John Beilein: Endearing Qualities/Skills

I'll take a stab at this. I think he looks for "effective players" and players that have a certain skill set that fits his system, not necessarily All-American guarantees.

He's very good at game planning and in game adjustments.

Fawning about John Beilein is never off-topic and, during these darkest of times, I would opine that it's even more on-topic than ever.

 

I think one skill Coach B showed over the past two-three seasons was his adaptability and willinginess to listen to his assistants.  The offense definitely added some new wrinkles to his classic schemes because of the personnel we had and it obviously paid off.

Kind of combing what others have said: he has a system that works. He has developed his own Xs and Os with his own terminology. Because it works and he is basically a genius, he knows the type of kids to recruit for his system. It's just a bonus that his system is highly adaptable.

but memorable about Beilein to me was after they beat michigan state on the road after starting 1-6 and when they got back to Crysler there were a group of students waiting for them.  He offered to buy them pizza and just seemed so genuinely surprised to have fans waiting for them.  Just seemed so genuine and awkward but in a good way.

he is the anti-brady hoke?

I kid, I kid.

Belien has a swagger/quiet confidence that he exudes.

The man knows what he is doing, does it well, seeks to get better, and treats people with respect.   I don't see him as  a braggart or one who goes out of his way to pump his guys up or cut them down; he has a real even keel to him.

jdon

 

Why didn't you choose Brady Hoke for this assignment?

I think the man has a sincerity that is apparent to his players. Yes, he'll work their butts off, and he may chew them out, but so will every good coach. He makes them better as both individuals and a team. And as was exemplified by his contact with Austin Hatch during his tragedy, he genuinely cares about the young men in his program.

Plus, he goes crazy when they have subs. And who can't love that?

 

1. He's genuine and humble.  He once spent 4-5 minutes talking to my then girlfriend/now wife and I at a lunch spot in Cleveland when he was on a recruiting trip.  A simiple hi and handshake was all I was looking for, but he came over to to our table to continue the conversation.
2. He has perspective, knows who he is, and knows what's important.  There's a cool article about the role his faith plays in his life.  

Adaptibility. He came to Michigan and everyone thought he was a very specific kind of coach, a man whose teams played a lot of zone and shot a lot of 3's. Yet he has continually adapted both his offense and his defense to better fit the players he has brought in.

Not afraid of throwing out old ideals if change is in order. Started off a bit rocky in Ann Arbor (sad confession from me, I thought he wasn't a very good coach after year 3) but changed directions, brought in a new set of assistants and hasn't looked back.

He demonstrates and shows his athletes you need to focus on what you do well, but not be afraid to change direction if there is something better out there.

He's the coach I would choose for my son to play under over any other. The reasons are all stated above, and he has the answer you're probably looking for and that's "it." He has IT.

He could probably pick the right hole on a zone read run play.

 

/ just read offense UFR

John Beilien has his own, singular offense.  Playing a JB team is like boxing against a southpaw.  It takes totally different preparation than a normal game.  You are playng against an unfamiliar scheme that is difficult to practice for.  

If I was to describe it, I would have to use a phrase often used to descrive Neil Young: following his own muse.

http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/daniel-feldman-john-beileins-refusal-leave

enough said.

Coach Beilein spoke before our group a few years ago before they went to the Final Four and he noted that he has always been a head coach - high school, junior college, small division college, slightly bigger college and finally big time university head coach - always the head coach. Because of this he really doesn't belong to someone's "coaching tree" and didn't adhere to anyone person's approach or philosophy. We asked then how he developed his own style - he told us that he looked at what worked, what seemed to make sense to him, what he felt he understood and could teach/coach, then he quietly went and listened to experts on those things he was curious about. Somethings work well but he knew that he couldn't pull it off - just not him.

It was a very interesting comment.

Austin Hatch. Enough said.

That's the genius of Beilein whether it be going away from the 1-3-1 but still practicing it enough to use in case we need it (like we did against Kansas a couple years ago) to teaching kids how to shoot the ball correctly (which is why he has the ball he created).

I think the core of Beilein's success is his humility. Sure he can spot talent that fits his system. 90% of coaches can do that. I think Belein sets himself apart by adapting. There aren't big swings in his system but he makes minor adjustments because I don't care if everyone is a perfect fit, the strengths will change. He's also so humble that he isn't afraid to take input from others. He's not afraid to change and he's not afraid to acknowledge there is another way. That's what I think makes him great. 

As far as him being endearing, he's just so damn good. Just such a great person in every way, shape and form. He implies that his grandkids parties get crazy with subs. He stays until his last guy who will not get drafted for sure does not get drafted. 

