For The Win's Andy Nesbitt is on a mission to convince the powers that be that the Super Bowl should be played on Saturday and has a laundry list of reasons why. USA TODAY

MIAMI The blood gushed profusely. Nonstop.

Nothing Bobby Turner nor the Broncos training staff could do stopped his nosebleed. The running backs coach should have gone to the hospital that frigid December day in Kansas City in 2005. But an entire half of football remained in a pivotal divisional game, and Turner wasnt about to abandon his charges.

So, he basically has two towels in his nosein 10-degree weatherat Arrowhead, and just toughed it out, recalled 49ers run game coordinator Mike McDaniel, then a coaching intern with Denver. I was 22 years old thinking, Im not sure that I can do this. He stuck through the game, would not leave his players, and there was no room for deviation. ... He went to the hospital afterwards. Almost needed an extra blood bag, and he didnt care. He refused to stop contributing to his guys.

That display of commitment perfectly encapsulates all that is Bobby Turner.

That was Bobby! Mike Shanahan said. Tough son of a gun!

Few outsiders know his name. But Turner, a 24-year NFL coaching veteran, is one of the pillars of success for Kyle Shanahans Super Bowl-contending 49ers just as he was for Mike Shanahans two-time Super Bowl-winning Broncos.

We call Bobby the O.G. of coaching, Kyle Shanahan saidof the 70-year-old Turner.

A pros pro, 49ers special teams coordinator Richard Hightower praises. A guy that does his job every day and leaves no stone unturned, which is a great testament for us young coaches.

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Denver Broncos running back Tatum Bell chats with running back coach Bobby Turner during drills at the Broncos' facility in southeast Denver, on June 9, 2004. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(Photo: DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, AP)

During this run to Super Bowl LIV, San Franciscos offense has boasted one of the NFL'smost prolific rushing attacks despite the lack of afeature back. But Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman each rushed for more than 540 yards while combining for 15 touchdowns.

Turners 24 seasons have featured 15 1,000-yard campaigns by eight different backs, and even in the eight seasons where either Denver, Washington, Atlanta or San Francisco lacked a feature back, hispupils combined to give their teams one of the leagues leading rushing attacks.

The offense built by Mike Shanahan and modernized by Kyle Shanahan is known for its creativity and diversity, but the run game serves as the foundation while ensuring balance and unpredictability.

Bobby T. is the key ingredient, said Clinton Portis, who played under Turner in Denver and Washington. Look at that scheme and Bobby Turners track record. In Denver with Terrell (Davis), Olandis (Gary), myself, Tatum Bell, all those backshad 1,000 yards.

"Nobody says, Damn, Bobby T. has a lot of thousand-yard rushers, Portis said."People want to say, Oh, its the system. Well, you could plug a thousand backs into a system, but if you dont have a coach who can teach it and get his players to understand without interfering with that players individual talent, then youre not going to have that success.

The voids in young Bobby Turners life fueled him. He would not let his circumstances define him.

The oldest of 13 children growing up in East Chicago, Indiana, Turner had to fend for himself from the time he turned 12.

He charted his path on his own at that very point in life.His plan:

Ive been confident my whole life. People always ask me where it came from, and I just have to tell them, from me, Turner told USA TODAY Sports. My parents never encouraged me. They were not educated. It was something I sawand that I wanted: to better myself individually.

Turner played defensive back for Indiana State University and graduated with a degree in health and physical education. He then landed a job as an assistant coach for the freshman football and basketball teams at Haworth High School (Indiana), while pursuing his masters in education/administration.

Turner knew what kind of coach he wanted to be. He would invest in his playersas athletes and as human beings.

I believed in that at a very early age, said Turner, who spent 20 years coaching college teams. Because I didnt have that as a player growing up, where a guy is not just a number. Thats been consistent throughout my coaching career.

His work as Purdues offensive coordinator placed him on Mike Shanahans radar as the new Broncos' coach assembled his staff in 1995.The two had never met, which made Shanahans selection rare, but Turner never disappointed.

Everything he said, he did, Shanahan said in a phone interview. He was everything everyone said he was and more. No. 1, hes a great person, a smart guy and a very hard worker. He takes pride in his work with running backs and is tireless, even in the offseason.

All these years later, nothing has changed.

Said Kyle Shanahan, He wont open his door in February and March because for two straight months hes calling every single running back coming out of college, interviewing them, calling their high school coaches. The guy does more work, and is more diligent a running back coach than anyone Ive ever been around. And so when you need an expert on that position, you know Bobby has put in that time.

