Beyond the Spotlight

Even people who are not fans of women’s college basketball may know about UConn this year. That’s because the University of Connecticut Huskies have won 111 consecutive games and are poised to win their fifth consecutive NCAA championship. Coach Geno Auriemma may not be a household name yet, but his winning streak is unequaled by any coach in men’s or women’s college basketball. But what about Chris Daily? She has been faithfully sitting on the bench next to Coach Auriemma as the associate head coach for the entire 32 years that he’s been at UConn. While you catch glimpses of her during televised games, her role is not in the spotlight. I’m sure that she has had many chances to become a head coach for other college teams, yet she has chosen to stay. Why? I suspect that her answer is the same as for many second chair leaders. The excitement of being part of a winning team is a partial answer, but that’s not enough. Long-term satisfaction requires a second chair leader to put aside her or his own ego and to focus more on team victories than personal ones. It often means creating an internal scorecard for assessing one’s own performance. Daily is in charge of recruiting, so UConn’s ability to sign the best high school talent is one of her individual metrics. In most cases, a high-trust partnership is another essential factor. Ultimately, a long and satisfying run in the second chair comes from a sense of calling. It’s the person who is able to say, “This is how God has wired me. I know this is what I’m meant to do (at least for this season).” Some may know this early in their careers. Some discover it later, or after a difficult experience in the first chair. But when they do, they experience a sense of victory in a seat that’s just beyond the spotlight. For more on this topic, see the chapter, “Seek Lasting Rewards” in my most recent book, Thriving in the Second Chair.]]>