Preventing burnout amid the pressure of winning
Lou Holtz, the legendary former college football coach, once said, “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” He suggested it is one’s attitude toward work, rather than the sheer volume of the labor involved.
Holtz had a folksy manner of communicating, but his point regarding work is relatable to all coaches.With the reported burnout in numerous coaches at the top levels of college sports, this topic has garnered increased attention. There have been many theories as to why this has been occurring, but few definitive answers.
In 2023, the NCAA revealed in a study that about one-third of coaches experienced near constant mental exhaustion, with stress related to transfer portal issues, budget concerns and long hours. Interestingly, younger coaches under 40 reported higher stress levels, according to the survey.
So what is burnout and how can it be prevented, or at least minimized?
Merriam-Webster defines burnout as “exhaustion of one’s bodily or mental strength, often from prolonged stress or frustration, leading to a complete depletion of energy or motivation.” While this level of burnout seems somewhat harsh and might not apply to most coaches, there is still credence in this description for likely too many.
Building a culture where incremental progress is positively recognized will go a long way in combating burnout.
Taking care of one’s mental and physical health, plus leading a balanced life, are perhaps the reasons most cited for preventing burnout. But, as many can attest to, this is easier said than done. Coaches will often espouse keeping their lives balanced but routinely find themselves doing just the opposite. The pressures of winning are always there and too often coaches will let it control their lives.
For a coach, paying attention to one’s own mental and physical wellness is not just idle talk, but a necessity. Additionally, staying in optimum health will have a positive effect on the team. When student-athletes see and hear their coaches practice what they preach, this helps build trust and strengthens team culture.
Keeping a balanced life also means prioritizing family and friends. This doesn’t have to be at the expense of team goals but rather to help alleviate the pressure a coach feels. Those closest can give the support that is needed and remind a coach that his identity goes beyond the sport. Plus, maintaining outside interests provides a welcome distraction to the present grind.
Another approach in alleviating certain stresses at work is to increasingly delegate tasks to staff members. Many coaches attempt to control everything within their programs, but empowering assistants will foster their growth as well as free up valuable time. Recruiting voluntary assistants to help with administrative tasks also helps take some of the burden off the head coach.
Even when coaches do not have significant staff assistance, they can look for trusted players to assume small roles, such as leading drills, and help with team communication. This will help reduce the need for unproductive meetings.
Hall of Fame basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski emphasized the power of the team approach, stating, “You develop a team to achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone.” He realized, as do other great coaches, that when added responsibilities are given to other coaches and players, the whole team benefits.
To avoid burnout, coaches would be wise to just enjoy the process more. This means focusing on building positive team habits and highlighting controllable factors, such as effort and attitude. Additionally, finding satisfaction in an athlete’s growth rather than only an end result will help lessen certain of the pressures a coach might experience.
Lincoln Riley, head football coach at the University of Southern California, aptly stated, “The best you can do is get better each day. The process builds the result. Don’t chase the spotlight, chase the growth.” Riley recognizes how daily concentrating on the process is what should be focused on for both coaches and players.
Celebrating the small wins is another tool that coaches use to manage themselves in a stressful environment. Building a culture where incremental progress is positively recognized will go a long way in combating burnout. These cumulative achievements add up, creating a larger sense of motivation.
Celebrating a small win generates energy which, in turn, creates momentum going forward. These wins can be for tasks such as having a good practice or positive communication in team meetings. Reinforcing positive behaviors separate from the actual game will lessen some of the pressures for coaches and athletes.
Perhaps the greatest path to avoiding burnout is to surround oneself with a core group of fellow coaches. There is a special camaraderie and understanding among them, which can help through the rough times.
Having a strong support network of like-minded coaches builds a buffer against high pressure environments. The sharing of familiar experiences and coping tools is invaluable among coaches. Even finding mentors who have been there before can be a huge source of assistance.
Ultimately, as the above suggests, the burnout issue is real — and perhaps more so now than ever. Particularly with social media, there seems to be an increasing scrutiny of a coach’s program. But with all the tools available for a coach to work through difficulties, there is every reason to believe this can be managed successfully. After all, when a coach improves upon him or herself, that is always a positive for the team.
Bruce Knittle is a former sports camp owner and Hall of Fame coach and previously ran a sports consulting company specializing in working with athletic directors and coaches.
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