Danny Broussard is the head boys basketball coach at STM. I had the privilege to work with Danny at STM in 1989-90 and be a part of the special environment and program he has built at the school. In his 25 years there, his teams have made the playoffs 22 times. Not a bad average.

I admire Danny because he gets the most, year in and year out, from his athletes. (as a matter of fact, I’d say that about the STM coaching staff in general.)

And Danny is passionate. He gets excited about young people, affirming them when they do things well, whether in the classroom (he teaches math), or if he hears they did well in speech, campus ministry, etc. It was a joy to work with him and (now) athletic director Kim Broussard.

Danny asked me to come to do a short session with his 20 or so players on teamwork. There was some of the usual fun and games, but also some direct and blunt challenges from me to this group of young men. They face a challenge in honoring a tradition of excellence while finding out just how good they can be (on and off the court) as well as how good they can make the people around them.

We watched scenes from the movies “Drumline” (“one band, one sound”) and from “Miracle”.

I watched much of these movies in getting ready to cue them up for the talk and got all motivated again. (they “jack” me up!) A favorite line….”I’m not worried about getting the BEST players, I am worried about getting the RIGHT ones.” I know that Danny (and assistants Eric Mouton and Jacque Fisher) will give them every chance they need to become THE RIGHT men….a group of UNCOMMON MEN. I hope the young men of STM will understand the difference between introducing themselves “I play basketball at STM” and “I’m on the STM basketball TEAM.”

GO Cougars!