Buzz Williams

“Character Revealed”
1. “Life Lessons”—every Sunday outside of the season, everyone
involved in the program meets for 1 hour and 18 minutes and
discusses life (led by Coach Williams).
2. “Story Time”—the night before every game, he tells the team a story.
(Coach Williams talked about his love for great stories and how this
activity calms his nerves the night before a game)
3. “Boot Camp”—they have boot camp 15 days before the first practice.
This is an emotionally draining series of conditioning drills without a
basketball. Players choose teams each day, so it is always competitive
and requires thinking and strategy. “This is when we become a team.”
Players, who, for whatever reason, do not complete boot camp, do not
get practice gear until it is completed.
4. “The Words We Use”—A set of vocabulary words that becomes the
language among those in the program. All players and coaches speak
this language, keeping everything consistent and clear. Says that while
it can be overwhelming for young guys in the first month, it is a great
way to assimilate them into the program.

• Core values for the program:
1. Get back in transition—no easy baskets
2. Keep the ball out of the paint—no layups
3. Defend without fouling—great ball pressure
4. Paint touches—Great shots—Throw aheads

Buzz Williams Thoughts

Nike Clinic-Maine West High School/October 2009

• “It’s all about culture-it all precedes the drills-its how you do it- not just what you do.  So many
people are reinventing the wheel.”
• “The voices you listen to determine choices that you make!”
• “Pay it forward-this is becoming lost in coaching…once guys progress, so do their egos and they
forget where they came from.”
• Somehow, what people say…that perception becomes a reality.
• Power of words-words must be the same and specific to your team!
• Buzz is constantly praising others (other coaches, his friend that is his assistant).
• Coach in sound bites and in seconds-in today’s day and age the kids need this type of teaching.
• Left first job…not right fit…people thought he was crazy and a quitter…was not right fit for him.
• He puts his practices on IPod so he can hear his words and self scout.
• He introduced the players (Drew)…they are people to him…Buzz is the most genuine coach I’ve
seen…I would love to play for him….players respect this
• In scouting-don’t explain play in report, do that in practice…in report, tell how they score.
• Close out with the top foot up…FORCE CORNER!!!
• If someone asks, what should I do, that is not working hard enough…there is always something
to do!
• At Marquette, they always guard ball with two helpers.  They do not care if ball goes towards
opposite basket…ALWAYS KEEP BALL OUT OF THE PAINT!!!
• Put tape all of the way down middle of floor…get to help line…when they are two passes away,
guys must touch help line…it is a visual and it helps.
• Butt to ball, belly to man, seeing both.
• Spring to help.
• When practice starts…it is OUR TIME…during off-season, this is YOUR TIME…maybe give YOUR
TIME workouts during season.  These are some of my thoughts that stemmed from Buzz’s
lecture.
• No negative thoughts, always giving praise, giving heart, full of gratitude.
• Shell-jump to ball (cross, down, back, fade screens)
• Top foot up, good closeouts-be skinny so you don’t get screened.
• If offensive player is “fighting for feet” or fighting for position, then defensive players are high
and loose because they don’t want to get into position.
• Post D…X out…above FT line on high side…if ball goes below then X over on low side in front…if
on low side and ball goes above FT line, then X behind above.
• Reminded me of Jimmy V- live life with enthusiasm, be genuine, have care, enjoy it, enjoy the
kids, LOVE IT!!!
• Show it, love it, don’t complain…if I complain, why do it?
• Ball screens, they give all of the coverages names.

Buzz Williams Video

Buzz Williams has 2 great videos out on the Marquette basketball website.  He is giving an inside look into the program.  The 1st clip is about "Character Revealed" and has some great lessons.  The second video talks about Marquettes depth chart.  Although the second video is not as good as the first, I think it is interesting to listen to him talk about his system and his verbage for certain aspects.
http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/083110aaa.html

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/marq-m-baskbl-body.html#

If You Dont Talk, You Dont Play

The quote above comes from the first chapter of the book Pursuit of Perfection from UConn Women's Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma. I have never met a coach who says that there team talks to much (On the court).  All of us are trying to get our kids to communicate to their teammates and be vocal.   There is a quote out there that says that with average teams you hear squeaking shoes, with great teams you hear constant communication.

Another good quote about communication would be from Buzz Williams: "If there was a blind man that came to your practice, what would he think of your team?"  Buzz has been known to show film to his team minus the visual part -- simply a black screen for them to hear practice. He said he even has practice dumped on CD at times so he can "listen" to it in the car on the way home.



 So why is communication important on Defense
 - Promotes Team Building - When teammates are communicating with each other it increases the sense of a common goal. Cohesive individuals make for a well-balanced team.
- Reduces Individual Errors - It's hard to think about making a mistake when you are constantly encouraging and supporting your teammates. Less worry means less anxiety. This means your body can relax and perform at it's optimal levels.
- No Mental Lapses - Communication helps players stay focused on the game. More focus means increased awareness. Plus with communication, if someone does have a mental lapse, the talk and directions from the other players on the court help guide this player to the correct spot lessening the chance that a lapse turns into a costly error.
-Talk intimidates
-Talk Energizes
-Talk Wakes up a disengaged defender

WDYL- WHERE DO YOU LIVE

1 of my favorite coaches to read about has to be Buzz Williams.   I had the chance to watch a practice in his first year at Marquette.  The energy that he has on the court is something that I have never seen before.  However the thing that really gets me is that he invited me back to the video room and wanted my thoughts on the practice.  He is a guy that has not forgotten his roots at all.

I came across an aritcle on him by Luke Winn:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/mens-tournament/blog/tag/buzz-williams/

Williams used an acronym of his own creation: WDYL.

It stands for “Where Do You Live?” — and Williams has gone as far as to have it printed on the Golden Eagles’ practice shorts. “In my opinion, old people live in the past, and love to talk about things when they were young,” Williams said. “Young people love to talk about the future. Every player here, they all think they’re going to the league. But I believe wise people live in the present.”

This quote is one that really jumped out to me.  One thing I have learned is that worrying about what has happened, gets you nowhere.  If you take care of the present everything will work out.  In coaching, it seems like a lot of guys are coaching for their next job.  You can usually spot the guys that are 100% invested in their current job and the guys that are there for now.  

There is a really good book out there called "The Precious Present" and its a short 80 page read.  I highly recommend it to anyone.