Sideline CEO: Leadership Principles from Championship Coaches

by Marty Smith, Tim Tebow (Foreword)

From ESPN’s correspondent Marty Smith— a book of key leadership principles learned from championship coaches he’s interviewed over the past two decades.

Sideline CEO delves into the unique psychology and daily preparation and gameplan execution of some of America’s most respected leaders—the coaches who have led hugely successful programs to win it all.
 
In talking to these sideline CEOs, Marty develops a set of leadership pillars that Building vital TRUST within the organization. Creating open lines of COMMUNICATION. DELEGATING responsibility—and thereby empowerment—to your coaches and players. Establishing and sustaining the RIGHT CULTURE in your program. MANAGING CRISES and adversity. EVOLVING with the game, the players and society, and always challenging your team.
Packed with insight, candor and keen storytelling from some of the greatest coaches of all time, Sideline CEO offers valuable takeaways that go beyond the game and can help set intentions for winning in our daily lives.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Born 1959. Grew up in Suburbia (Washington, DC, then Omaha, Nebraska). Kent State University, 1977-82, majoring in Architecture with minors in Partying and the Society For Creative Anachronisms. Then moved to North Carolina, and never left.
Worked as draftsman to local architects for 15 years; also as movie-theatre projectionists, census clerk, hobby-shop staff.
Volunteer DJ at WXDU, Duke student radio, 1986-2009.
Member of Carolina Bear Lodge (gay fraternal order) and St. John's Metropolitan Community Church.
Married my husband Robin unofficially in 2005, legally in 2015.

Reviews

[Reynolds Seaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book. Marty Smith is an inspiring author who works his butt of every day for ESPN. It is cool to see the circle of people he included in his book. Great perspectives on how to lead. Lesson learned for me after reading this book - there is no perfect way to lead!

[Will Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Great life lessons and wisdom from the best coaches in the world. Easy to read

[Travis Galliher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marty Smith is my favorite sports journalist, and has been for years. While he’s more known now for his time at ESPN, I used to read every word he wrote for NASCAR.com and other outlets he’s been employed by. He has an incredible talent for connecting with his audience. The bulk of this book is focused on the leadership principles from the sports world, but Marty’s contribution between those antidotes is the glue to this project. The book would stand on its own without his input and commentary, but it stands out with it, I recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the team dynamics in sports, a leader in any capacity and those who aspire to become one. Once again, Marty Smith found a way to connect with the reader, and provided me with valuable insights that I can incorporate into my ongoing journey to become a true leader.

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author takes eight subject/topics, presents his thoughts, than incorporates a number of current or past coaches to expand their thoughts on the topic. It reads like a recording of interview notes. From that standpoint one gets the coaches point of view without interpretation by the writer. The eight subjects include; Leadership, Trust, Communication and Learning, Delegation, Culture, Crisis Management, Self Evaluation and Evaluation. Coaches involved are from Basketball, Football, Softball, NASCAR and Golf. Because of the nature of it's design it's hard to read as you're jumping from one coach to another so you're constantly getting different prospective. At the end you see similar thoughts with slightly different twist based on individual characteristics. It's a good read for anyone in athletic or business.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our new SVP was giving this out his direct reports so figured I would read it to get in good with him. Comes at being an executive from the approach of sports coaches.

Not sure any of the advice was that surprising. Broken down in chapters: Leadership, Trust, Communication + Listening, Delegation, Culture, Crisis Management, Self-Evaluation, Evolution. From what I've seen of the SVP and the exec team, they aren't really taking much of that to heart and failing on Listening, Trust, Culture, and Self-Evaluation.

In any case, there are some good quotes and good advice though nothing too surprising and world changing for me. No brand new perspectives that really shook up my view point of how to lead a team.

[Rob Venegas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, and educating! There is so much wisdom crammed into this short read. I enjoyed this and finished it in basically three sits. Marty is very well organized in this presentation and has laid subject matter in a very efficient way that you will learn and become better from reading this even half paying attention. I will definitely read his other works. Great job Marty!!

[Allen Bedgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marty does such a great job of capturing some of the great sport figures leadership principles. This is another MUST READ from one of the better communicators I know on television. And he’s a real person and what you see is what you get. He’s not just some TV personality and different in real life. I think this is why he’s able to connect with all of these “famous” people.

[Thomas Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great listen on the way into work. The quotes in the book from prominent and successful men and women from the sports world were a great message going into the office or the gym. This book really changed my outlook on what success means to me and how to be a better leader. I did do this one as an audiobook and I couldn’t recommend it more

[Chris Zuhlke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be forewarned, this is not a blueprint for success, but there is something in every chapter to reflect upon, for student and master alike. An easy 3-4 day read with thought-provoking intros by the author, and capped-off in a poster-style summary of key insights, in bullet point format.

[Meg Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great wisdom from true greats here! Just wish there was a deeper dive. Listened to it on audio and just seemed like quotes compiled by topic - more like an index than a book. Info was great - just wanted more cohesion and stories behind these words of wisdom.

[Nathan Siudak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique style for a book - it should come with a highlighter with all of the gems from the top coaches words of wisdom.

Took awhile to read through it because I spent so much time writing notes and highlighting.

[Linda Yeatts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this clear-eyed, no-nonsense bit of inspiration. M. Smith done good putting this one together. Part memoir, part legacy of other coaches, all motivation.

[Johnathan Bennett]

Great book with lots a tip

[Carson Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool book over leadership. I enjoyed the different perspectives in the book. Solid read.

[Zac Hendrix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of lesson's coach's learned.

[PStephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of quotes from Coaching.

[John Ewers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book with incites on what makes great coaches. Hopefully it will help make me a better coach and a better person.