From Worst to First – Miracle or New Management?

People are quick to say, “That can’t be done,” or “That team will always be on the bottom.” But Indiana’s 16–0 season and National Championship title proved that narrative wrong. It wasn’t a sport’s miracle…it’s what happens when the right people are in the right seats at the right time.

Turnarounds don’t happen because of motivational speeches or wishful thinking. They happen when new leaders, or coaches, are brought in and are willing to make the tough calls – the disciplined, sometimes uncomfortable decisions about the culture, people, roles, and expectations. They see the vision and the potential of the team and do whatever it takes to make it a reality.

That same dynamic plays out every day in business. Teams don’t struggle intentionally…no one wants to lose quarter after quarter or year after year. They struggle when the right people aren’t in the right seats, when accountability is non-existent, when standards and expectations are at rock bottom, or when the vision isn’t clear or compelling enough to affect positive change.

When you bring in the right people — people who compete for the team, own outcomes, and hold themselves and others to a higher bar — momentum shifts. Confidence grows. Execution sharpens. What once felt out of reach starts to feel possible, and even, inevitable.

The question was never whether it could be done.The question is whether leaders are willing to build the team, culture, and direction required to make it happen.