How Butler does it

Jason Belzer writes about "Why Butler Basketball Holds The Key To Organizational Success."

A snippet:

"...College basketball teams, not unlike successful corporations, are organizations that compete to attract the top talent in their respective fields. In many cases, with the best talent also comes the biggest egos and organizations can quickly fill to the brim with toxic superstars. Rather than be like most leaders who attempt to forcibly install a “for the greater good” culture in which the individual exists below the team, Butler has instead recruited players who are already willing to sacrifice maximizing their own self-interest for the ultimate goal of winning as a team. Players can thus devote themselves entirely to playing their role without being biased towards shifting any particular situation towards an outcome that favors only them..."

We all think winning is a matter of signing/collecting enough talent but becoming and staying successful on a long-term basis requires so much more than that. How many times have you witnessed a tremendous on-the-court talent having zero effect in making his teammates more effective (fulfilling all his potential) and thus providing no contribution beyond his individual numbers in propelling his team to prosperity.

Belzer also recently wrote about Boise State Coach Chris Petersen.

A snippet from it:

"If you fall in love with talent, you’re making a big mistake. You have to fall in love with the person first and foremost because you can only change someone so much. We have to be mindful of falling into the trappings of looking for great [football] talent and instead go recruit an OKG (Our Kinda Guy) and make him a football player..."

Did anyone predict the success Peterson and Brad Stevens would have at their respective places of employment? If so, that line is mighty small and certainly containing a few prevaricators.

What makes the achievements of Stevens and Peterson even more astounding is that they don't have access to five-star blue-chippers but, hey, that's probably a plus considering their core philosophies.

It's worth noting that neither have moved on to higher paying, more prestigious locales despite multiple offers.

Would, could the Butler way work at UCLA?