Because of the stable of productive running backs, people have remarked that the Shanahans could probably plug any back into their offense and still have success.That bothers Turner.

No, these are the right people that were putting into our system," he said."When I'm asked what I think, I tell them what it is. So many men are Yes men, they just want to go along, they dont want to have the head coach or coordinator upset. But I feel strongly about my opinions because I put so much into it.

Kyle Shanahan was a high school freshman when he met Turner. WhenAtlanta hired him as offensive coordinator in 2016, one of Shanahans first calls was to Turner.

It was pretty cool because it was the first time that I thought, hed always been my dads guy, but he was finally my guy, Kyle Shanahan said. I love the guy.

Players love Turner too, even though they describe him as demanding.

Hes big on studying, fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. Hes famous for his pregame tests. Theyre eight pages long and we have to fill out every single route that we could run and fill out different pass-blocking protections and explain it. He keeps you on your toes.

McDaniel, who was a ball boy for the Broncos in 1996 when he met Turner andhas studied his every move since, summed it up perfectly.

Truth be told, in an era where hard coaching is a lost art, he makes a human connection with his players thats strong enough that they actually appreciate. And 10, 20 years later, his players always see him, give him a hug and thank him. Its just awesome to see the numbers over time, reflect what everyone has always known. Its why the Coach Shanahans dont do football without running backs coach Bobby Turner.

Follow USA TODAY Sports Mike Jones on Twitter@ByMikeJonesand listen to theFootball Jones podcaston iTunes.

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In his last on-camera interview, NBA legend Kobe Bryant talks to USA TODAY's Mark Medina about life after basketball and his daughter Gigi's favorite NBA player. USA TODAY

COSTA MESA, Calif. In a previous life, Kobe Bryant cared about specific hardware.

He had spent 20 years in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey collecting five NBA championship trophies, two Finals MVPs and one-regular season MVP. When he sat in a room of his production studio recently, though, Bryant turned his head toward something he considered more meaningful. He stared at the Oscar, Sports Emmy and Annie Award that he won for his short film, "Dear Basketball".

Theyre at the top for me, Bryant said in a wide-ranginginterview with USA TODAY Sports. Its not something that was expected. As a kid, you kind of have the goal of winning championships and all these sorts of things. Being in the industry that I'm in now? It wasn't something that was thought of me winning an Oscar.

What was expected? Consider what Bryant experienced on his farewell tour during his final season with the Lakers in 2015-16. Teammates, team officials and opponents did not just shower Bryant with praise. Some of them also shared their misgivings.

I don't know what you want to do when you retire, Bryant recited. Youre going to go through a state of depression. Youre going to have an identity crisis. These are all things that were said to me because people were genuinely concerned.

Nearly four years later, the 41-year-old Bryant seems just fine.

He founded Granity Studios, a multimedia company that has produced an ESPN+ series that analyzes professional athletes performances (Detail) and a No. 1-ranked kids and family podcast that teaches life lessons through melodies and sports(The Punies). He partnered with director Glen Keane and Academy Award-winning composer John Williams to produce "Dear Basketball, which was based on a poem he wrote to announce his retirement.

Bryant has overseen the publication of three sports fantasy childrens books and a fourth - The Wizenard Series: Season One- by Wesley King, hits bookshelves March 31.

Instead of displaying NBA-related memorabilia, Bryants workspace features shelves of his published work,other biographies and fantasy novels. As author Ivy Claire said, sometimes, I forget hes Kobe Bryant. To me, hes just a guy with a bunch of book ideas.

King sees similarities in Bryant's work ethic.

Hes approaching this in the same manner with the same passion as he did with basketball, King said. Thats not necessarily the case with a lot of other athletes. Some have put out books, but have been more hands off. But hes in the trenches and wants to work on every sentence possible.

Bryant still has informal conversations with Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka, LeBron Jamesand young player Kyle Kuzma. He attended two Lakersgames this season and attracted attention from NBA stars and fans alike. Yet, Bryant maintained he has zero involvement with his former team and has higher aspirations than chasing nostalgia.

In an interview the week before his death, Kobe Bryant said he did exactly what he wanted to do after retirement, tell stories. USA TODAY

Bryant has overseen his storytelling company that has 12 full-time employees and various contractors. He opened two training facilities dubbed the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks and Redondo Beach. And he has coached his second-oldest daughters AAU basketball team, naturally called The Mambas.

I had a strong level of belief that Kobe would thrive after his playing days were over, Pelinka wrote in an e-mail to USA TODAY Sports. It was simple to see this because Kobe is one who truly lives in the moment. He gets zero value from reminiscing on past accomplishments. Its all about making the most of the current day.

