It is a particular episode of The CEO Collection for me as a result of we took a visit to Notre Dame Stadium the place I performed soccer as a walk-on alongside my brother in the course of the undefeated season of 2012. We went to my outdated stomping grounds to sit down down with head coach Marcus Freeman to speak about management and the way, in some ways, he’s the CEO of their unimaginable program.

Under are some highlights of that dialog, which have been edited for size and readability. Watch the total video above.

The coach as CEO

“A CEO is in control of an enormous firm, and my firm occurs to be Notre Dame soccer. On the finish of the day, you are accountable for each choice that impacts the individuals in this system and the outcomes which can be on the sector. So you do not make each choice, however you are accountable for each choice. That is vital to be sure you perceive. All through my teaching profession, the best satisfaction got here from seeing the gamers you had been concerned with have success.”

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The celebration video that went viral after he was employed as head coach

“It was a blur. However I keep in mind strolling out of that door and seeing the crew going loopy — all I wished to do was hug them. It wasn’t a couple of speech. It was an opportunity to rejoice and be together with your guys, proper? I inform them on a regular basis: I am a teammate. I is likely to be the captain, however I am a teammate. I perceive the belongings you’re going by way of. I am on this battle with you. And I feel they respect that they usually perceive that. Strolling out that door is a second I will always remember and one I will cherish without end.”

The that means of his mantra “Select Onerous”

“It began a few years in the past once I was within the Notre Dame weight room and was figuring out as our gamers had been being pushed exhausting. And I keep in mind considering you could select to undergo the motions or you’ll be able to select to go as exhausting as you’ll be able to. And that is once I got here up with this considered ‘Select Onerous.’ We put up an indication you see if you stroll into this constructing that claims ‘Select Onerous.’ As a result of if you stroll into Notre Dame soccer, you have to have that mindset. We will select exhausting in the present day in observe, select exhausting in the present day in conferences, select exhausting in the present day within the weight room. And for the gamers, you are going to be challenged within the classroom, proper? You are going to be in school with among the most clever individuals on this world. And it is troublesome, however finally you have chosen to come back right here so select exhausting, settle for it, and know that the rewards from selecting exhausting each single day cannot be discovered anyplace else.”

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Drawback-solving philosophy

“When a crew is not successful, lots of people say, belief the method. My mantra is: repair the method. I spend a variety of time evaluating every little thing we had been doing. Why aren’t we taking part in higher? What are we doing schematically? Is there one thing our gamers do not perceive? Losses occur and it is part of life. However they harm. As a pacesetter, you do not wish to have too many. Repair it with urgency.”

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Retaining gamers within the age of the switch portal

“Look, for those who’re the CEO of an organization, you bought to pay your workers, proper? Now if they will go some place else and make much more cash, it doesn’t matter what sort of firm you are operating, they’ll most likely depart. So we now have to guarantee that our gamers can maximize the alternatives of identify, picture and likeness. That is vital, however what else retains them at Notre Dame? What else attracts them right here? And you have to consider it is your tradition. You have to consider it is the best way they’re handled. Do they get pleasure from being a part of your program? That is so vital. And that is a message for myself and our different coaches. Let’s guarantee that as exhausting as we push them, as demanding as we’re, we’re not demeaning. We would like them to get pleasure from being part of this crew and the entire alternatives that the College of Notre Dame offers.”

Take a look at extra profiles of modern and impactful leaders by visiting The CEO Collection archives.