Minter Dialogue with Paul Assaiante

"Coach" Paul Assaiante is one of the greatest coaches in the history of intercollegiate athletics. He's labelled as the “winningest coach in college sports history,” sporting a 252-match winning streak over 13 years, a 507-29 all-time record, and winning 17 NCAA Championship titles as head coach at Trinity College. Paul systematically brought together great players from around the world and demonstrated how teammates from diverse cultures can unite to build a winning culture and team. And his experience is also enriched by having coached the US National Team in squash (17 years) as well as World Team Tennis with Billie Jean King. To add to his list of accomplishments, he's also co-author with James Zug of the book, "Run to the Roar, Coaching to Overcome Fear," (published by Penguin) and the subject of a 2013 documentary film, All In, by Marc DiBenedetto. In this conversation, we discuss his philosophy of coaching, how he's been guided by his personal purpose, the best ways to train, motivate and guide a team of individual athletes to bring out their best. We also look at the role of empathy in coaching, how to learn, improve and perform under stress, and the way to get the best out of everyone. He also addresses some of the challenges of coaching in today's environment, with the perils of social media, helicopter parenting and coming to grips with one's emotions.

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