Kobe Bryant's post-NBA career is in full bloom. He considers his Oscar, Sports Emmy and other accolades for his multimedia works his greatest accomplishment.(Photo: Harrison Hill, USA TODAY)

Bryant showed signs his post-basketball career would play out this way.

Over two decades ago, Bryant took creative writing classes at Lower Merion High School fromJeanne Mastriano. She considered Bryant a charismatic storyteller when the class spoke to preschoolers or wrote short stories.

I was hoping he would coach. I was hoping I could watch him with the Lakers, Mastriano admitted. But it makes a lot of sense he would take a bold leap like this. Its not easy, which is going to get him salivating.

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When Pelinka worked as Bryants agent, Bryant said he once told Pelinka he would win an Oscar. Even if Bryant considered the conversation to be a pie in the sky thing, his prediction was not that outlandish.

Though he did not read much during his childhood, Bryant became an avid fan of Harry Potter, Star Wars and Disney movies. He read biographies to learn what made accomplished people tick. He watched movies to study character development and story arc. While nursing three consecutive season-ending injuries before his final year, Bryant brainstormed project ideas. That led to Bryant overseeing Muse, a Showtime documentary that detailed his successes and failures during his career.

You got to do what you love to do, Bryant said. I love telling stories. I love inspiring kids or providing them with tools that are going to help them.

Bryant formed the basis of his inspiration during his final season. Then, he spent part of that time constructing the so-called "Granity Bible, a150-page book filled with words and illustrations that details his mythical world.

I have an idea for an entire universe that centers around sports, fantasy and magic, Bryant said. Its as if the Olympics and Harry Potter had a baby.

That idea might sound strange. So just consider how Claire and King reacted when Bryant contacted them and expressed interest in turning these ideas into books.

Its really important not to shut him down with all of this wild creativity, Claire said. I let him go until we found the simple version of it, as opposed to disregarding all of his ideas.

Bryant realized traditional publishers did not share his ideas. So, Bryant launched his own publishing company. That maximizeshis creative freedom and protects hisintellectual property.

Then, Bryant became restless just as he did when he played basketball.Bryant admitted it takes them a little getting used to" when he texts or calls writers at all hours with feedback.Claire mused, If it wasnt Kobe Bryant, my husband wouldve wondered, Who is this man calling you all the time at 2 in the morning?

Despite those late-night exchanges, Bryant still often reports to his office at 8 a.m. After leaving at 2 p.m. to pick up his daughters from school, Bryant returns around 3:30 p.m. for more work. Beyond obsessing over plot development and sentence structure, Bryant also cares about preparation.

"I would lie if I first got the call, I wasnt a little hesitant," King said."But it's beenabsolutely agreat experience."

The book cover for Kobe Bryant's latest project, "The Wizenard Series: Season One". It hits bookshelves March 31.(Photo: Harrison Hill, USA TODAY)

Because of that workload, Bryant rarely watched NBA games after he retired. He only did so if a player asked him to review film. Otherwise, he spent most of his time on his projectsor with his family.

That changed last year when his 13-year-olddaughter, Gianna, wanted to watch NBA League Pass almost every evening. Bryant took her to two Lakers games this season so she could see James andAnthony Davis, Atlantas Trae Young and Dallas Luka Doncic.

After predicting he would not have the patience to coach NBA players, Bryant has shown he does have it whilecoaching Giannas AAU team the past two years.

Coaching youth sports is so important to take very seriously because you're helping the emotional (development) of young kids, Bryant said. So its understanding not to be overcritical and understanding that (there) aregoing to be mistakes.

Therefore, Bryant spends most of practices teaching fundamentals involving ball handling, defensive positioning and reading opponents tendencies. But when the games start, Bryant often sits and watches.

Bryant hadthe same approach when he held workouts at his training facility last week for WNBA players, last summer for a handful of NBA players and when he broke down game footage for Detail.

It is not for fans. It is for one percent of people that will actually understand what the hell we're talking about, Bryant said. The funny thing is by doing that, we seem to have really connected with everyone, everyone else. But that was absolutely not the mission.

Story continues below video

USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt talks to Lakers about Dwight Howard competing in the dunk contest. USA TODAY

Next up? Making books into films

Bryant spent most of his career striving to win more NBA titles and to set more records. So why should it be any different with his storytelling projects?

