Forbes Magazine had a profile on John Calipari, the head coach who turned around the University of Memphis basketball team.
The Memphis basketball problem endured losing seasons, fired a coach who had an affair with an undergraduate student, and had the lowest graduation rate in the NCAA: 0%. Their attendance averaged 8,000 out of 20,000 seats, and the athletic department only had $2.5 million a year in donations.
Calipari succeeded by being more than just a great coach. He had to use business skills off the court:
1. He got Fred Smith, the CEO of FedEx (which is headquartered in Memphis) to offer summer internships to the basketball team.
2. Calipari is always selling - he speaks to booster groups 30 times a year. He sold 1000 season tickets at a $500/plate barbecue he hosted at his mansion.
3. He boosted the graduation rate from 0% to 79% by requiring class attendance, and hiring academic advisers to travel with the team.
The on-court success (187-63 record) and off-court moves have helped him recruit good players. "What I sell now is simple: You have a chance to graduate, a FedEx internship to prepare you for life after basketball and a chance to maybe play in the NBA."
Monday, 24 March 2008
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