Brian Schottenheimer, the newly appointed head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, has kicked off the offseason program with a unique approach, blending team-building activities and lessons from his father, Marty Schottenheimer. He announced his first two days in the office with a crawfish boil. He even organized a paintball day, helping to establish the fun, competitive, engaging environment he wants to create this season in person and on the field.
Schottenheimer’s program is built on the motto of “Compete Every Day”.
Spirit of the Game
Amazingly, this simple mantra captures the importance of effort and self-determination in every aspect of the game. Incorporating daily free throw shooting and putting competitions have helped create that kind of competitive spirit. This program helps promote sportsmanship and friendship between competitors, while developing their focus and talents.
Williams proved to be the offseason’s best for both free throw shooting contests, letting everyone know there’s more to him than just being a big, bad football player. Beyond the skills learned, these life experiences deepen team connections. They reveal Schottenheimer’s broader ambition to establish a culture in which his players push one another to improve daily.
Schottenheimer is the 10th full-time coach in Cowboys history. With these high expectations to start, he will need to set the tone for his team as he looks to follow in the footsteps of his father. Marty Schottenheimer was one of the all-time greats in NFL history. He racked up more than 200 victories during a remarkable 21-year coaching career with four HBCUs before his death in 2021 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease. As Brian comes to terms with his father’s legacy, we see the way his father taught him to live his life.
“I miss him … I would tell him that I’ve used all the life lessons that he taught me, not just about football. But about life and being a good man and good husband and good father and that I think I’m doing OK for myself,” said Schottenheimer, expressing his emotional connection to his father’s teachings.
As he stood at his introductory press conference, the weight of the loss sunk in. What a wonderful moment, and he so wished that Marty could have been there to see this great milestone. “When I turned the corner, I saw the players, all the players that were here, and he would know the fact that all those players showed up that I’m doing it the right way,” he shared.
To fill this particularly difficult role, Schottenheimer has leaned pretty hard on his father’s friends. One important example is Bill Cowher, who served as an assistant under Marty before eventually becoming head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cowher’s counsel has helped tremendously as Brian starts to craft his vision for the Cowboys.
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