#95 Wisconsin’s Pat Richter recalls leadership lessons from Coach Lombardi (RCS2)

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Richter">Pat Richter</a> is a legendary athlete and leader in Wisconsin and beyond. While many people first recall his exploits as a multi-sport star and trail-blazing athletic director at the University of Wisconsin, he also has deep ties to Coach Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers franchise, where <a href="https://apnews.com/article/252d364669a4a62286d3da0912dd58bc">Pat served on the board of directors</a>. Continuing our <em>Running a Championship System</em> series, Pat joined SGG and we discussed:</p>

<p>1. &nbsp;As a youngster, learning to be tough and competitive from older guys in the neighborhood.</p>

<p>2. &nbsp;Playing three sports at UW.</p>

<p>3. &nbsp;Awareness of football growing up – mostly George Halas and the Bears. There was less interest in the Packers until Lombardi started building.</p>

<p>4. &nbsp;Seeing Lombardi visit Madison when Pat was still in high school…and his early impressions of Lombardi.</p>

<p>5. &nbsp;Catching a 73-yard touchdown as a college all-star against Lombardi’s Packers.</p>

<p>6. &nbsp;Lombardi’s reputation among players: tough, efficient, fair, winner.</p>

<p>7. &nbsp;One of Pat’s initial practices under Lombardi – taking a hard hit, broken nose, and keeping on playing. “I thought that’s what he’s want.”</p>

<p>8. &nbsp;“He had a great ability to get you to the end of the rope, so teed off, flustered and things like that … and then he’d pull you back in.” There was a compassion there.</p>

<p>9. &nbsp;“He was efficient.”</p>

<p>10. &nbsp;Lombardi’s skill as a psychologist – examples after wins and losses.</p>

<p>11. &nbsp;Lombardi’s lack of coaching tree. His former coaches and players were not successful in coaching.</p>

<p>12. &nbsp;“Lombardi time.”</p>

<p>13. &nbsp;Lombardi’s ability to be both entertaining and cold.</p>

<p>14. &nbsp;Lombardi being completely drained after games – would fall asleep on bus to airport.</p>

<p>15. &nbsp;Pat’s son’s interaction with Coach Lombardi at practice. “Hi there, Vince!”</p>

<p>16. &nbsp;Professionalism.</p>

<p>17. &nbsp;“The greatness of a loss is not so much determined by what was lost than by what was left.”</p>

<p>18. &nbsp;Making Sonny Jorgensen the team leader.</p>

<p>19. &nbsp;Taking a leadership role at Oscar Mayer. “Providing added value.”</p>

<p>20. &nbsp;Lessons took from Oscar Mayer to UW: culture, strategic planning.</p>

<p>21. &nbsp;Would Coach Lombardi be successful today?</p>

<p>22. &nbsp;Keys to leadership: listening, integrity, honesty, creativity, adding value.</p>