Jesse Wright: Learning the Coaching Craft in NFL Europe, Watching the Dedication of Aaron McKie, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, and Helping Leaders Develop Soft Skills
Jesse Wright: Learning the Coaching Craft in NFL Europe, Watching the Dedication of Aaron McKie, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, and Helping Leaders Develop Soft SkillsDescription
Most young assistant coaches dream of the day when they’ll finally get a crack at promotion. But few are ready for the realities of being a head coach. Jesse Wright realized he still had a lot to learn when he was tasked with running the weight room for the NFL Europe team in Barcelona while still in his early 20s. His work ethic and ability to problem solve got him through that trying season, and upon returning to his native Philadelphia, he soon found himself working for the 76ers as a consulting coach through a local performance center that had a contract to oversee the NBA team’s strength and conditioning.
Overseeing the training of rookies, veterans like Andre Iguodala, Aaron McKie, and Elton Brand, and everyone in between, Jesse recognized the need to give players some degree of autonomy. After his company’s contract ended, he assumed the full-time role of the Sixers S&C coach, and later become the team’s Director of Performance Science.
In this episode, Jesse reveals:
- Why younger players have so much to learn from the work habits of Aaron McKie, Andre Iguodal, and Elton Brand
- Which elements of coaching football players transferred to his time in the NBA
- How soft skills like communication, hustle, and vision can do more for anyone’s career than technical proficiency
- How he continued his mother’s creative legacy by writing two books
- What tactics you can use to manage fast-growing teams in any walk of life
To learn more from Jesse, check out his book The Intent is to Grow, follow him on Instagram, and visit his website.
United States
