What do Michael Jordan, Dean Smith, and high-performing CEOs all have in common? The answer: culture beats talent every time.

In this episode of Decidedly, we sit down with Coach Matt Doherty, 1982 UNC National Champion, former head coach of the Tar Heels, and now an executive coach for business leaders. From cutting down nets with Jordan to coaching at Notre Dame and UNC, Doherty has lived through the highs of championships and the lows of leadership challenges.

Coach Doherty shares stories from the locker room, the boardroom, and beyond, showing exactly how to apply championship-level leadership to your business, team, or career.

KEY TOPICS

• The untold lessons from Dean Smith’s legendary “Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together” culture

• Why culture, not just systems or talent, is the deciding factor for winning teams and thriving companies

• The three things only a CEO (or head coach) can do — and why you can’t outsource them

• How to rebound from setbacks and turn failure into fuel for future success

• Why every leader needs a personal board of directors to make better decisions

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction

• 02:38 The Esteemed Title of 'Coach'

• 04:23 Impact of Coaches on Young Lives

• 11:11 Journey to North Carolina

• 12:32 Winning the 1982 Championship

• 13:28 Core Values and Team Culture

• 18:18 Challenges of Following a Legendary Coach

• 23:18 Lessons in Leadership and Executive Coaching

• 24:46 Navigating Relationships with Mentors

• 25:48 Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

• 29:50 Managing Up and Organizational Dynamics

• 33:15 Building and Motivating Teams

• 36:30 Vision, Culture, and Systems in Leadership

• 45:13 Decision Making and Peer Advisory

• 48:44 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

If you’ve ever wondered how champions are built –  in sports or in business – this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

#Leadership #Basketball #ExecutiveCoaching #DecidedlyPodcast

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CONNECT WITH COACH MATT

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmattdoherty/ 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DohertyCoaching# 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/ 

• X: https://x.com/DohertyMatt 

• Website: https://dohertycoaching.com/ 

Coach Matt Doherty, a nationally recognized motivational speaker, best-selling author, and executive coach, began his leadership journey as a starter on the 1982 UNC National Championship team alongside Michael Jordan under the legendary Dean Smith. He went on to become Head Coach at Notre Dame and North Carolina—earning AP National Coach of the Year in 2001—and has since worked with ESPN, the Indiana Pacers, and major corporations to strengthen leadership, culture, and team dynamics. Today, through keynotes, media appearances, and executive coaching, Coach Doherty shares actionable lessons from the court to the boardroom with a simple mission: “Learn & Grow” every day.