Three Lessons I learned from Coach Bill Courtney
This week’s podcast conversation featured Coach Bill Courtney. A native to Memphis, Tennessee, Coach Courtney is a giant among men – an award winning global business leader, respected community and philanthropic champion, author, speaker to fortune 500 companies, and father and husband to a remarkable family.
In 2003, Bill began volunteering at Memphis’ inner city Manassas High School in an effort to turn its underperforming football team around. In 2003, the team had 19 players with a dismal 4-95, 10-year record. In the 2008 & 2009 seasons, the team’s record improved to 18-2, with 75 players. More importantly, in a neighborhood where young men are 3x more likely to be dead or in jail than to have a job or be in college, 31 out of their 32 seniors went to college in his last two seasons there. The story inspired a Hollywood film—Undefeated—which won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary.
Since then, Bill’s deep care for his country has led him to focus on platforming everyday people who are doing extraordinary things to improve our social fabric through a podcast and movement called, An Army of Normal Folks.
In my estimation, Coach Courtney is a hero. His life is a testament to resilience, love, forgiveness and the true power of believing in others, and yourself. So many people have been made better through the intentional way he’s crafted his life.
Our conversation was both deeply moving and inspiring for me. It reminded me of how much a single life can be changed when we don’t give up on them. And the ripple effect that this singular spark of belief can ignite in our communities and world.
And as I reflected on our conversation, three lessons stood out to me.
Character is built off the field.
During the opening scene of the “Undefeated” documentary, Bill looks straight to camera and drops this wisdom bomb:
“You think football builds character, it does not. Football reveals character.”
At that moment, I felt like I had caught gold. Because it’s not about football, this is about life. What we do in the quiet times when no one is watching or applauding us, will always make all the difference in our lives.
The analogs of this lesson in the natural and scientific world are nearly endless:
The transformation of a caterpillar in the cocoon where death and rebirth happens while it’s wrapped away and hidden, until it emerges as a butterfly;
Development of photography can only happen in a dark room, and if the photograph is exposed to the light before it has fully developed, it will ruin the beauty and fullness of the art; or,
The decay, splitting apart, and grounding that must occur for a seedling to put down roots in the soil, to eventually become the tree that it was meant to be.
But the bottom line is this: if you feel like you are surrounded by darkness, you may actually just be developing, grounding, and in the midst of the most powerful stage of your transformation.
Keep heart. The light illuminates those who are developed, transformed, and ready for the glow.
Your story matters.
Coach Courtney’s coaching and mentoring experience at Manassas High School taught him that “there’s a story under every helmet.” Our unique past experiences and backgrounds shape us. Some of our experiences give us a jump start on opportunity, and other times, these experiences were challenging and make it even more difficult to step into a season of goodness.
Whatever your experience, it matters. You matter. Bringing your whole self to this life – the good and the difficult – is important, and adds texture to how we function as a collective. The work that we can all do, together, then is to make room for each person’s story. Offer space, listen, and invite these unique experiences and perspectives to inform how we do life together.
Normal folks can change the world.
Our world is full of pain and injustice. At times, the challenges facing our society can feel insurmountable, and the division in our country can be overwhelming and fraught with violence and contempt.
And yet, there is reason for hope. Coach Bill Courtney’s podcast and movement, An Army of Normal Folks, reminds us that “if each of us does what we can, we can change the country.” Because in every community, including my own, there are incredible individuals who are investing goodness in their neighbors and towns. They are showing up and volunteering, creating and leading programs, encouraging conversation and belonging, and charting a way forward that builds our future together.
Change, hope, and inspiration doesn’t come from a far-away or powerful place. It’s happening all around us, everyday, by us, by you, by me. If only, we’re willing to keep showing up, bringing our best selves, and contributing toward a public square that thrives through diversity of perspective, creation rather than destruction, and progress over perfection.
If you enjoyed this post, listen to it in full form on the Belief Statements Podcast, and share it with someone who may benefit from it as well.
Grit in the Pearl
Are you in a dark room moment in your life? What is it preparing you for? (How can you shift your perspective from one of hopelessness to expectation?)
What is a simple way that you can show up for your community this week