Vincent Thomas Lombardi  1913 - 1970

Vince Lombardi is believed to be the greatest coach in the history of the sport. As quoted in one of his best speeches-

"Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization — an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win — to beat the other guy.  ...   To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules — but to win." (1)

Born on June 11, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York

High School: St. Francis Preparatory High School
He was a star fullback on the high school football team.

College: Fordham University, New York City
He was successful on the football field and also off the field. In 1937, he graduated with a business major.

Later, he worked as teacher and coach at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey. He taught Latin, Algebra, Physics and Chemistry, and coached the football, basketball and baseball teams.

During 1947, he worked as an assistant coach for the Fordham varsity team.

Later, he worked under Earl "Colonel Red" Blaik, football coach for the United States Military Academy at West Point. Earl Blaik was considered the best coach in the country at the time. Here's the future best learning from the present best. Blaik's expertise helped Vince to sharpen his leadership skills, playing strategies, striving for perfect execution and conducting himself respectfully on the field (2).

From 1954, Vince served as an assistant coach for the New York Giants, during which Giants were turned a championship team.

In 1958, at the age of 45, Vince Lombardi accepted the general manager and head coach position with Green Bay packers, Wisconsin. Vince knew preparation, practice, repetition are the key things in mastering anything. To deliver a perfect play one has to practice over and over. At his very first team meeting, he said- "I have never been on a losing team, gentlemen, and I do not intend to start now!" (3). He got full dedication and effort from each one on the team and also he promised them: if they obeyed his rules and used his method, they would be a championship team. That promise became a reality in 1961 when Packers defeated the New York Giants for the NFL championship.

Vince Lombardi was constantly improving, constantly challenging himself. In nine seasons with the Packers, he led the team to six conference titles and five championships, including victories in the first two Super Bowls (1967-68). Later he retired as a head coach, but again, he realized he needed to do something, he wanted to coach. In 1969 he moved to coach the Washington Redskins. He led the Redskins to their first winning record (2).

He was diagnosed with intestinal cancer and died on September 3, 1970.

NFL had named him their acclaimed "1960s Man of the Decade."

In 1971, Vince Lombardi was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. That same year, the NFL's most prestigious award, the Super Bowl trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy in his honor.

In 2000, ESPN named him the Coach of the Century.

Here was the man, a legendary coach, who helped people to realize their full potential, taught them to win, brought them victories. Greatest thing is he was a leader in coaching football, but his leadership skills inspire businesses, and his hard work, dedication, preparations and practice to win are examples anyone could follow to win in life or in business. His coaching philosophy and motivational skills will always be referred in many areas.

We encourage you to read his speech at http://www.vincelombardi.com/about/speech.html

Interesting article: Vince Lombardi at West Point: the early days of a football legend-
www.aogusma.org/Pubs/assembly/971112/lombardi.htm

Further reading resources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Lombardi
Books: When pride still mattered : a life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss.
            Run to win : Vince Lombardi on coaching and leadership by Donald T. Phillips.
            What it takes to be #1 : Vince Lombardi on leadership by Vince Lombardi, Jr.
            The Lombardi rules: 26 lessons from Vince Lombardi - the world's greatest coach

References:
(1) The Official Site of Vince Lombardi, No.1 Speech, by Vince Lombardi [online]. [Accessed 6th Feb 2006]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.vincelombardi.com/about/speech.html>

(2) The Official Site of Vince Lombardi, Biography [online]. [Accessed 6th Feb 2006]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.vincelombardi.com/about/biography.html>

(3) Pro Football Hall of Fame, VINCE LOMBARDI [online]. [Accessed 7th Feb 2006]. Available from World Wide Web: <http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=132&tabname=>