Page 88 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Built to Serve

“They don’t have a stadium,” I replied.
“Where do they practice?” Dad asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said.
“Did you get a full scholarship?” he asked.
“I’m not sure what kind of scholarship I’m getting,”

I remarked.
My dad, the engineer, tried to summarize, “Hmmm,
no stadium, no practice facility, no scholarship
details—so why do you want to go there?”
With great confidence, I said, “Coach Larry Hays—

he cares about me as a person, not just as a baseball
player.”
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= Coach Hays’s servanthood-first approach led to a

lasting friendship. During my four years at Lubbock
Christian, we won nearly 200 games. We made it to
the NAIA World Series in 1980. During that period, I
never saw Coach Hays lose his temper, hurl an obscen-
ity, or conduct himself unprofessionally.

He treated every player with respect and, by doing
so, enjoyed good relationships and a high level of trust
with his players. Communication was a two-way

street, and we truly worked together to deliver supe-
rior performance. Losses were learning opportunities,
not life-destroying events. Coach Hays had a higher
purpose than just coaching baseball.