What High School Band Directors Can Learn from Championship Basketball Coaches

I've spent six years building a high school band program, and I'll be honest—some of my best ideas haven't come from music education conferences or pedagogy textbooks. They've come from watching basketball coaches work with their players.

There's something about the way great coaches develop young athletes that resonates with what we're trying to do in high-performing band programs. We're both working with teenagers, pushing them to excel, building culture, and ultimately trying to shape young people who will make a difference in the world. The venues are different, but the mission is the same.

I know I haven't been at this very long compared to some veterans in our field, but these lessons from championship coaches have shaped my approach more than anything else I've encountered in my teaching career. Over these six years, I've studied several coaching legends who've mastered this balance between demanding excellence and serving young people. Here's what I've learned from each of them and how it's transformed the way I run my program.

Joe Mazzulla: Making Kids Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

When Joe Mazzulla took over the Celtics, I was struck by something he said in an interview: "Growth only happens outside your comfort zone." But what impressed me more was how he actually implemented this philosophy with his players.

Mazzulla doesn't just throw his guys into the deep end and hope they swim. He creates what he calls "productive struggle"—challenging situations that directly connect to what his players need to improve. During practice, he'll run plays with a shot clock, pump in crowd noise, or force them to execute complex strategies when they're already exhausted. It's uncomfortable, but it's purposeful.

I started applying this in my rehearsals. Instead of just drilling passages until they were perfect, I began creating pressure situations. Sight-reading competitions with time limits. Solo auditions in front of the section. Playing through pieces without stopping, no matter what happened. My kids hated it at first, but something amazing happened—they stopped being afraid of making mistakes in performance.

The key is that Mazzulla never loses sight of why he's pushing his players. Every challenge serves their development. When I make my students uncomfortable, I make sure they understand the connection between the struggle and their growth. That makes all the difference.

Tom Izzo: The Power of Non-Negotiables

I've watched Michigan State basketball for years, and one thing always struck me about Tom Izzo's teams—they might not always have the most talented players, but they never beat themselves. They're always prepared, always hustling, always playing smart basketball. That doesn't happen by accident.

Izzo succeeds because he establishes what he calls "non-negotiables"—standards that never change regardless of the score, the opponent, or the circumstances. Effort isn't negotiable. Preparation isn't negotiable. Being there for your teammat