Octagon Speakers
In 2001, Brian Billick led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory only two years into his tenure. A well-respected and successful NFL coach, Billick credits his accomplishments to passion, teamwork, and accountability. This innovative motivator is a leader by example who demands these same values from everyone in his organization. In his presentation, this respected NFL leader continues to prove that with dedicated management, enthusiasm for the cause, and respect and trust for his team, the ultimate goals are achieved. Billick has also written a new book, "More Than a Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL," which gives readers an inside look at professional football, both on and off the field. Billick currently serves as Fox NFL Analyst and is also a contributor for the NFL Network.
View Speaker Page
Coaching the best American swimmer to Olympic greatness might not be easy, but it has been worth it. Bob Bowman achieved great success at the international level as personal coach for the Olympic Legend Michael Phelps. Under the passionate coaching of Bowman, Phelps won an Olympic-record eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, bringing Phelps' total to 14 Olympic golds overall. Bowman's contribution to the sport has been awarded with the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year and the ASCA Coach of the Year Award. Not one to rest on his laurels, Bowman has already turned his focus to the London Games in 2012 and will surely have Phelps poised to continue his great success.
View Speaker Page
Whether it’s football, life, or a business, Bill Cowher believes that everyone should be instilled with three critical points. Everyone needs the right game plan, the right people and environment surrounding them, and the right approach to achieve all your goals. Cowher overcame adversity and many obstacles to win 161 games as he compiled the right game plan, molded the right players, surrounded himself with the right coaches, and had the attitude and mindset to envision victory every day he stepped on the field. The former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach stepped down on January 5, 2007 as the longest tenured head coach in the NFL after a 15 year run. In Cowher’s 15 seasons, the Steelers captured eight division titles, earned ten postseason playoff berths, advanced to six AFC Championship games and made two Super Bowl appearances. In 2006, the Steelers won Super Bowl XL under his direction, his first ever championship. In 2007, Cowher joined CBS Sports...
View Speaker Page.jpg)
Jack Del Rio was the second head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and made his mark with them since his start in 2003. With Del Rio as head coach, the Jacksonville defense ranked sixth in the NFL in yards allowed (305.2 per game) and fifth in points allowed (19.0). The offense ranked fourth in rushing yards (131.1) and third in fewest turnovers (138). In 2000, Del Rio served as linebackers coach for what is widely considered to be one of the the greatest defenses in NFL history, the Super Bowl XXXV Champion Baltimore Ravens. During his playing career, Del Rio was an All-American linebacker at the University of Southern California, as well as a Pro Bowl selection in 1994 with the Minnesota Vikings. A star in two sports, he was also drafted out of high school by Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays. Although Del Rio has made a career out of playing and coaching college and professional football, he has also been a dedicated philanthropist. Del Rio and his family have been...
View Speaker Page.JPG)
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been named NFL Executive of the Year by the Sporting News. Known for his forceful yet charming personality, Thomas Dimitroff has reshaped manager positions in football. Not one to shy away from a challenge, general manager Dimitroff rebuilt the Atlanta Falcon franchise when no one else dared to. The team was plagued with several controversies from quarterback Michael Vick facing dog-fighting charges to coach Bobby Petrino abruptly quitting to take a coaching position at the University of Arkansas in 2007. Even so, Dimitroff rose to the occasion and as a result, has orchestrated the turnaround of the team in just one season. With his experience as a standout defensive back and captain at the University of Guelph coupled with his ascension through the scouting trails as a combine/BLESTO Scout, an Area Scout, National Scout, College Director of Scouting to his current position, Dimitroff has the knowledge and passion to...
View Speaker Page
Using the insights, inspirations and proven principles he has applied to his coaching of such legendary players as Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara, Haney reveals clear, passionate guidelines on reaching for and achieving success. While focusing on such points as creating and executing a plan; commitment, and overcoming mistakes, Hank has recently spoken to such companies as Prudential Securities, Merrill Lynch, Golf Digest, Wachovia Bank, Eli Lilly, Lexus, and LG Electronics. Haney’s popular golf show, “The Haney Project,” on which he transformed Charles Barkley’s unusual golf swing, also featured TV’s Ray Romano and conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh.
