#14: Amherst HS (WI) football coach Mark Lusic develops team identity

<p><a href="https://stevenspoint.news/2017/11/24/lusic-guides-amherst-to-its-fourth-state-title-in-last-six-years/">Mark Lusic</a> is a teacher and the head football coach at Amherst High School in Wisconsin. By developing an intensive weight training program, developing deep relationships, and building a winning culture, he’s led Amherst to four state championships and built one of the most respected programs in the state. In this episode of SGG, we discuss:</p>

<p>1. &nbsp;Learning from Coach <a href="https://waupacanow.com/2018/11/09/koronk-headed-to-another-hall/">John Koronkiewicz</a> about how to listen and develop relationships.</p>

<p>2. &nbsp;Does “scheme” win games? (no) What does?</p>

<p>3. &nbsp;Make your average players good, your good players great, and your great players “studs.”</p>

<p>4. &nbsp;What does the team talk about in the weight room?</p>

<p>5. &nbsp;Developing a team identity, sticking to it, and putting time into practicing it.</p>

<p>6. &nbsp;The 600, 800, and 1000 pound clubs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>7. &nbsp;How kids develop confidence through <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRbtSJA_FM4">weightlifting</a>. (see excerpt from student essay below)</p>

<p>8. &nbsp;Kids needing football more than football needs them.</p>

<p>9. &nbsp;Asking kids to “pay it forward” one day.</p>

<p>10. &nbsp;It’s all about the players.</p>

<p>11. &nbsp;Why he asks his team, “Are you satisfied?” after each game.</p>

<p>12. &nbsp;His annual “life review.”</p>

<p>13. &nbsp;Knowing what to do on 3rd and 1.</p>

<p>14. &nbsp;Being ok with not always knowing the answer right away.</p>

<p>Excerpt from Amherst HS student essay on how weightlifting built his confidence:</p>

<p>"I didn’t always believe in myself. It finally clicked last year. To understand how I found my confidence, you need to know that I have always been a scrawny kid. I wanted to get stronger, so I started going to the weight room in the mornings in middle school. However, I never really saw or felt the results I wanted. Every morning, I would see everyone lifting heavier than me. Even though I felt like giving up, I continued waking up extra early every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and lifting. This went on until Junior year. I knew I was improving, but I thought it wasn’t much.</p>

<p>Junior year was when I figured it out. I stopped comparing myself to everyone else lifting. The only person I compared myself to was who I was the day before. I realized that I am myself, and no one else has any effect on me. Although I still don’t really look like it, I became much stronger than I ever had. I worked hard to improve myself every day.</p>