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Bill Courtney        

Subject of the Academy Award-winning Documentary, UNDEFEATED Author, Against the Grain: A Coach's Wisdom on Character, Faith, Family, and Love

"His sucess serves as a moving example of what can happen when people in authoritiy care about others - not just about winning the next game or securing the next client." - Phil Jackson

Bill Courtney is a familiar name to those who saw him in Undefeated, the Oscar-winning movie about the high school football team he coached in a downtrodden section of North Memphis. The documentary, which The New York Times called "an irresistible story," follows the indefatigable coach as he tirelessly works to turn around a troubled inner-city football team, meanwhile putting out fires at his day job: a highly successful lumber company. Now, in his first book, Courtney, Esquire magazine's Coach of the Year in 2012, describes the key principles—including service, civility, leadership, character, commitment, and forgiveness—that have helped young people and adults to live better and more fulfilled lives.

Courtney has also passed along these values to his 120 employees at the lumber company he built from scratch. A former drug addict became a line manager and loving family man; an out-of-control cornerback is now a cadet at West Point; a star running back has discovered he can show his emotions and still be strong. Courtney shares these and other compelling stories—with pithy statements such as "True compassion is when you reach out to another person when there is no benefit to yourself," and "How we treat those we disagree with says more about us than our opinions"—to illustrate how readers can enrich themselves, their families, their businesses, and their communities.

Courtney goes against the grain of today's me-first culture, while explaining why these time-tested principles are needed now more than ever. He shows that winning isn't just about the score at the end of the game, or the profit margin. Ultimately, it's about the impact you make on your fellow human beings and the legacy you leave behind.

He receives rave reviews speaking to such groups as Nike, Frito-Lay, FedEx, the United States Olympic Committee, and many more.

Speech Topics


For Faith Based Groups

Bill Courtney volunteered as a football coach, but he became a father figure to the players as well. Most came from broken homes, and having grown up without a father himself, Courtney could relate to their situation.His personal faith had always sustained him, and as he grew and started his own family, it continued to be a cornerstone of the tools for living he successfully employs.

What Is Success?

According to Courtney, football doesn't build character. It reveals character. When Bill Courtney began volunteering to coach a local losing football team, neither he nor the players knew how far they'd go, but their journey together became an inspiring lesson.The players soon realized that Courtney would not let them slide when it came to the fundamentals. Not just of football, but of the actions that count in the real world: commitment, dedication, integrity.The same traits that Courtney encouraged of his players have proven themselves in his business success as well. Having started a lumber business from his living room, Courtney turned it into a $40 million enterprise that currently does business all over the world. Even when the recession hit, Courtney's business thrived. "Walking the talk" of hard work, integrity and dedication, he believes that if you do the right thing, profits will follow.

According to Courtney, to do the right thing, you need to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone, Deserve Success, Serve Others and Outwork Everyone Else. His discipline, combined with true caring, showed his team that true success isn't about trophies or awards on a shelf. It's about living life by a set of values one can be proud of long after their days on the field were over.

News


Q&A: Coach Bill Courtney from "Undefeated" - Heard in the Hallways
Mar 6, 2013 ... football coach Bill Courtney contacted me after my review of the film was posted in this space. Courtney (pictured right) took the time via email ...
Interview With Bill Courtney On Undefeated
Feb 18, 2013 ... Now, one year later, the film is finally coming to Blu-ray and DVD so everyone can see the story of Coach Bill Courtney's final season at ...
Bill Courtney Offers Leadership Lessons on the Field and in Business
To Bill Courtney — entrepreneur, football coach, subject of an Academy Award- winning documentary — the secret is this: Do it all again the next day.

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