ESPN has renewed Detail for three more seasons, which will feature 52 episodes per year and undisclosed guest appearances. The Punies podcast will launch its third season in August, which will feature 10episodes plusa Christmas special. In 2020, the podcast will be produced into an animated television series.

Bryant recently received early drafts from Claire and King for the next editions of the Epoca and Wizenard series. Bryantwants to hire more writers so he can expand his sports fantasy universe.

Our challenge now is taking books and making them into films, feature films and in series, some of which will be animated and some of which will be live action, Bryant said.

So it's figuring out how to do that, while understanding that owning the intellectual property is absolutely essential. It's fun to figure out the journey, but its also extremely frustrating. Things don't move as fast as you want them to. But that's OK.

Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Nick Giannandrea, COS Athletics Published 1:35 p.m. PT Jan. 29, 2020 | Updated 1:36 p.m. PT Jan. 29, 2020

Renato Bustamante(Photo: COS)

Renato Bustamante, a former collegiate All-American who went on to play professionally, has been named College of the Sequoias' men's soccer coach.

Giants athletic director Brent Davis said Bustamante's relationship-building skills and impressive resume elevated him over a strong group of applicants to replace Scott Rogers, who stepped down after six seasons at COS.

"He has unbelievable pedigree, with the respect of the soccer community," Davis said. "The student-athletes around here are going to recognize him, and he's a guy they are going to want to play for. I'm really excited. I think Renato will breathe new life into our program, and COS is going to become a place kids want to come and play."

Bustamante, 29, arrives with local community college coaching experience after being an assistant for the Clovis Crush COS' Central Valley Conference rival the past four seasons.

The native of Lima, Peru, has become a fixture in central San Joaquin Valley soccer circles while playing for Fresno Pacific University (2013-2015), the Fresno Fuego (2015, 2017) and Fresno FC (2018-2019). Bustamante was a three-time team MVP, a PacWest Conference Player of the Year and an NCAA Division II All-American for Fresno Pacific, and a two-time Premier Development League all-conference selection for the Fuego.

Bustamante has also spent two years coaching age-group teams 10U, 14U and 16U for Clovis-based California Odyssey Soccer Club, and was recently named the Director of Coaching for Visalia-based South Valley United Soccer Club.

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Im extremely thankful, excited, honored and optimistic about this opportunity, Bustamante said. Ive been waiting for an opportunity to take over a program and implement some ideas Ive accumulated from my experiences playing and coaching.

Bustamante takes over a COS team that went 5-13-2 overall and 2-6-0 in the Central Valley Conference last season.

The Giants are 59-150-33 overall and 13-64-8 in conference play since launching the program in 2007. COS has only three winning seasons in the program's 13-year history and has never reached the postseason.

"We're coming here to change the culture and mentality, to make it a winning program," Bustamante said. "I envision a COS program where local players want to go because they know they will improve as players, and understand that they will be in a safe environment to develop character and academic habits which they will carry on into whatever path they follow.

Bustamante said there is plenty of talent in COS's primary recruiting area of Tulare and Kings counties to turn the program around. His challenge will be to get the top local players to choose the Giants.

"Understanding the Valley after being here for so long, I always saw COS as a sleeping giant because I believe in the talent of the kids in this area," Bustamante said. "The reputation and results this program has gotten, I don't think has reflected that. Once the job opened, I thought it was a perfect chance to create a winning culture where it's never been done before.

"The talent level in Visalia, Porterville, Farmersville, Lindsay, Tulare, Reedley and all the neighboring cities around COS makes me extremely optimistic that we can have a great program here."

Bustamante offers a unique pitch to local recruits he's played junior college soccer, too, and used it as a stepping stone to a four-year university and a professional career. Bustamante holds a U.S. Soccer National C coaching license and is multilingual, fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

"I understand the journey it takes not only in the sport but academically," Bustamante said. "I feel it's important for kids to have someone like me as a role model who used soccer as a way to get an education and become a better human being."

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College of the Sequoias names Renato Bustamante as mens soccer coach - Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register

The calendar just flipped to 2020 and believe it or not baseball season is already upon us as the Oregon State Beavers held their first media availability on Tuesday at Goss Stadium.

A few select players and new head coach Mitch Canham looked ahead to the upcoming season, spoke about expectations entering Year 1 under Canham and more.

Q&A with Canham held with members of the media below:

Q: What have the last few months been like, getting back into this organization from a leadership standpoint?

Canham: More than exciting. I dont look at this as an organization Ive said this a million times but this is a family, from the guys in the clubhouse, the coaching staff, the athletic department, the community, its been unbelievable. I knew what this environment was like having been here, but, again, just a reminder how truly remarkable Corvallis and this baseball family is. Its been great watching these guys grow tremendously each and every day. Their work ethic and how tight they bond together is special.

