regular-season game, presumably to be played at neutral sites. Asked if that didn't fit with the league's emphasis on player safety, Goodell said all metrics are showing the game is safer than ever.

Concussions, though, were up slightly last season, and lower extremity injuries have become a major focus for the league's medical staff.

"Safety has been at the forefront and our No. 1 priority of our players," he said, mentioning data that shows which "techniques should be taken out of the game," thus affecting rules changes.

"For us, the data is the key component to what we want to do in changing the season. We don't look at it as just we (will) have a 17th game. We look at the entire season, the offseason, training camp, how we prepare our players to get ready for the season, how we practice during the season. So all those changes and taking techniques out of those games has made our game safer."

On other topics:

--The NFL will return to play a regular-season game in Mexico City this season and next. It will be the fifth and sixth games played at Azteca Stadium. Goodell said dates and teams will be announced when the schedule is revealed in early spring.

-- The latest probe into Patriots videotaping shenanigans is not completed. The NFL is in no rush to reach a conclusion about the video of the Bengals sideline being taken for a Patriots website. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has said he never viewed the footage and the team maintains the purpose of the filming was for an illustration of the work team advance scouts do while on the road. The team says it accepts full responsibility for the crew's actions.

Goodell disagreed with the presumption it was a simple investigation.

-- The NFL's main goal regarding the case involving receiver Antonio Brown is to help him be successful in life. He did not offer any updates on where the investigation stands regarding the troubled receiver, who was released by the Patriots this season when allegations of sex abuse surfaced. Brown has since had a series of off-field incidents. Any return to the league is contingent on his being cleared to play again by the NFL.

-- Goodell hinted that the next open Super Bowl would be awarded by the end of the calendar year when asked whether Las Vegas is in line for such a game. The next four Super Bowls will be in Tampa, Los Angeles, the Phoenix area, and New Orleans.

He also said the NFL is not married to the defending Super Bowl champions hosting the Thursday night kickoff game for the season. That could bring the opening of the new Las Vegas or Los Angeles stadiums into play for that prime-time spot.

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Sports Goodell: Diversity in coach/executive hirings must improve Barry Wilner, AP Pro Football Writer 4 - WXYZ

The crash devastated his family, which includes J.J., a former college baseball player who is now a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and a daughter, Lexi, who is in high school.

Their deaths also shook Mr. Altobellis larger baseball family, including players who gathered on the field at Orange Coast College upon hearing the news and decided to play the season opener, as scheduled, on Tuesday.

Mr. Altobelli had lived his life on the baseball diamond, and they would, too.

Sarah and Payton Chester

Sarah and Payton Chester, a mother and daughter who lived in Orange County, also died in the crash, family and friends said.

Payton, 13, had played for Mr. Bryants team for several years and had planned to develop her game in high school and college, her uncle Andy George told The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. She had this sweetest soul, the kindest, most gentlest person you would ever meet, he said.

Her mother, Sarah Chester, 45, also had two 16-year-old boys, Mr. George told the newspaper. She was everything to her family, to our family, he said. Anytime I needed anything, she was the person I went to.

One of her sons wrote on Instagram that he had lost the most amazing Mother and sister. He posted a series of photographs, including one that showed his sister at a basketball gym, smiling and laughing with Mr. Bryant.

Todd Schmidt, a former principal of the elementary school that Payton had attended in Newport Beach, Calif., said the Chesters were among the amazing families at the school: engaged, supportive, encouraging, and full of mischief and laughter.

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The 9 Victims of the Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant - The New York Times

The group was flying to Thousand Oaks, California, Sunday for a basketball game, where Gianna was expected to play and Bryant was expected to coach.

While police have not released the names of the people on board, family members of some victims have confirmed their loved ones' deaths. Here's what we know:

Gianna and Alyssa were teammates at the Mamba Academy, OCC assistant coach Ron La Ruffa told CNN, and Altobelli would often fly with his daughter to attend the games.

"There were two sides to John," Tony Altobelli said. "People saw him on the baseball field, he's (a) gritty and tough as nails kind of guy, but the other side of him, he was one of the biggest-hearted people you'll meet in your life. He cared about his players, cared about his school."

"It's hard to put into words what this loss means to the college and the athletics department," OCC Athletics Director Jason Kehler said in a statement. "John was a tremendous coach and an even better friend. Beyond that, he was an amazing mentor to all of the students and athletes that he taught and coached. He treated them all like family and his impact will live on forever."

Coach "Alto," as he was known, was gearing up for his 28th season with the Pirates, which he helped lead to the state baseball championship last year, the release said.

He was a "giant" on the campus, OCC President Angelica Suarez said, and a "beloved teacher, coach, colleague and friend."

In a statement, the Boston Red Sox said the organization is mourning the death of the three members of the Altobelli family. It said John Altobelli's son, J.J. Altobelli, is a Red Sox scout.

The Red Sox and its Foundation will provide financial and emotional support to the family and a GoFundMe page has been set up to give additional assistance, Chaim Bloom, a Red Sox official said in a statement.

"My kids and I are devastated," her husband, Matt Mauser, wrote on Facebook. "We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much."

The mayor of Costa Mesa -- about 40 miles from Los Angeles --- also tweeted about Mauser.

US Rep. Harley E. Rouda of California called the loss of life "incalculable."

Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton, were also passengers aboard the helicopter, according to a Facebook post by Todd Schmidt, a former principal at Harbor View Elementary School, which Payton once attended.

"While the world mourns the loss of a dynamic athlete and humanitarian, I mourn the loss of two people just as important...their impact was just as meaningful, their loss will be just as keenly felt, and our hearts are just as broken," Schmidt wrote.

The helicopter's pilot was Ara Zobayan, according to a former colleague and a neighbor.

Pilot Kurt Deetz, who worked at the Island Express helicopter company with Zobayan, said he considered Zobayan a friend and a trustworthy pilot.

Zobayan's neighbor Robert Sapia said Zobayan loved his job and would show him photos of celebrity passengers, including Bryant.

According to the FAA's pilot certification database, Zobayan is an instrument-certified pilot who earned his commercial pilot's license in 2007. He is also a certified flight instructor for instrument instruction for helicopter pilots, the records show.

The database also shows Zobayan was up to date on FAA-required annual medical exams.

The California private school that Bryant's daughter -- Gigi, as he called her -- attended said its "community is devastated" about her death, and the death of Mauser, the school's former girl's basketball coach.

"She was always smiling. She looked out for the underdog and never left anyone out," Harbor Day School said in a statement about Gianna.

The school said Gianna "has left an indelible mark on the school and the people that she's touched."

Recently, a video of the two of them sitting on the sidelines went viral as he seemed to break down the game for his daughter.

The NBA icon leaves behind three daughters, Natalia, Bianka and Capri, who was born in June, and his wife, Vanessa.

Bryant joined the NBA right out of high school, becoming the league's youngest player in history, and spent the next 20 seasons of his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother," Bryant wrote on Twitter afterward.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Todd Schmidt no longer works at Harbor View Elementary School.

CNN's Nick Watt, Jon Passantino, Chloe Melas, Darran Simon, Ashley Fantz, Rob Kuznia, Matthew Hilk and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.

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Young athletes, a baseball coach and mothers. What we know about the others in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant - CNN