Let Them Lead

Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team

By: John U. Bacon

Narrated by: John U. Bacon

An uplifting leadership book about a coach who helped transform the nation’s worst high school hockey team into one of the best. Bacon’s strategy is straightforward: set high expectations, make them accountable to each other, and inspire them all to lead their team.

When John U. Bacon played for the Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats, he never scored a goal. Yet somehow, years later he found himself leading his alma mater’s downtrodden program. How bad? The team hadn’t won a game in over a year, making them the nation’s worst squad—a fact they celebrated. With almost everyone expecting more failure, Bacon made it special to play for Huron by making it hard, which inspired the players to excel. Then he defied conventional wisdom again by putting the players in charge of team discipline, goal-setting, and even decision-making—and it worked. In just three seasons the River Rats bypassed 95-percent of the nation’s teams.

A true story filled with unforgettable characters, stories, and lessons that apply to organizations everywhere, Let Them Lead includes the leader’s mistakes and the reactions of the players, who have since achieved great success as leaders themselves. Let Them Lead is a fast-paced, feel-good book that leaders of all kinds can embrace to motivate their teams to work harder, work together, and take responsibility for their own success.

©2021 John U. Bacon, LLC (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Best Motivational Story Book

I like that this book applies to life and not hockey specifically.

It’s a book for anyone wanting change or going through personal adversity.

I gave this book a 5 Star all around rating to increase the chances of others listening to it.

Are there better books out there? Yes.

But you’ll have a hard time finding one that YOU deserve to listen to. #LetThemLead

Very relatable

Such a great story with so many great lessons. John really have great insight to such a huge undertaking.

Loved this book!

Even if you're not a fan of hockey (I am and I loved hearing the story of the team) there is such amazing, usable team insight for everyone. I will absolutely be listening again and picking up a hardcopy.

A tale of hockey and leadership

Well done Coach. An enjoyable and educational read for anyone who aspires to coach or lead.

-Trenton player 02-05

Do a favor for your group/team and yourself: READ THIS BOOK!

John U. Bacon's style draws you in as he shares his stint as a HS hockey coach. Don't like hockey? Doesn't matter. Whether you lead a Fortune 500 company or a little rural church, listen to this book! Just listen to it! You will not regret the time you traded for Bacon's insights contained within this book. Priceless to leaders, managers, and groups everywhere, regardless of the type of organization! Excellent!!!

Great Inspiring Story for Managers

This is a very inspiring story for any manager that is taking over an under performing team. This particular story will especially resonate with anyone with a competitive sports background. Coach Bacon's analogorical recall of his HS hockey teams are easily followed as he shows the practical application to the business world.

This book really hits home

I grew up playing hockey and all the lessons I learned like these guys I still use to this day. Thank you for writing such and incredible story to show what being a team not only in a sport but in life is all about.

John’s storytelling is masterful and the real world examples are applicable anywhere leading is required.

John’s storytelling is masterful and the real world examples are applicable anywhere leading is required.

A great set of coaching tales!

Really enjoyed this book because it laid out some important points about coaching in typical John U Bacon style. Easy to listen to.

Best Leadership Book

I may be biased as a former River Rat athlete and Huron Track and Field coach, but this was one of the best books on leadership I’ve read in a long, long time. Bacon does an excellent job of weaving sports storytelling with leadership principles that are suitable for any industry, and hammers the points home with a simple review at the end of each chapter.

I’ll happily read this again to reconnect with the principles he shares as well as the colleagues I’ve fallen out of touch with…and have already wholeheartedly recommended to some of my teaching colleagues. It is unfortunate for my current management, that they are now held to the Huron Hockey standards…but hopefully they will grow to meet the challenge as Bacon’s teams did.

Go Rats!