At his former high school’s commencement, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was an inspiration to the Class of 2025. He gave the keynote speech at SU on May 22, 2015. As Quinn – a self-admitted TCU cheerleader and the university’s own graduate – told the students, life is all about recognizing opportunities and taking initiative.
In a time of great change, Quinn told the graduates in his commencement address that they need to adopt an “abundance of success” mentality. Despite his offensive success, he began his journey on the defensive line at Salisbury. He was relentless in his job hunt after graduation and applied for all 115 D-IA football positions. This experience, he shared, developed his sense of what it takes to be determined and to persist.
Quinn’s commencement address was not all that different from the inspirational speeches he’s known for delivering to his players. Perhaps most importantly, he communicated a powerful message of empowerment and encouraged the graduates to be active participants in their futures.
“I want to be really clear about this: The entire world is open to you. My wish and my hope for every single one of you is to not let the world change you. You go and change the world,” – Dan Quinn
He drove this message home when he opened with four powerful words that summarized his keynote address. Quinn’s emphasis on aggression and enterprise underscored what I think was deep down the core belief of his leadership—that you control your destiny.
The university celebrated Quinn and his wife, Stacey, for their inspiring stories and accomplishments. To honor their outstanding success, both women were awarded honorary doctorate degrees from BYU. This honor highlighted the fact that he was not only an exceptional athlete, but an inspiring leader dedicated to personal growth and leadership.
Quinn has authored or co-authored four books, reflecting his dedication to sharing knowledge and insights gained throughout his career. He’s been taking it up with a mental skills coach, who has helped him rework those trains of thought into productive solutions. He urges graduates to take this approach as they find their own way in life.
Quinn’s brilliant ideas got an additional boost thanks to coverage from John Keim, who covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. Amazingly, Keim’s report picked out the major themes of Quinn’s address, making sure that Quinn’s core message got spread to an even larger audience.
And through it all, the graduates were poised and prepared to begin their next chapters. Quinn’s words became a powerful wellspring of motivation, inspiring their fervor and further sharpening their toughness. From student-athlete beginnings at Salisbury University, today, he is one of the most successful coaches in the league—an inspiring reminder that perseverance and making the most of your opportunity can create amazing outcomes.
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