21 Years Later ... And Still True

This weekend hit differently….

It’s been 21 years since the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team reached the Sweet 16, and watching the game at Williams Arena with 10,000+ people packed in, you could feel what it meant.

But for me, as the former coach, it goes much deeper.

I believed winning at this level could be done there, and that’s why I took the job years ago.

At the time, it wasn’t an easy “yes.” The program was coming out of a dark period, navigating NCAA sanctions we inherited that impacted us for years.

But I took the job because I believed in what it could become.

I knew something then that I still believe now...if you build it the right way, if you stay committed to discipline and standards… it can be done.

The hardest part has always been getting into the NCAA tournament and being part of March Madness. The Big Ten doesn’t give you anything...you fight for every win. I remember those seasons when we were one of the first four out, knowing exactly which game could have changed everything.

At that level, there is no forgiveness.

That’s why watching this team, built with Minnesota kids who chose to stay, develop, and compete—meant a lot.

And that’s where this connects far beyond basketball.

In business, I see the same pattern every day.

Leaders step into organizations that aren’t perfect. They inherit challenges that have broken systems, cultural gaps, and they are losing.

And there’s always a choice:

Do you try to shortcut it? Or do you commit to building it the right way?

The leaders who create sustained success don’t chase quick wins. They do the hard work in establishing standards, building trust, develop people, and create the foundation that holds under pressure.

If you do it right, you give yourself a chance and that is what this weekend represented.