About the Book
"If you are a college basketball fan like I am, you ll understand why I ve long admired John Calipari s leadership style. While no coach treasures a win more than John, this terrific book reveals his greater purpose to lead his young players to better lives, and then challenge them to give back to others." President William J. Clinton
In "Players First," John Calipari relates for the first time anywhere his experiences over his first four years coaching the Kentucky Wildcats, college basketball s most fabled program, from the doldrums to a national championship, drawing lessons about leadership, character, and the path to personal and collective victory.
At its core, Calipari s coaching philosophy centers on keeping his focus on the players what they need to get the best out of themselves and one another. He is beloved by his players for being utterly honest with them and making promises that he always keeps, no matter what. He knows that in this age, they come to Kentucky to prepare for the NBA; every year he gets players who in a previous era would have gone directly into the pros from high school but now have to play college basketball for one year. Calipari has fought against this system, but he has to play within it, and so he does, better than anyone.
The result is an extraordinary leadership challenge: every year Coach Cal gets a handful of eighteen-year-old kids who have been in a bubble for the previous four years at least, filled with hype about their own greatness, and they come to Kentucky feeling sure that they will play for their coach only for seven months before they go on to greater glory. Every year, he has to reinvent his team. After his 2012 NCAA championship, it was particularly dramatic; he lost his first six players in the first round, meaning that someone who couldn t even start for Kentucky was a first-round draft pick.
The overall record at Kentucky, and for his career, puts Calipari in the pantheon of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Bold, funny, and truthful, like Coach Calipari himself, "Players First" is truly the first deep reckoning with the meaning of his experiences and the gifts of insight they offer."
About the Author :
John Calipari is the current head coach of the University of Kentucky s men s basketball team and a veteran of nearly twenty college seasons at the University of Memphis and the University of Massachusetts. Widely regarded as one of the greatest program builders in all of college basketball, Calipari and his teams have earned twelve conference titles, fifteen NCAA Tournament berths, five Final Fours, and the 2012 NCAA championship. Calipari s eight 30-win seasons are third most for a head coach in NCAA Division I history.
Michael Sokolove is a contributing writer for "The New York Times Magazine "and the author of four books: " Drama High," "Warrior Girls," "Hustle," and "The Ticket Out.""
Review :
President William J. Clinton:
"If you are a college basketball fan like I am, you ll understand why I ve long admired John Calipari s leadership style. While no coach treasures a win more than John, this terrific book reveals his greater purpose to lead his young players to better lives, and then challenge them to give back to others."
Simon Sinek, optimist and author of "Start with Why" and "Leaders Eat Last"
"Players First" is filled with so many nuggets of wisdom, I found myself highlighting and taking notes as I read. Writing like a loving but honest parent, Calipari shares stories of how he learned to inspire greatness from his players and how they pushed themselves to achieve more than they thought possible. A truly human account of what it takes to win, "Players First" proves that winning has nothing to do with the score, it has to do with the people.
John C. Maxwell, "New York Times" bestselling author and speaker:
"Players First" captures why so many kids want to play for John Calipari and why so many mothers and fathers ask him to take their boys and mold them into young men. Through stories and examples, Coach Cal brings out his most important teaching tool, which is servant leadership. Teaching these young people to care more about others than themselves is what sets his program apart and what sets this book apart from other coaches books. It's a must-read.
Ken Blanchard, coauthor of "The One Minute Manager(r)," "Leading at a Higher Level," and "TrustWorks!"
I ve been an admirer and friend of John Calipari for over thirty years ever since his coaching days at the University of Massachusetts, where I was a professor. I ve watched Cal and his wife, Ellen, treat his players as family and help bring out their best, not only on the court but also in their future lives as spouses, parents, friends, business leaders, and contributors to their communities. "Players First" is not just for sports fans it s for anyone who is open to learn that viewing your people as your number one customer is the key to long-term success. Wins and profits are the byproducts of putting your players/people first. I love this book and so will you and the people you care about and count on at home, at work, and in the community where you live. Thanks, Cal. "
President William J. Clinton:
"If you are a college basketball fan like I am, you'll understand why I've long admired John Calipari's leadership style. While no coach treasures a win more than John, this terrific book reveals his greater purpose--to lead his young players to better lives, and then challenge them to give back to others."
Simon Sinek, optimist and author of "Start with Why" and "Leaders Eat Last"
""Players First" is filled with so many nuggets of wisdom, I found myself highlighting and taking notes as I read. Writing like a loving but honest parent, Calipari shares stories of how he learned to inspire greatness from his players and how they pushed themselves to achieve more than they thought possible. A truly human account of what it takes to win, "Players First" proves that winning has nothing to do with the score, it has to do with the people."
John C. Maxwell, "New York Times" bestselling author and speaker:
""Players First" captures why so many kids want to play for John Calipari and why so many mothers and fathers ask him to take their boys and mold them into young men. Through stories and examples, Coach Cal brings out his most important teaching tool, which is servant leadership. Teaching these young people to care more about others than themselves is what sets his program apart and what sets this book apart from other coaches' books. It's a must-read."
Ken Blanchard, coauthor of "The One Minute Manager(R)," "Leading at a Higher Level," and "TrustWorks!"
"I've been an admirer and friend of John Calipari for over thirty years--ever since his coaching days at the University of Massachusetts, where I was a professor. I've watched Cal and his wife, Ellen, treat his players as family and help bring out their best, not only on the court but also in their future lives as spouses, parents, friends, business leaders, and contributors to their communities. "Players First" is not just for sports fans--it's for anyone who is open to learn that viewing your people as your number one customer is the key to long-term success. Wins and profits are the byproducts of putting your players/people first. I love this book--and so will you and the people you care about and count on at home, at work, and in the community where you live. Thanks, Cal."
Simon Sinek, optimist and author of "Start with Why" and "Leaders Eat Last"
""Players First" is filled with so many nuggets of wisdom, I found myself highlighting and taking notes as I read. Writing like a loving but honest parent, Calipari shares stories of how he learned to inspire greatness from his players and how they pushed themselves to achieve more than they thought possible. A truly human account of what it takes to win, "Players First" proves that winning has nothing to do with the score, it has to do with the people."
John C. Maxwell, "New York Times" bestselling author and speaker:
""Players First" captures why so many kids want to play for John Calipari and why so many mothers and fathers ask him to take their boys and mold them into young men. Through stories and examples, Coach Cal brings out his most important teaching tool, which is servant leadership. Teaching these young people to care more about others than themselves is what sets his program apart and what sets this book apart from other coaches' books. It's a must-read."
Ken Blanchard, coauthor of "The One Minute Manager(R)", "Leading at a Higher Level", and "TrustWorks!"
"I've been an admirer and friend of John Calipari for over thirty years--ever since his coaching days at the University of Massachusetts, where I was a professor. I've watched Cal and his wife, Ellen, treat his players as family and help bring out their best, not only on the court but also in their future lives as spouses, parents, friends, business leaders, and contributors to their communities. "Players First" is not just for sports fans--it's for anyone who is open to learn that viewing your people as your number one customer is the key to long-term success. Wins and profits are the byproducts of putting your players/people first. I love this book--and so will you and the people you care about and count on at home, at work, and in the community where you live. Thanks, Cal."
