Behind the Champions: Team USA Head Coaches Share Their Mentorship Advice

It would be fair to say that I make most of my best decisions when I’m riding my bike. It’s such a beautiful feeling, the wind on my face. I don’t answer the mobile phone. I don’t answer messages. It’s my own space. I learned from a coaching perspective, you need to give yourself a good one hour a day of your own time to yourself or to your family or to your wife.

His coaching philosophy: Every athlete is different. I think if you can challenge an athlete and get them to do something that they believed they could never achieve, it’s a turning point for the athlete — and for the coach. Getting the best out of the athlete is a wonderful thing.

Head Coach Steve Kerr has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships.

Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images

Coach: Steve Kerr, 58, men's basketball

Background: Five-time NBA champion as a player; four-time NBA champion as a coach with the Golden State Warriors

His journey: I was 6 or 7 years old and I went to a UCLA game. They were in their heyday. I just fell in love with it. All of it. The gym, the team, the crowd. I went to a John Wooden youth basketball camp, and the former UCLA coach was a legend. That’s when I started learning about the game and I knew I wanted to play basketball.

In the back of my mind, I always knew I would be a coach one day. I grew up in a ­family of teachers. Coaching and teaching are the same, so it came naturally for me. I waited until my kids were grown because of how demanding coaching can be.

I just missed a chance to play on the 1988 Olympic team. I made it to the last cut. Now being able to coach the team, it’s amazing. I wish I could still play, but my knees won’t let me.

His coaching philosophy: At this level, I coach the most talented players in the world, but even they have to know that you’re going to help them reach their goals and dreams. Then they will respect you. Players just want you to be supportive, even in pro basketball. That’s the most important thing. You can be demanding, but you have to be supportive.

Senior Director of Sport Performance & Coaching Education for USA Weightlifting Team Mike Gattone has been coaching for more than 30 years.

Matt Nager

Coach: Mike Gattone, 60, weight lifting

Background: Has worked as a weight lifting coach for more than 30 years; senior director of sport performance for USA Weightlifting

His journey: I realized early on that I was a strong kid but I wouldn’t be an Olympian. So I wondered how I could make weight lifting a big part of my life. That’s where coaching came in. My mom was a teacher. I studied physical education. I knew that teaching and coaching was going to be an avocation for me.

As I age, I read a lot about folks spending more time alone, especially when they’re not working. I’m thankful to be coaching and be around these young kids, who are fun. It’s nice for me as a coach to be in a social group.

His coaching philosophy: I love the relationships that coaching builds. I’m a pretty outgoing person, so it all fit in naturally for me. The first thing as a coach is to find that kind of unique, intrinsically motivated person who says, “This is my thing, and I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to go through the grind and do this.” That’s the first thing I look for.

Home support is a big deal. Even these Olympic-level athletes, although they are paid a monthly stipend, a lot of times they live at home, train in a garage or a CrossFit gym. You have to have a social support network.

And find your joy. I try to make practices for my athletes fun by ­doing different challenges. For anybody, if you want to be good at something, you have to find joy in that process, whatever makes you tick and makes you want to keep putting in the time.

Anthony Nesty, seen here earlier this year at a swim meet at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center in Auburn, Ala., coaches at the University of Florida.

Bryce Mitchell/UAA Communications

Coach: Anthony Nesty, 56, men's swimming

Background: Olympic gold medal winner in 1988 for Suriname, bronze medalist in 1992; coach at the University of Florida

His journey: My dad wanted me to do an individual sport. He thought of the discipline aspect. Individual sports are all about you and how much work you’re willing to put in to get the results. You have no one to blame if things don’t go right but yourself.

When I graduated college, my dad said, “Son, you’re on your own.” All I knew was swimming. I started coaching five days a week at my high school. I really started enjoying it, seeing the joy on the kids’ ­faces when they make improvements. Now, I’m starting my 27th season as a coach at Florida.

His coaching philosophy: Coaches have to bring the juice, or it’s going to be a long two-hour training. Kids look up to you, and if you bring the energy on a day-to-day basis, they are going to bring energy too.

There is a lot of competition in practice. I deal with 60 to 70 athletes; I know not ­everyone is going to get along, but they must respect each other. Practices are challenging, but when the athletes respect one another, it makes a big difference.

Everybody sees the good our athletes are capable of because they see them at their best. But it’s a roller coaster getting there. Such is life. But as coaches, the athletes make us look better than we actually are.