Coach Z spent 25 years as a college basketball coach and developed a reputation as a “rebuilder of programs.”  Through his experiences he learned how to turn adversity into advantage.  He became the youngest Division I basketball coach at the tender age of 27 when he was hired at St. Francis College in New York.  He took a program that had endured two decades without a winning season and in only three years he turned them into a championship contender.  After being named Coach of the Year in the Northeast Conference he took on the challenge of building the University of North Florida from scratch.  In their fourth year of existence they were playing for the Sunshine State Conference Championship.  Moving on to UMKC he took over a program that had only one winning season in the previous eight and in only six years becamse the school’s all-time winningest coach.  And in 2002 he became one of only 35 active coaches to win coach of the year honors in two different Division I conferences at two separate schools. 

Currently, he is an analyst on ESPN and the Big Ten Television network.  He has also found time to appear in 6 films, including Along Came a Spider and an episode of Friday Night Lights.  And in the October he will release his first book entitled, “Birds-Dogs and Kangaroos:  Life on the Back Roads of College Basketball.”  

Coach Z preaches the benefits of a well rounded life.  His motivating style will help your company understand how to turn that stumbling block into a stepping stone.  He gives you a clear cut path to success and a true spark to ignite the passion from within each one of us. 

Areas of Expertise:

Athletics/Sports
Leadership
Motivation
Team Building

Fees:

Keynote fee up to 90 mins: $2500

Half day fee up to 3 hours: $4000

Full day fee up to 6 hours:  $5000

Rich's Most Requested Programs:

Turning Adversity into Advantage
Life is about what happens to you, but success is determined by how you react to what life throws at you.  In 2005, I walked into the locker room after my team had just lost for the 7th time in a row, which kept us winless on the year.  Instead of dwelling on the negative I set the stage for a monstrous comeback by taking them to see Flight of the Phoenix.  Following the movie we ripped off a school record 11 wins in a row, which included and undefeated month of January.  Learn the secrets of looking at a rock as not an obstacle, but rather a stepping-stone. 

Loading Your Backpack for a Lifetime Journey
Make sure you have all the right ingredients to lead a successful life.  Learn the importance of developing you three major bones.  Coach Z will explain how your wishbone, backbone and funny bone will play a vital role in a successful future. 

Drink, Swear, Sateal and Lie Your Way to Success
Coach Z details the four key areas to building a successful team.  Listen as he challenges his audience to a) Believe in yourself and your team, b) Never stop learning, c) Fill the void and d) Eat the heart of a watermelon. 

Picturize Life---The Passion Within
See yourself not only winning, but being successful as well.  Coach Z will give you the tools to see your life the way you want it to be.  He will help you unlock the passion inside each and every one.

Testimonials:

"Your presentation really hit home with our employees.  Your message of never stop learning is just what we need to hear as we grow and encounter new obstacles in our journey”, Dwight Cooper,President, Professional Placement Resources. 

“Our event was a huge success and you provided the motivation and impetus to make this happen.”, Rich Grady, Executive Director, Northeast Florida Education Association.

“Your humor and message of growth really helped make our banquet a success.”, Shawn Hair, President, Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association.