Players First

Coaching from the Inside Out

By: John Calipari, Michael Sokolove

Narrated by: Chuck Montgomery

In Players First, John Calipari relates for the first time anywhere his experiences over his first four years coaching the Kentucky Wildcats, college basketball's most fabled program, from the doldrums to a national championship, drawing lessons about leadership, character, and the path to personal and collective victory. At its core, Calipari's coaching philosophy centers on keeping his focus on the players - what they need to get the best out of themselves and one another. He is beloved by his players for being utterly honest with them and making promises that he always keeps, no matter what. He knows that in this age, they come to Kentucky to prepare for the NBA; every year he gets players who in a previous era would have gone directly into the pros from high school but now have to play college basketball for one year. Calipari has fought against this system, but he has to play within it, and so he does, better than anyone.

The result is an extraordinary leadership challenge: every year Coach Cal gets a handful of eighteen-year-old kids who have been in a bubble for the previous four years at least, filled with hype about their own greatness, and they come to Kentucky feeling sure that they will play for their coach only for seven months before they go on to greater glory. Every year, he has to reinvent his team. After his 2012 NCAA championship, it was particularly dramatic; he lost his first six players in the first round, meaning that someone who couldn't even start for Kentucky was a first-round draft pick.

The overall record at Kentucky, and for his career, puts Calipari in the pantheon of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Bold, funny, and truthful, like Coach Calipari himself, Players First is truly the first deep reckoning with the meaning of his experiences and the gifts of insight they offer.

©2014 John Calipari and Michael Sokolove (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"If you are a college basketball fan like I am, you’ll understand why I’ve long admired John Calipari’s leadership style. While no coach treasures a win more than John, this terrific book reveals his greater purpose - to lead his young players to better lives, and then challenge them to give back to others." (Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times number-one best seller Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive)

“John Calipari tells his players: Embrace the work. Embrace the sweat. Embrace the pain. I say: Embrace this book. It’s basketball at its finest.” (Simon Sinek, optimist and author of Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last)

great

Great book. Good listen and very informative
Recommend buying. Well worth it.
This book changed my view on coaching.

I became a much bigger fan of John Calipari...

Any additional comments?

This book covers a lot of ground about Kentucky basketball and the reasons the program, and John Calipari, is so successful. A strong reading performance and great, candid stories. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in coaching or Kentucky basketball.

must read

I loved the scope of the book overall but also the references to why recruit this kid over that kid. Or what made this kid more advantageous to play in our team needs than that kid. a great inside lool

Good Inspirational Read

Love to read books on coaching to gain perspective. Totally changed my views of Calapari. Would definitely recommend if you love college basketball too.

for any mentor

Whether you're a coach, instructor, manager or mentor, this book will improve your confidence and renew your passion as a leader. Time well spent.

For the Wildcat and Aspiring Coach

Good examples. Best for overall ideas on coaching styles. Also good for Wildcat fans, as there's quite a bit about stats and accomplishments.

Full of outstanding coaching philosophy lessons

Great book with some outstanding coaching philosophy lessons along with some very entertaining stories of season successes and failures and how to build upon both.

If you love basketball you'll love this book.

Easy to get through. Great narration. I would recommend this book to new and novice basketball coaches.

Leadership and basketball

I wasn't a fan of basketball prior to listening to this book, but the passion displayed and technical aspects made simple made me start to enjoy the game. There are a lot of leadership gems in here as well.

He does get off topic with weird NCAA rule changes, but it's not enough to not read the book

A Calipari Convert....

What did you love best about Players First?

I was never a fan of Coach Cal, in fact, I dispised him. HOWEVER, after listening to this book I am a convert. He talks about past and current players, gives great perspectives on teaching and coaching young men, and offers opinions on NCAA policies. I am now actually a fan of Coach Cal. Surprised to hear myself say that.