View Speaker Page
Marvin Lewis was handed his dream in 2003 when he was named the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Just two years after joining the franchise, Lewis led the Bengals to their first winning season and division title in 15 years. Prior to coming to Cincinnati, Lewis led the defensive squad of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens as their defensive coordinator in 2000. Lewis' reputation as a defensive genius and a rising star among the ranks of the NFL's assistant coaches was solidified by the dominating performance of the Ravens. Lewis not only spends time with his players on the field but also with the Cincinnati community and has already made an indelible impression in the community. Lewis made over 100 appearances in just his first two years and has become involved in over 15 different organizations. In 2003, Lewis and his wife Peggy launched the Marvin Lewis Community Fund to empower, educate, and inspire children while enriching the Cincinnati...
View Speaker Page.jpg)
On November 5th, 2009 Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman added a new piece of history to her already illustrious career when she was hired as the Texas Legends' first Head Coach. Lieberman, widely considered one of the most influential figures in women’s basketball history, is the first female head coach to lead an NBA or NBA D-League team. Nancy began coaching the Legends in November 2010. She even led the Legends to the playoffs in her first year. Lieberman then went on to become the Assistant General Manager of the Legends, a position which she currently holds. In addition to her many sports related accomplishments, Lieberman wrote her first business book “Playbook for Success” by Wiley Publishing in 2010. Nancy Lieberman made history again when she signed with the WNBA's Detroit Shock in July of 2008. She became the oldest player to ever play in the history of the league at the young age of 50. This breaks the previous record of 39 years old which Nancy established as a...
View Speaker Page
Recently named 2011 AL Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Joe Maddon has revolutionized the managerial role of sports organizations. He is the living representation of what hard work, determination, and perseverance can bring to a struggling team looking for a leader. As the fourth manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Maddon has legendarily transformed the face of the team from a “laughable disjoined bunch of rookies and castoffs into a vibrant collection of up-and-arriving talent” (Schwartz). In his first season as manager, Maddon led the Rays to 41 wins at their home turf Tropicana Field, the most in the team’s history. Before Maddon, the Rays never won more than 70 games in their first seasons of existence and went 66-96 last year, the worst record in the American League. However, now with Maddon as their team manager, an individual who has been described by his players as calm, quiet, and trusting, the Rays finished the 2008 season in first place...
View Speaker Page
Known for his explosive personality and contagious passion, Lou Piniella has redefined manager positions in baseball. Often hailed as a “miracle worker” by Cub fans and players alike, Piniella has leveraged the Cubs’ success substantially in his first two seasons as the 26th manager. Within this time frame, Piniella has guided the club to 182-141 record, consecutive National League central Division titles, and is the first Cubs manager to lead the club to consecutive post-season berths since the early 20th century. According to Cubs Vice-President/General Manager Jim Hendry: “Lou exudes success, is an excellent leader, and brings a humble, confident swagger to our entire organization.”Piniella has served as a Major League manager for a total of 23 seasons, and prior to joining the Cubs, Piniella managed the New York Yankees (1986-1988), Cincinnati Reds (1990-1992), Seattle Mariners (1993-2002), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003-2005). Piniella has received much recognition...
View Speaker Page
A Waterford, Michigan native, Dr. Brett Reed began his fourth year as the men’s basketball Head Coach at Lehigh University in 2011. Reed is one of only 29 Division I men’s basketball head coaches in America under the age of 40, and one of only three coaches to have earned their doctorate degree. In his four years on the sideline, Reed has the most victories by a Lehigh head coach and collected a Patriot League championship in 2010.