Q: Is there anything that has surprised you coming back all these years later?

Canham: I dont think so. I lived right around the corner, I had a house here my dad lived down here, my aunt and uncle and I came back several times in the offseason, had a great relationship with all the coaches and would pick their brain and just loved being down here as well. I would say as new as I am, I guess, I dont feel new at all. This has always been a huge part of my life.

Q: Were there any jitters when you took over?

Canham: Nope; excitement, thats it. I just focus on being the best I can each and every day. The reality is the people Im surrounded with and my family have been extremely supportive and this is opportunity. Theres no threat to it; Its a challenge and a great opportunity.

Q: Whats been the biggest adjustment for you, coming from the pro level to the college level?

Canham: I dont think there are a ton of things that are providing big change. I was fortunate in the Mariners organization to focus primarily on people and process and I dont feel like thats any different now. We still focus on character, being a great student and also being a strong athlete. Keeping those three things in mind, weve already defined what our key pillars are here to success and we hold each other accountable to them. The biggest one is being selfless; thats something Ive been preaching as part of the Mariners organization and same thing here. Everyone has a few different things going on throughout their schedule and now the scope of things is a little bit wider than coaching at an affiliate but I feel like the history I had managing two companies back up in Washington and also doing professional baseball has kind of combined it all into one great opportunity.

Q: What have you seen from your guys so far in just the work they put in this offseason?

Canham: Its very clear what they want to do and their expectations of their performance is extremely high, but we know that how we practice builds trust and confidence in one another. We challenge ourselves and the guy next to us to really get better and look at those failures on a daily basis, on a pitch-to-pitch basis as opportunity to build strength. We know that we have a strong schedule and thats what we want every year, is to go out there and play the other top programs out there so that we can grow. You step in and watch any of the practices and times that were together and you can see the guys are inquisitive and even the coaches, having a strong growth mindset is important to us. Everyday showing up to the office early in the morning, its joy. Everyones coming in very excited and we know the players are showing up to the field (excited) as well, they love this time together. We have fun but fun is also working our tails off and trying to accomplish something only one team gets to do a year.

Q: You mention expectations and we know what they are here. When you got together before the start of practice or fall ball, did you set expectations or mention expectations, or does it go unsaid?

Canham: Part of this program is we have the same vision every year of what were here to accomplish. That happens by getting the best out of ourselves and growing, which is a tribute to Coach (Pat Casey) and all the other alumni that have come through here, coaches and players alike. The atmosphere here when youre playing a game, too, is extremely special. I think everyone who gave me a hard time sitting behind home plate when I was here helped me transform into the man I am today and Im grateful for that.

The first thing we did was go camping, get to know each other. And for us as coaches was spend some time, step back and really understand who these young men are, what changes theyve made rather than trying to over-coach, really observe and build that trust so they can go out there and compete, free the mind and also when we have something to say we make sure its the right person delivering the message. Sitting down early on it was very clear they have a lot of leadership in that clubhouse identifying what they want and how theyre going to get it.

Q: How would you describe your coaching style?

Canham (with a smile): Myself. I dont try to be anything Im not that advice was given to me many times over. Coach Casey, when I first started coaching, expressed a few things that really helped me out. I talked to everyone that I really respected as a former coach of mine and gave them the hard Q&A and tried to information seek as much as possible. Im very competitive while my wife has also helped me come more compassionate and patient I guess kids will do that for you, too. Im just trying to really be a good listener to the coaches and the players, rather than just jump to it. I know as a player I was quite fiery, and I would always be the one to lay into guys and let them know how I felt. I think Ive started to find balance, but still got a long way to go. Fortunately, I have a great coaching staff that communicates really well with me and helps me better myself each and every day. Accountability is probably one of our biggest things as well; rather than letting stuff slide by were trying to help each other become the best versions of ourselves and weve got to do that together.

Q: Whats it been like going from the minor leagues to knee deep in college baseball and recruiting?

Canham: The recruiting part is exciting. I get to go out and talk about Oregon State University and Oregon State baseball. I dont find it difficult whatsoever and its something Im extremely passionate about, so why wouldnt you want to share the vision about what were doing here and talk about the people that are here? Something that I really value is when we bring out young student athletes, getting to know them and finding out if theyre really going to fit our culture here and getting feedback from our student athletes. Their opinions really matter, and these guys know what it really takes to be part of this family.

