Dan Hughes: Characteristics of a Championship Culture

with Dan Hughes,
Seattle Storm (WNBA) Head Coach;
2018 WNBA Champions;
2x WNBA Coach of the Year (2001, 2007);

During his time coaching in the WNBA, Dan Hughes has helped mold some of the best players in the game. From being an assistant with USA Basketball, to coaching legendary player Sue Bird and rising WNBA star Breanna Stewart, Coach Hughes has worked with the talent and been part of the culture that produces championship programs.

Through the use of his "Daily Dozen" characteristics, Coach Hughes explains how establishing your culture is the number one thing that any coach should do to build champions on and off the court.

"Daily Dozen"

Pursuit of Excellence

Creating measurable expectations and establishing ways to keep players accountable will help them understand your vision. By putting focus on daily improvement, your players will learn to focus on the journey toward excellence, rather than being excellent itself.

Learning and Growing

Allowing your players to make mistakes and grow from them will help your athletes maintain open minds and create a coachable, growth-oriented team.

Hard Work is Mighty

Hard work is a must-have for any program looking to go to the next level. Being a "blue collar" program and player will demonstrate how ambition will start your journey, but hard work will lead you there in the end.

Build Your Team with Teammates

Chemistry is something you can't teach, but can help establish. Relationships are important for any team. Coaches Hughes discusses how creating an environment where players trust each other and like being around each other will take your team to new levels.

Communication

Building lines of communication where players can openly talk and speak their minds respectfully will help them learn to respectfully communicate on and off the court.

Action Plan, Empowerment and Role Declination

Putting people in their "sweet spot" will demonstrate you have a plan and want to put them in a position where they will be most successful. This allows players to play within themselves and execute your plan.

Practice Planning, Ingrate Offense/Defense, and Video/Statistics

In order to put together a successful program, you also have to be able to plan practices and put into place a solid foundation of offense and defense through the use of video and statistics. This is the proof players will needs to be successful in your program.

Hughes also explains that ending on a positive note each day will leave your players with a good feeling and help them establish small celebrations each day. These celebrations will lead to bigger and better things, including the championship culture you're looking to create!

Coach Hughes has found success in the WNBA and is eager to share his approach with you. Through his "Daily Dozen", you too can build a championship culture and take your team to the next level!

52 minutes. 2019.