May 11, 2017Coaching By Example
Nicodemus Christopher, Director of Athletic Performance for the University of Missouri men’s basketball team, not only assigns training to the student-athletes on his team, but also to the rest of the coaching staff.
According to the Missourian, Christopher began in his role on April 7. The next day, he posted a video on Twitter that shows him and other coaches training hard, and includes the caption “We practice what we preach!”
Christopher said that seeing coaches undergoing the same training would help ensure buy-in to his program.
“We ask a lot of our guys,” Christopher said. “You as a player, put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you walk in and you see your coaches pushing themselves to that same level?”
Apart from aiming to set a good example for players, Christopher also tests players to identify where they need improvement, and creates individual workout plans for them.
“My philosophy is different positions, different players, different bodies, different workouts,” Christopher said. “We like to take a very individualized approach to training.”
