Montclair State (NJ) University had a tremendous basketball coach by the name of Ollie Gelston.
Coach Gelston is credited with starting the winning tradition on the hardwood at Jersey City State (now known as New Jersey City University). During his eight year tenure, his teams won conference titles in 1961, 1964, and 1965.
Gelston eventually moved on to Montclair State. At one point he ranked 5th in all-time victories at the NCAA Division III level with 343. Since D-III records are a bit spotty, he has at least 359 victories for his career, perhaps more.
Coach Gelston said that it wasn't the victories he was necessarily proud of or the multiple NCAA tournament appearances, but that 88% of his basketball players went on to graduate.
Gelston had one rule in his program and he would remind each player of his only rule before every big game.
It was the same rule that he gave the team on the first day of practice every season.
Coach Gelston's speech went something like this…
"You're all from different high schools, and you all had different high school coaches. Your high school coaches all had different rules for you. If you want to play for me here at Montclair State, I have only one rule. It's called Coach Gelston's only rule."
Gelston would pause.
"Be at the right place at the right time and do the right thing."
Good words to live by.
As always,
Brian
P.S. — After coaching (mostly baseball) and teaching (mostly fishing) for nearly 3 decades, I eventually found myself in the right place at the right time.
I figured the right thing would be for me to get into coaching at a different level. Different concept. Not solely sports or the outdoors, but to help folks solve practical problems that vex them on a regular basis.
The same principles apply, whether you're learning how to field a ground ball, learning the intricacies of a fly cast, or trying to start your own podcast.
Amazing… Coach Gelston's one rule in action.
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