Beyond Championships: A Playbook for Winning at Life
As the coach of one of high school basketball’s greatest programs, Coach Dru Joyce has been mentor and motivator to some of the nation’s best young players, including basketball legend LeBron James. Despite having virtually no experience in the sport, in less than ten years Dru went from a no-name fan to one of the highest profile basketball coaches in the country.
With insight and grit earned from his years on and off the court, Coach Dru shares for the first time the secrets to his teams’ success and his own coaching achievements. Far more than a sports book, Beyond Championships is a blueprint for anyone looking to make better choices, reach their full potential, and become winners in all areas of life.
As Dru outlines the nine principles that he promotes to his players and tries to live in his own life as well, you’ll discover that the solid foundation on which he built so many successful basketball programs can be applied to almost any situation. As you assess your chosen path in life and look for ways to embark on a more inspiring and rewarding journey, Coach Dru offers an accessible and relatable roadmap for personal evolution.
Heartfelt and inspiring, Beyond Championships is a book for people of all ages and both genders. The teachings from my father---Coach Dru---apply not only to sports but to life as well, and that’s what makes this book so good. Through sports, we’re able to see real-life situations and how they tie in both positively and negatively in our lives. -- Cameron Joyce, assistant coach at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, and youngest son of Coach Dru
One of my favorite maxims is “serve the underserved,” and few people put these words into practice like Coach Dru Joyce does. We all know the incredible work he did in helping LeBron James develop into the player and, more importantly, the individual he’s become. I’m excited that in Beyond Championships, Coach Dru shares the principles that helped mold so many other young lives as well. Coach Dru’s story should inspire all readers, both young and old alike, to have the faith to chase their dreams, no matter what obstacles they perceive to be in front of them. -- Russell Simmons, cofounder of Def Jam Records and author of Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All
After graduating from high school, the number one question I received was, “What was it like playing with LeBron?” The second most-asked question was, “What kind of coach did you have?” The first question was easier to answer than the second. But now you can read this book and begin to understand how great a man Coach Dru is! For Coach Dru, living a full and productive life has always been about more than just basketball. It’s about relationships and being a Christian man and being a great father. It’s about how to treat women, how to compete, how to be a student athlete, and so much more. Coach Dru is the best coach I’ve ever had. Not just because he’s so good at the X’s and O’s, but also because he knows how to help a young person be the best person he can be. Coach often asked, “Are you prepared for the game of life? Because it never stops, even when the clock on the scoreboard hits 00:00!” Thank you, Coach Dru, for all you have done to prepare me for the game of life. -- Willie McGee, Fab Five member of the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team (1999–2003)
Dad, you have been an ongoing leader in my life. I value what you taught me both on and away from the basketball court. You’re a man of many quotes to live by. Each morning as I was growing up, you would always remind me, “Be a leader and not a follower today.” Well, I would follow your lead any day. Proud to be a former player, a student to your lessons, and, most of all, I am proud to call you my dad -- Dru Joyce III, Fab Five member of the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team (1999–2003)
Coach Dru has shared some valuable principles in life with us in Beyond Championships. My son, Jibri, came to Coach Dru’s program at St. Vincent-St. Mary as a junior in high school and has become a better person and a better player. I am grateful for Coach Dru’s mentoring and the leadership he is providing for so many young people. Beyond Championships reveals the heart and soul of a good man and a good coach. It’s a must-read for young people, as well as for older people. Thanks, Coach Dru, for sharing with us some lifetime lessons we can all use on our journey. -- Mel Blount, four-time Super Bowl champion and member of the NFL Hall of Fame
Beyond Championships is what happens when one of the nation’s most influential high school coaches lets us in on his secrets to success. Whether or not you love sports, this book and the life lessons herein are invaluable to both young and old. Sit down, read, enjoy, and learn! -- Harvey Mason Jr., music/movie producer; producer of More Than a Game
Anything that Dru Joyce has to say is important, because he is a quality man who cares about young men! -- Bishop F. Josephus Johnson II, presiding bishop of The Beth-El Fellowship of Visionary Churches
Coach Dru’s teachings on faith, family, and character are an inspiration to athletes and nonathletes alike. Beyond Championships transcends sports the way Coach Dru’s influence on young lives reaches far beyond the basketball court. -- Kristopher Belman, writer/director of the documentary More Than a Game
Product Details
- Title : Beyond Championships: A Playbook for Winning at Life
- Authors:
- Joyce II, Dru
- Morrow, Chris
- James, LeBron
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Publication Date: 2015
- ISBN: 9780310340539