Oct. 25, 2007

Former Baylor head football coach Grant Teaff was guest speaker at the Baylor Leadership Academy on October 15. Teaff, now Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association, spoke at the joint meeting of Emerging and Veteran Leaders.

Teaff stressed to the group of ninety team leaders the importance developing the intangibles of leadership, including motivation, self-discipline, total effort, attitude and caring. "The use and development of the individual's intangibles is paramount to the success of the individual and the quality of their leadership." said Teaff. "A leader must be the best they can be. A leader who masters the five intangibles will succeed and lead by example."

The Athletics Department implemented the Baylor Leadership Academy this year with the goal of developing student-athletes as effective team leaders today and successful worldwide leaders for tomorrow. "I applaud the Baylor Athletic Department for instituting the Leadership Academy." he said. "First, it is important to place an emphasis on leadership. Second, it is important to provide opportunities for leaders to grow and develop. Baylor athletic teams will benefit from stronger leadership. But, the real winners will be the youngsters who realize that they can lead successfully in their families, their communities and across our great nation."

The author of five books, Teaff graciously gave each attendee a copy of Paul J. Meyer's book Become the Coach You Were Meant to Be - The 5 Goals of Leadership for which Teaff authored the foreword. Teaff led Baylor's football program for 21 seasons. His outstanding career as a college coach has placed him in eight Halls of Fame, including the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.