View Speaker Page
Cael Sanderson is one of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers of all-time. After a successful collegiate career, Sanderson has continued his dominance onto to world and Olympic circuits. During his time on the Iowa State wrestling team, Sanderson became only the second four-time NCAA Champion. Sports Illustrated named his undefeated career at Iowa State as the number two most outstanding achievement in the history of collegiate athletics. After his time at Iowa State, Sanderson went on to compete in his first Olympic Games in 2004, winning a gold medal. Sanderson later turned to coaching and led his alma mater to three consecutive Big 12 titles from 2007-2009. He is currently the Head Wrestling Coach at Penn State University. He led the Nittany Lions to their first ever Big Ten Championship in his second year as coach. In his five years as head coach, Sanderson has won tree total National Championship titles.
View Speaker Page.jpg)
David Shaw returned to his alma mater in January 2011 to be the Head Coach of the Stanford Cardinal football team. Shaw became the 34th head coach and just the fifth alum to hold said position. Stanford has emerged as a powerful contended in the Pac-12 and in the BCS, partly due to Shaw's success as an offensive coordinator and head coach.Shaw has also played a key role in the mentoring of quarterback Andrew Luck for the past three years. Prior to returning to Stanford as head coach, Shaw served as a coach on the collegiate and professional level. Aside from coaching, Shaw uses his position to enable change with several charitable organizations and initiatives in the California area. He also encourages his players to be actively involved in the Stanford community and on-campus charitable organizations.
View Speaker Page
Ray Sherman is a notable offensive coordinator and position coach in the National Football League. He has coached for 36 seasons, including an impressive 22 seasons in the NFL. Sherman is known for his success in mentoring rookies and young talent through his listening skills and ability to establish great relationships with players. His success mentoring players is exemplified by their on-field success; however, he is credited by serving as a great off-the-field mentor as well.
View Speaker Page
As the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, one of Mike Smith's basic coaching philosophies centers on his team displaying sustainability. He wants his Falcons to be able to maintain a certain level of performance, not just each season, but from game to game, quarter to quarter and play to play. Smith is building a team that will consistently "be in the hunt" every year. Growing up with educators as influential parents can have a lasting effect on a person. Mike Smith is no different. Teaching is in his blood. It's what he loves to do. Smith’s teaching on the field has certainly paid off. After three seasons as the Falcons head coach he has a 33-15 overall record. In light of his extraordinary success, Smith has been named Sporting News’ 2010 Coach of the Year for his second time in two seasons. General Manager Thomas Dimitroff claims, “It is a true testament to Coach Smith’s leadership, preparation, and focus.” Smith holds a strong coaching background that includes 12 NFL seasons...
View Speaker Page
Coach Jeff Tedford has been slated as the reason the California Gold Bears’ football program has been so successful. Tedford was a player in the Canadian Football League for six years, and then later became a coach for his alma mater, Fresno State. Tedford’s coaching skills were admired quickly and he was given the head coaching job at UC Berkeley in 2002. The previous year, in 2001, the Golden Bears posted a 1-10 record. In his first outing in the head coaching role, Tedford lead his squad to a 7-5 mark, their first winning record since 1993. The Golden Bears were named the biggest turnaround team of the year and Tedford was chosen as the Pac-10 coach of the year. The Bears finished the 2004 season as the No. 9 team in the country after posting a 10-2 record and have been ranked in the top 25 ever since. "Coach Tedford wasn't just a coach, I think of him as more like a father figure. He teaches us lessons about life. He teaches us to have integrity, to have...
View Speaker Page
Tyrone Willingham was named the University of Washington's 22nd head football coach on December 13, 2004. A former head coach at Notre Dame and Stanford, Willingham became the first African-American to serve as the Huskies head coach. While he brings an impressive resume with him to resurrect the Husky program, Willingham has placed himself well among his peers for much more than just fielding winning teams. Over the past 28 years Willingham has developed a coaching style that emphasizes toughness, enthusiasm, intelligence, discipline, commitment and unselfish play. The result has provided his players with more than just the opportunity to enjoy victories on the field. His guiding principles have prepared his players to be successful in life.
View Speaker Page
.png)
