Coach John Lamanna: Building great decision makers, Virtue, Find your Vocation

In this episode of The Coachers Podcast, Keanu Yamamoto interviews Coach John Lamanna, the head basketball coach at Whitman College. Coach Lamanna shares his journey from a student assistant to a successful collegiate coach, emphasizing the importance of finding one's vocation in coaching. He discusses his coaching philosophy, the significance of building relationships with players, and the role of leadership within a team. The conversation also touches on recruitment strategies, handling setbacks, and the evolution of basketball. Coach Lamanna's insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring coaches and athletes alike.

Coach Lamanna has a great story that will relate with many. The adversity of being winless in his first two seasons as a head coach led him to Adoration at 1:00 AM. Sitting in the pew, in the early hours of morning he began to read a book by Curtis Martin, titled “Boys to Men: The transforming Power of Virtue”. He had a revelation about the concept of virtue and its attainment, which led him to solidifying his foundation and philosophy as a coach. He established what he calls as his four pillars of the program, which mirrors the Cardinal Virtues of: Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, and Justice. From winless to sustained excellence, Coach Lamanna’s vocation is to develop men of character and build great decision makers. Coach Lamanna was nominated as the coach of the year in 22’ and 23’ when the Blues’ program was crowned the NWC regular season champions. Coach, thank you for your time and insights! 

Takeaways

- Coaching is a vocation that brings immense joy.

- Building relationships with players is crucial for success.

- Unity and love are essential components of a team.

- Players should take ownership of their roles.

- The ball finds energy; effort and enthusiasm are contagious.

- Coaches must adapt to the evolving mental makeup of athletes.

- Developing good decision-making habits is key to player growth.

- Experiencing setbacks can lead to valuable growth opportunities.

- Joy in the game is vital for both players and coaches.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Coach John Lamanna
• 4:43 The Calling of Coaching
• 8:15 Student Assistant Experiences
• 9:52 What was the hiring process like for your jobs?
• 14:08 Hiring Philosophy and Coachability
• 18:46 Recruiting Philosophy and Fit
• 20:47 Coaching Philosophy - 4 Pillars
• 23:56 Solidifying Coaching Philosophy
• 28:28 The Value of Adversity
• 31:45 Advice to Younger Self
• 32:53 Balancing the responsibility of developing players and coaches
• 39:16 Opponent Scout and Prep
• 40:45 Critical Game Situations
• 43:06 Favorite Drill
• 45:56 Non-Traditional Statistics in Basketball
• 46:55 The Charge
• 47:55 Gamesmanship in Coaching
• 49:39 Why Basketball Reflects Life
• 52:39 Playing Without the Ball
• 54:30 Anela Question of the Day: What's your favorite thing to do with your kids?
• 56:24 What does team mean to you?
• 58:47 Engagement Beyond the Court
• 1:02:09 Unique Team Bonding Experiences
• 1:04:36 Organic Leadership Selection
• 1:06:34 If you could coach any historical basketball player - who would that be?
• 1:07:37 The Evolution of Basketball
• 1:08:53 Strategic Decisions in Critical Moments
• 1:10:38 Mental Makeup of Athletes Today
• 1:11:51 What do you want your practices to look like?
• 1:12:56 Communication After Setbacks
• 1:15:37 Final Thoughts