Although it was almost six years ago, it seems like just yesterday when I met Jayare on the couch of our dorm common room at Trine University.  Our first conversation ever we discussed our goals and plans for the future.  I told him about how I wanted to be a basketball coach, and be a positive role model and influence on kids from my neighborhood.  He told me about his plans to start a clothing line with a goal to help people in need.  

I am happy to say not only are we both doing what we talked about over five years later we are also helping each other along the way.  I am the the assistant coach at Cincinnati Christian University, and founder of SHA, and he has given away over $25,000 through the sale of T-shirts, and is now re-branding and working to take the new line nationwide.  Thanks to cell phones and the internet, we are able to maintain our friendship.  We are still able to talk almost daily and are very much involved in each others projects.  

The mission of Equange is to make people AWARE of the fixable problems in this world, INSPIRE them to change those problems for the better, and to HELP those who are less fortunate than most.  The vision is to CHANGE the world or AWARE + INSPIRE + HELP = CHANGE.  This is called the "equation for change."    

From the sale of clothing and accessories and promoting the core values of the business Jayare is raising money through Equange to put together kits for underprivileged and homeless Americans.  These kits can have anything from blankets and clothes, to toiletries and food.  The Equange website has been officially launched and products will be available soon.  Like, follow, and share Equange's website and social media for for information, updates and more!

Instagram/Twitter: @Equation4Change
Facebook: Wuo Wear (the name will be changing to "Equange" April 7)
Website: www.equange.com

1. Score - winner and loser in every drill. "Losing is not acceptable"
2. Time - not too much time for players to get bored but enough time to get good reps
3. Rotation - guys know where and when to go
4. Whistle - indicates tempo and "your out"
5. Emphasis - the more emphasize the less you get 
6. Teaching - correcting guys mistakes, do not allow guys to get away with bad habits
7. Communication - Everyone on the court is talking
8. Involvement - the guys not in the drill are still involved in the drill on the sideline, being another coach
9. Purpose - every drill has a purpose to your team success (don't practice trapping if your not a trapping team, unless it's in the scouting report)

This topic is one I hope to never experience again (from losing). I have coached at a variety of levels from junior high, high school, college and aau. Last summer was probably the toughest team I've ever coached; a group of 8th grade girls that only had one player that ever played aau. It was a fun, but rough summer for me. I learned a lot from that group of girls and would not trade that experience is for anything. Winning teams usually have no problems with motivation but the old saying of… losing teams have team meetings. We stayed away from that philosophy because I felt it brought the wrong focus.



Players are aware of all the games they've won and lost, they don't need to be reminded. When motivating this group of young ladies I chose to focus on what motivates the individual to see the 'big picture' and why they were playing basketball.



One of the girls always stepped up and her words that day were " we are paying to play, let's not waste our parents money and get the most out of it."



When I heard this statement it made me think. Some of my thoughts included:

1. Attention to realistic events around us

2. Variety in all we do

3. Team chemistry on and off the court

4. Compete with a purpose

5. Positive attitudes are contagious

6. Enjoy each day and each member of the team



I can and will elaborate on each topic (later) as I am sure many people have the same issues. I can say that everyday was a good day after that despite losing 95% of our games that summer. As I stated earlier, it was huge learning experience for a young coach like myself.  Now that I look back on it, it was actually quite satisfying in a strange way.  If any of my aau parents from last season read this… thank you for your patience!

1. Teams rise and fall on culture, leadership, relationships, attitude and effort.

Great teams have a great culture driven by great leadership. Relationships are meaningful and teammates are connected. The collective attitude is very positive and everyone on the team works hard to accomplish their mission.

2. It’s all about teamwork. Sometimes you are the star and sometimes you help the star.

3. If want to be truly great you have to work as hard to be a great teammate as you do to be a great player.

I tell this to athletes all the time but the same is true for any profession. When we work hard to be a great team member we make everyone around us better.

4. Your team doesn’t care if you are a superstar. They care if you are a super team member.

5. Three things you control every day are your attitude, your effort and your actions to be a great teammate.

It doesn’t matter what is happening around you and who you think is being unfair. Every day you can focus on being positive, working hard and making others around you better. If you do that great things will happen.

6. One person can’t make a team but one person can break a team. Stay positive!

Make sure you don’t let energy vampires sabotage your team. Post a sign that says “No Energy Vampires” allowed and keep them off the bus. Most importantly, decide to stay positive.

7. Great team members hold each other accountable to the high standards and excellence their culture expects and demands.

8. Team beats talent when talent isn’t a team.

9. Great teams care more. They care more about their effort, their work and their team members.

10. We > me

Unity is the difference between a great team and an average team. United teams are connected and committed to each other. They are selfless instead of selfish. They put the team first and know together we accomplish more.

11. You and your team face a fork in the road each day. You can settle for average and choose the path of mediocrity or you can take the road less traveled and chase greatness.

It’s a choice you make each day. Which path will your team take?