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Oregon State baseball: Q&A with Beavers coach Mitch Canham on his return to Corvallis, expectations and more - OregonLive

A college football coach on the job for less than a week has been suspended after telling a student newspaper he'd like to have dinner with former Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, according to reports.

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Morris Berger, who was hired Jan. 20 as the offensive coordinator at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, was placed on administrative leave Monday.

You cant deny he wasnt a great leader, Berger said of Hitler in the interview.

The school is investigating.

Berger gave the interview last Thursday to The Grand Valley Lanthorn sports editor, who asked which three historical figures Berger would most like to have dinner with.

This is probably not going to get a good review, but Im going to say Adolf Hitler, he responded. It was obviously very sad and he had bad motives, but the way he was able to lead was second-to-none. How he rallied a group and a following, I want to know how he did that. Bad intentions of course, but you cant deny he wasnt a great leader.

Under Hitler's rule in Germany from 1933 to 1945, the Nazi regime was responsible for the genocide of at least 5.5 million Jews and millions of other victims.

MORE: White House press secretary comments overlooked Hitlers infamous gas chambers

As the interview continued, Berger also mentioned former President John F. Kennedy and Christopher Columbus as his other two choices.

Much of the interview, however, focused on football and his background in coaching.

The school said in a statement that Berger's comments do not reflect the values of Grand Valley State University.

FROM 2019: Republican lawmaker rips Hank Johnson for cowardly remarks comparing Trump to Hitler

Berger holds a bachelors degree in history and a masters in educational psychology, according to the school's athletic department website.

Previously, he was the tight ends coach at Texas State University and also coached at Oklahoma State University.

MORE: Hank Johnson defends comments comparing Trump to Hitler

CNN reported that two days after the interview was published, an administrator in the athletic department asked the paper's staff to remove the comments about Hitler from the interview.

He said it would make their life a whole lot easier," Lanthorn editor in chief and third-year student Nick Moran told the Detroit Free Press, according to CNN. It's intimidating when someone in power reaches out to you ... and you're a student, and it's a professional here on campus saying to take it down.

The paper initially removed the comments but later republished the full interview.

Were proud that we stood by our work, upheld journalistic integrity and the work that has been shared reflects that, Moran told CNN.

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College coach suspended for saying hed like to have dinner with Hitler - Atlanta Journal Constitution

WEST PLAINS, Mo. Family members, long-time friends, Grizzly fans and former Grizzly Basketball players turned out in force to help former Missouri State University-West Plains mens basketball head coach Tom Barr celebrate his induction into the Grizzly Athletics Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony took place during halftime activities of the Jan. 18 Grizzly Basketball home game against Three Rivers College of Poplar Bluff. Barr was an assistant coach at Three Rivers before joining the Grizzlies.

A large contingent of Grizzly Booster Club members, Barrs family members and former players gathered on the court as Russ Gant, a long-time Grizzly Booster Club member and Hall of Fame selection committee member, formally inducted Barr.

Barr, the first head coach of the Grizzly Basketball program, was tasked with building the program from scratch in 1993. Using the skills and knowledge he had developed for nine seasons as an assistant to Gene Bess at Three Rivers, Barr crafted a complete program that was competitive its very first season. That first team of all freshmen posted an 18-13 record and gave the programs new fans a taste of what the future would hold.

Over his 11 seasons, Barr used a philosophy of discipline, hard work and team play to guide the Grizzlies to an overall 256-98 record and two NJCAA Region 16 Championships.

On an individual level, Barr developed nine NJCAA All-Americans, two NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-Americans, 17 All-Region 16 honorees and 31 players who transferred to NCAA Division I programs.

In presenting Barr for induction, Gant said Barr was the right person to head the basketball program at the beginning. His work ethic was unbelievable. He not only coached, he helped recruit, he helped fund-raise, he was a tremendous promoter in the community. He understood the community buy-in was extremely important. He was the perfect guy the perfect hire for that job, Gant said.

Barr said the commitment of community leaders to the program made the position attractive. I felt like they wanted to have an outstanding program, he said. They had a nice place to play because the civic center had just opened, and the commitment I sensed from the people I talked to when I came over here, that they would do what they had to do as far as resources to make a go of it, I felt really confident in that.

Even so, building a program from scratch wasnt easy. Housing options at the time for student athletes were limited, and the areas lack of cultural diversity was daunting for some recruits. Despite the obstacles, Gant said, Barr built a competitive program that played some of the best teams in junior college basketball and earned national rankings.

Barr said several factors contributed to the teams quick success the culture of hard work and discipline that was developed from the beginning and the support of his assistant coaches and long-time administrative assistant.

