by Bob Chmiel
Surround yourself with good and talented people and don't worry about who gets the credit.
Many of us have heard this management lesson, but in reality how many of us have seen it in practice?
As my time at Michigan began to wear down, I began hearing from friends on the staff that a couple of assistant coaches believed that I was getting too much credit for the recruiting success that we had achieved. There was not a thing that I could do about it, so I basically chalked it up to that wonderful term "jealousy."
This was at a time when recruiting coordinators were really coming into vogue as architects of recruiting classes. Was there a great deal of publicity about a No. 1 class? Yes, and I was the recruiting coordinator. Perhaps in the eyes of a few of those guys, the media should have interviewed the electricians in the building.
You want to talk defense, you interview the defensive coordinator. You want to talk offense, you interview the offensive coordinator. So recruiting interviews should have gone elsewhere.
I was proud about the success we had achieved, and believe me, I know personalities. With that being said, I went out of my way to mention the names of the assistant coaches as well as that of Gary Moeller, the then head coach.
Shortly thereafter the NCAA eliminated the position of recruiting coordinator as an extra post on the staff, and I was to go over to administration until an assistant’s position opened. It was difficult in that as I looked around the staff, there were guys who I could have replaced as a more skilled position coach while continuing to succeed as the recruiting coordinator. But as you know, life does not always work out that way, and ultimately this decision by Moeller led to my arrival at Notre Dame.
Again life is at times difficult to understand, but I sincerely believe that there is a reason for everything that the Good Lord has in store for us. During this transitional period, and prior to hearing from the great Lou Holtz, I was having a discussion with a former head coach who I greatly respected. His advice to me was that I make sure that I work for someone who had a strong, confident personality and would not be threatened with any successes that I may have had.
Bo (Schembechler) was this way and it was great. He understood that we all had families and futures that would be enhanced with his support and that his program would thrive with people who were ambitious and yet loyal. Surround yourself with good people and don't care who gets the credit. A leader has to be strong and confident to live this adage.
Enter a call from Coach Holtz. Upon receiving this call I immediately went to visit with Bo. I knew mentioning this situation would not be met with great enthusiasm, but in a few quick minutes he knew it was the best move for me.
The move would also bring me closer in miles to my mom who lived alone in Chicago, and being an only child, my wife Anne and I were basically what was left of her family. And those of you who know me know that my mom and I were very, very close.
If this did work out I was going to work for a confident and strong leader. The fact is Bo really liked Coach Holtz. They were from the same Woody Hayes coaching family. It was just so difficult knowing that I would not see Bo on a daily basis, but people who really care about you know that what is best for you may be a move from the nest.
Soon thereafter I was unloading every single bit of recruiting materials that I had accumulated over the years out of the trunk of my car and into the Joyce Center. I was a wreck! I do not handle change well and at my age this was going to be a huge adventure and adjustment. And, as in any job change there is just that unknown factor of acceptance and the thought of succeeding.
Coach Holtz met with me upon arrival. I sat nervously in his office as we discussed recruiting. He actually asked what I expected of him! My response was only one word, and that word was “support.” He assured me that there was no question I would receive his support, and he also candidly let me know that he was a bit up against it in recruiting over the past couple of years and that attrition in the two or three previous classes was becoming an issue.
From his office we went into the staff room for a meeting with the entire football staff. During this meeting he explained to the staff how my position would be carried out and what he expected of them in regard to me. It was great, but I also felt a great deal of responsibility. It was "on" me!
That night I could not help but think that this was not only a great move, but I also knew with the discussion in that staff room I would succeed. From that day I could not get enough of him. I took notes from every meeting staff or personal that we had. Don't get me wrong this was not always Disneyland. I took my hits just like everyone, but they were never personal and only made my resolve stronger. I loved Notre Dame and I loved him. My basic motivation was not to let either down.
As we proceeded through the season, along with recruiting, I could sense that he was happy with my work and my work ethic, but when I sensed this I talked myself into pressing even harder. I would not relent; I would not become complacent. As I orchestrated many changes from the previous process, he would support them with word as well as with policy. And trust me no one on the staff worked harder than he did. That criticism that I had heard early on about the fact he no longer wanted to recruit was totally inaccurate.
There was also word passed along to me that Joe Moore had grown tired of recruiting. Rest assured, that word had to have come from someone who knew nothing about Joe Moore. Joe was a proud man who loved Notre Dame, and there was not a thing he would not do to move Notre Dame into once again being a recruiting power. Joe worked at recruiting. And with parents, there was no one better. Gosh do I miss Joe!
The commitments from the nation’s greatest high school players began to come into the Notre Dame football office. The excitement was unbelievable. We were waking up the recruiting echoes. I stayed anchored mentally. This was not a time to enjoy the accolades. I did not want to do interviews. I kept flashing back to those assistants that felt that I was getting too much credit or publicity. I was an assistant coach at Notre Dame, and that was plenty for me, and I was going to hold onto that title with all that my mind, my heart and my total being could muster.
Finally it was signing day, and we were a consensus No. 1 recruiting effort. The publicity was everywhere, and I was attempting to avoid the pub at any cost. I still had the hurtful memories of working toward success only to have that success be the weapon that was used against me by some very weak and unconfident people. Not again, not ever again!
Signing day brought out the media in droves. I sequestered myself in my office and could not wait until the day was over in order that I could celebrate with Joe, Tom Clemets, Dave Roberts and Earle Mosely. We were headed to the Italian Club in Mishawaka. Joe was a member?
There was a press conference at about 2:00 PM, and I was told by one of the secretaries that Coach Holtz wanted me at the event. At about 1:55 PM Coach Holtz walked into my office. He told me to put on my coat as we were going in to meet the media. I responded by telling him that it was his recruiting class and that I did not want to go to the press conference. He rose from his chair, closed the door lit his pipe and sat back down.
He, in no uncertain terms, told me that he was not going to the press conference until I went with him and said, "Bob those people will have to wait until you get up and come with me."
I told him why I was apprehensive and the events that basically brought me to him. He looked me square in the eye and told me, "Bob you have a family, you have a future, one day you will be a head coaching candidate, you worked like heck for me and Notre Dame, and we succeeded. This is part of your success, this is what will get your name out there. And when it happens, I will do all that I can to help you, let’s go."
Surround yourself with good hard working people and don't worry who gets the credit.
Management 101, Lou Holtz style.
That day, that moment solidified for me that I was working for one of the greatest men that I had ever met.
I love Coach Holtz for many reasons. This was an account of just one!
Source: http://www.blueandgold.com/content/?aid=4588
