This die-hard Nebraska Cornhusker, must give huge props to Mack Brown and the job he has done at University of Texas. He is absolutely moving the needle at UT. A great leader, a great person, a great coach, and a great business person.
Mack came to UT nine years ago and took a failing program (that should not have been this bad) and now has turned the program into an annual powerhouse in the highly competitive arena of college football. His results on the field: Coach Brown has led the Longhorns to six straight 10-win seasons and a Bowl Championship Series appearance in two of the past three years, winning the national championship in 2005. He is 93-22 overall and has led the Longhorns to a school record-tying nine straight bowl appearances.
This week Coach Brown was awarded a contract extension until 2016 and a pay increase to around $3 million per year. Think this was justified? Let's look at the business part of it.
In 1997 when Mack came to UT, the athletic revenue was $131 million per year. This year, estimates say that will increase to $365 million with football contributing $63 million. That is flat gettin' it done!
Some great business concepts Mack applies that we can all learn from:
- PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE: Mack recruits the top prospects in the country and the Horns are consistently in the top 5 recruiting classes every year! Talent Wins! Talent Matters! Also his assistant coaches are excellent. Bottom line for Mack: PEOPLE WIN! ITS ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE PROCESS and PEOPLE CULTURE!
- Leadership: Mack works on his leadership all the time. He is constantly changing is approach and learning as he goes. This is winning. Leading with an open mind and open heart.
- Facilities: UT is second to none and they just plain get it. Look at the suites at the stadium, look at the locker room, look at the practice fields, look at the additions to the stadium, look at the players lounge. Hard for a recruit to say No after this pony show. Mack takes design to a new level!
- Accountability and Behaviors: Break the rules and there are consquences. This is 100% accountability in action.
- People First, Results Second: Care about the people in the organization and the results will come with accountabily to the overall successful startegy. In business this means put your people first and profits second. Take care of the People process and the profits will come just like the wins in football.