I had really good assistants Coach Tinsley who was instrumental in getting it started on the right foot, and Anthony Beane, David James and Robert Guster. They did a great job bringing in good players. All four of them were really, really good assistants, and all left here with coaching opportunities at D1 schools. Youre not going to have a good program if you dont have good assistants, Barr said.

Linda Cates, my administrative assistant for nine years, did a great job keeping us organized and helping maintain the day-to-day operations of our program, he added.

Many of Barrs former players give credit to him for their personal success.

As a player, I came in as a no-name walk-on, and I left there as an All-American, said Jerome Jackson, who played for the Grizzlies from 1995-1997 and was a Grizzly Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee in 2004. It was all because he believed in me and showed me how to be the best I could be as a basketball player. As a person, he was the most important mentor that I had ever come across at that point in my life. The life lessons I learned from him go well beyond the basketball court. I came to him as a boy, I left him as a man.

For Guster, who also played for the Grizzlies from 1995-1997 and served as Barrs assistant for the last five years of his tenure with the team, his former coach continues to be a mentor. To this day, I still call upon him for ideas, strategies and advice. Any time there is a decision to be made, he can expect a call, said Guster, who now serves as an assistant with the Texas State University mens basketball program.

Coach Barrs character was of the highest level, and he instilled in me to have character like that, said Jason Robbins, one of Barrs first local recruits who played for the Grizzlies from 1994-1996. He helped me understand how hard I should work in everything I do. He not only made me a better player, but a better man, a better father, husband, employee, citizen and friend.

More than team records or awards, its hearing about the success of his players off the court that Barrs most proud of. Every player who stayed two years with us got his two-year degree, he noted. So many of these players went on to play basketball and get their four-year degree. You see so many of them who are successful now. The wins and losses, thats great, but the fact that so many of these young men came here and needed a sense of direction and we were able to provide that for them, thats the most important thing for me personally. Thats whats neat to see.

A reception for Barr was held in the civic centers Dogwood Rooms immediately following the game.

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Barr inducted into the Grizzly HOF - Ozark Radio News

The qualities that we look for in an emotionally intelligent mentor are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.Research on emotional intelligence and mentoring has found that the greater the EI of the mentor, the more trust the mentee has in them.

So what should you look for to find someone who can help you achieve your professional dreams? These traits are critical:

In talking to a potential mentor, you should ask about them not only about their successes but their failures, struggles, and what they learned from them. Mentors with a high degree of EI will openly share their feelings, fears, and doubts but also what they did to overcome them. Beware of someone who appears to have all the answers and pivots away from sharing their vulnerabilities.

A high degree of self-confidence and a healthy ego are necessary for success, but when it comes to mentoring, the mentors ego must take a back seat to the needs of the person being mentored. An emotionally intelligent mentor is secure in their own abilities and doesnt need their ego stroked. When talking to someone who is secure, they will steer away from taking credit themselves for success and instead heap praise upon others, their teams, or their partners. By listening to them, youll get the feeling that they receive satisfaction from seeing others succeed.

Quality mentorship means that there may be times when the relationship will be emotionally charged. The mentee may be making crucial decisions that will impact the rest of their lives and be looking to their mentor for guidance. Its during these times that the mentee needs someone who is able to manage their emotions and remain objective.

When looking for a mentor, suss out how they have handled emotionally charged situations in their past and what they have learned about themselves in the process. A positive sign is someone who relates a story of how they were able to control themselves during an emotionally charged situation.

Good mentors offer guidance, support, and different perspectives but ultimately recognize that it is up to their mentee to make their own decisions. After all, theyre not the ones who have to live with the consequences.

An emotionally intelligent mentor allows the mentee to lead the conversation and is perceptive to whats being said and not being said, says Foram Sheth, chief coaching officer and cofounder of life coaching companyAma La Vida.A good mentor will ask thought-provoking questions based on observation and active listening to help the mentee explore different possibilities, to uncover blindspots, and help the mentee move from problem to solution.

When considering a mentor, ask them what you should do in a situation. If they help you probe deeper and further, consider them as a potential candidate. If they tell you directly what you should do, move on and look for someone else.

This goes without saying, but since mentorship is often a free service, look for someone who genuinely enjoys helping others. The best mentors have a history of giving to their families, others and their community. These types of people have the ability to look beyond their own needs and feel a sense of responsibility to give back.

Highly emotionally intelligent mentors will be able to share how it makes them feel to help others. While they may not be incredibly wealthy or successful in all areas of life, good mentors have had success in overcoming barriers.

