'They weren't very successful' – Brian Schottenheimer reveals his promise to avoid a common mistake as first-year Cowboys HC
New job, new title, new assignments. Same man. That's the goal of Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer ahead of his first season running the show in the NFL. With over a decade's worth of offensive coordinator experience, Schottenheimer's authority in the building is obviously growing this season. But to change his personality or way of […]
New job, new title, new assignments. Same man. That's the goal of Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer ahead of his first season running the show in the NFL.
With over a decade's worth of offensive coordinator experience, Schottenheimer's authority in the building is obviously growing this season. But to change his personality or way of carrying himself would be a mistake, he says. One he is not willing to make, as he explained when asked about potentially changing his approach with players.
"No, (I won't change), I think I’ve always been someone who believes in connection—getting to know these guys," Schottenheimer told reporters on Saturday. "I’ve always been able to be demanding, and I’m pretty good at disciplining guys. Not really, man. I promised myself, when I got this opportunity, that I wouldn’t change."
For Schottenheimer, it's not a decision made lightly, either. Rather, it's based on what he's seen during his time in the league and others' failures.
"I’ve seen too many people change, and the ones I’ve seen do that—I'm not going to name them—they weren’t very successful," the Cowboys head coach added. "I plan on being really successful, and the reason I believe I will be is because of my values, my beliefs, how hard I work, and the fact that I’m going to be me. I’m not going to change that for anybody."
Not changing won't guarantee him success, either. Head coaching is a tough job and Xs and Os matter as much as the talent on the roster. But what is clear is Schottenheimer's speech about building relationships and prioritizing culture as a head coach back in January wasn't just talk. He influenced the team's draft process, he's changing players' seats in the locker room and he is emphasizing his attitude remains the same.
He's off to a good start. Now comes the hardest part of the job: Winning on the field.