He leads by example and attains great success while having served on the ethics committee. Great choice for your project.

I have really enjoyed this thread. It is just wonderful to see coach Beilein succeed. And I hope your grad project goes well.

As regards the skill and strategy, you already have some great choices in the responses above. I think I would go with his flexibility and adaptability operating within his own framework developed over many years. The framework gives the structure needed to do well. The flexibility to adapt to player's (and coach's!) strengths within the framework is what allows Beilein to excel.

As regards one characteristic, I think it boils down to one thing. For John Beilein, basketball is a great job, and something he has been involved with for close to his entire life. He began playing as a boy, and made the team at Wheeling Jesuit College in West Virginia. But while basketball is important, it is not the most important thing in Beilein's life. His faith and his family are more important, and give Beilein perspective.

"I rely on my Catholic faith quite a bit," Beilein told The Jesuit Post. "I’m proud to admit that. Prayer is a consistent source of peace for me. It helps me gain perspective."

Perspective is something that is often lost. Beilein makes clear that there are things more important than wins and losses, more important than being the head basketball coach at Michigan.

"It’s not about praying to win," Beilein said. "It’s about praying for wisdom in different situations that you have to handle. Or just for understanding and putting things into God’s hands.

For those interested in reading more, there is a great Mlive article from last November on the strenght of Beilein's Catholic faith.

The Mlive article actual is based on a more substantive Beilein interview with the Jesuit Post. This interview really gives a deeper understanding of who Beilein is, where he came from, and what motivates him.

Fans can be fickle. Sometimes it just is about "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" and the win - loss record. I think that all athletes and coaches are aware of this. The depth of Beilein's perspective, his humility, his integrity, his dependence on God, his clear acceptance that there are things more important in life than basketball, allow Beilein to attract and keep a certain kind of player (for instance, Trey Burke and Jordan Morgan) and coach (Jeff Meyer, among others.)

Instead of hoping we can get to the Big Dance or contend for the B1G now those things are expected. Even with all the talent that has left, Coach is bringing in more and the future looks bright.

Coach Beilein has a human quality to him. It allows him to hold a high profile position, yet remain humble and genuine. It allows him to be seen as just a regular guy, which I believe is why he relates well to others, especially the kids. He is confident but not arrogant, and is true to his word...see Austin Hatch. He has been a great choice for our program. He has, over his time here won my opinion because when he was first hired, I wasn't a believer. We couldn't have made a better choice and for that I am grateful. Go Blue!

how he drinks tiny waters

to his players and program.  For a coach who's been in the profession as long as he has, it's amazing to see someone who can make big changes based on new circumstances. 

Also, Coach B exudes class all the time and has an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way no matter what.  Of all the time I've been a Michigan fan (a long time), I've never been prouder of a coach on the sidelines than I am of Coach Beilein.  Complain however you want about Bill Martin, but Beilein was a grand slam home run hire. 

The ability to recognize when his assistants aren't getting the job done, the spine necessary to let them go, and the skill to identify and hire top-quality assistants to replace them.

In terms of general character, what's striking to me is his humility. In contrast to so many elite-level coaches (and ADs) whose egos can barely fit through the door, Beilein seems genuinely humble and grounded in reality.

he'll end up being compared with the likes of John Wooden and Dean Smith.

Both an innovator and an adapter, as people are pointing out. But two other things for me that really stick out:

he's not a screamer but a guy who leads with quiet authority and reason, coupled with great respect and love for the kids on his teams, a love and respect he gets back in spades. 

and that his system also shows that respect for the kids, really letting them evolve, and then--in-game--improvise within that system, totally handing them the reins. (This is why, even at the cost of driving fans crazy, he's sometimes late with the timeout; he's just letting them play the game.)

Like all really sophisticated systems (music, say) you work incredibly hard to acquire the discipline, and then when they time comes you PLAY. And you play with confidence. 

Kids love to play in his system, and it's incredibly fun to watch. 

listen man, if you use any of this material, that's plagarism.

With all the criticism focused on the coaching staff of the football team right now, it was certainly refreshing to read through this thread. All the comments acknowledging the traits that make John Beilein such a great coach and person reaffirm how fortunate we are to have him.

There is not another person I'd rather have as our basketball coach. Not only has he made Michigan Basketball elite again, but I really believe that he has gotten the program to a level in which that success will be sustainable for the foreseeable future.

What bums me out more than anything when thinking about the loss to Louisville in the finals, is that no coach deserves to win a national championship as much as Beilein. That would have cemented his legacy as arguably the best coach Michigan Basketball has had, IMO. So here's to hoping John Beilein can cap off a fantastic coaching career with a NC before retirement comes calling.