Be careful of anyone who is still going through a difficult situation, as they may be looking for someone to commiserate with and may not possess the emotional bandwidth to help you. You need someone who can offer you guidance because theyve experienced similar struggles, not someone who is stuck themselves.

Harvey Deutschendorf is an emotional intelligence expert, author and speaker. To take the EI Quiz go to theotherkindofsmart.com

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How to find an emotionally intelligent mentor - Fast Company

Weber State Athletics

OGDEN When Sara Hill married her husband, Jay, she thought she was marrying a soon to be surgeon. Little did she know how different her life would be.

I didnt marry a football coach, I married a soon to be doctor, Sara said with a smile. He went to the University of Utah for the med program, did all his pre-med and after working as an orderly and talking to people who were doctors, they convinced him that if you want to see your family, a doctor isnt for you.

Growing up, Jay didnt have much of an interest in being a coach. It wasnt until he was out of the NFL for a year that he decided it was time to go back to school. Hill knew the best way to possibly pay for it was to be a grad assistant and thats where his love for coaching started.

The recently named FCS regional Coach of the Year has learned from coaches like Ron McBride, Urban Meyer, and Kyle Whittingham. While Hill soaked up all the knowledge he could from those three, it was the knowledge that this is about the players as something he values the most.

Its all about the players and if you take care of them, then they usually go out there and perform well on game day, Hill said. You got to recruit good people, both as coaches and players. Discipline, toughness, thats what this game is all about. Theres all kinds of lessons along the way, but those are the things that you really hang your hat on.

The players hes recruited describe Hill as someone who is accountable, good at observing, and someone who lives his life the right way on and off the football field.

When he sees something going on with the team, he makes sure to correct it, when he sees something going on on the field, he makes sure to see it correct it and move on, senior linebacker Auston Tesch said. I think his ability to do that has spoken out since hes been here. There were a lot of things going wrong when he first got here, and just his ability to see that and know how to correct it, it speaks for itself.

Senior Jonah Williams added, the players are accountable and the coaches you can see that their accountable to coach Hill, too. No one gets away with anything thats unfair or undisciplined. Everyone is out to compete every day and there is a sense of accountability that I think floats around the program, and it forces everyone to be competitive. If youre playing better than the guy in front of you, youll play in this program, so Id just say accountability is the one trait that makes this program successful.

The success of the program that Hill has helped build is just what he envisioned for himself when he got the call to be the Wildcats next head football coach. But there is still more that he wants to do, and thats win a national championship.

You want to coach at the highest level of where youre at and thats what it would take, Hill said.

The Wildcats host Montana in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs on Friday night at 8 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.

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Jay Hill wasn't supposed to be a football coach, now he's looking to guide Weber State to another playoff win - KSL.com

The hockey season is a grind. Youve heard it before, Ive typed it before, thats not exactly new information. But it bears repeating because it shapes so much of how and why hockey teams operate the way they do.

I felt it as a player, but far more as a part of a coaching staff. During my time as a video coach with Sheldon Keefe and the Toronto Marlies, my job involved taking care of the many preparation-based details for our staff, which meant constantly looking ahead at the schedule.

Whats tough is, you can never get too far ahead, which means you can never really relax. Yes, I could put together player and systems scout sheets for our Friday opponent early in the week, but that team almost certainly plays once or twice that week, and on Friday youll want to know what theyre doing now, not what they did a few games ago. Youll want to know their most recent lines, power play units, penalty kill forecheck, and all those...

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Bourne: Amid the busy prep life of a hockey coach, there is a rare and special moment of tranquility - The Athletic

Michael Wayne Bratton | 5 days ago

It may not have been easy to find a coach that truly wanted the Arkansas head coaching position but theres no doubt Hunter Yurachek landed a coach that desperately wanted to be the head Hog in Sam Pittman.

If his introductory press conference didnt prove that to you, check out the video below.

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Pittman is busy working the recruiting trail for the Razorbacks and has made recent stops to visit with in-state Arkansas commits Blayne Toll, Jashaud Stewart and Catrell Wallace and North Carolina quarterback commit Jacolby Criswell, the states No. 2 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle.

The Razorbacks recruiting class Pittman inherited was left in shambles following Chad Morris firing but if theres one man that can pick up the pieces of the class, its the new Arkansas coach.

Heres a window into the mind of Pittman, as he shared the following update from his second day on the job.

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Sam Pittman loving life as Arkansas head coach, provides update from the road following second day on the job - Saturday Down South