If you are a coach, teacher, manager, and/or parent, this short story sends a power message!

The article, whose title ( "Zen & The Art of Building a Program" by Pete Thamel) profiled Dan Hawkins, who at that time was Boise State football coach.

Hawkins has experienced remarkable success with what had previously been terribly weak programs.

He traces his approach to a moment when he was an assistant coach and complained to his coaching supervisor about the "stupidest guy" on the team:

As a 22-year-old assistant, Hawkins complained to Bob Foster, the defensive coordinator, that one of his linebackers could not master a technique.

"He must be the stupidest guy in America," Hawkins said.

"I've told this guy 100 times, and he doesn't get it."

As Hawkins related it, Foster got two inches from Hawkins's face, his veins bulging in his neck, and said: "You must be the stupidest coach in America. You told the guy 100 times, and he doesn't get it. You're a terrible teacher."

The lesson stuck.