Pete Carroll, the newly appointed head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, is not just a football strategist. He is a dedicated educator. At 73 years old, Carroll spends two hours each week teaching a course titled “The Game is Life” at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. This singular role ensures that his fingers are always on the pulse of tomorrow’s leaders. He’s more than happy to impart his hard-won lessons about competition and resilience to them.
Along with Varun Soni, dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, Carroll co-teaches the course. He additionally works with David Belasco, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship. Together, they take students on an immersive journey through lessons that weave together life’s obstacles with the drive to compete found in all athletic endeavors.
The course proved wildly popular, as seen by the initial wave of 300 applicants, speaking both to the demand and popularity of Carroll’s message. To be accepted into enrollment, students need to fill out an extensive application, with probing questions to determine just how competitive they are. This creative selection process is a testament to Carroll’s focus on competition and the development of the whole person.
Carroll’s teaching philosophy is focused on belief that practice makes perfect. He delivers this message with great zeal, frequently leveraging case studies and personal stories that connect deeply with his students. His ability to connect with them is widely recognized. Many students describe him as a mentor who inspires motivation and engagement.
“He gives his absolute best to every single person that he comes into contact with.” – Alexis Niblock
His students come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a common goal: to absorb wisdom from a seasoned coach who has achieved tremendous success throughout his career. And yes — Carroll took the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory. He won two national championships while at USC. His extraordinary coaching accolades and achievements only add to his credibility in the classroom, thus making his highly-requested lessons even more inspiring.
Even when he doesn’t play a central role, Carroll’s fierce commitment to it in teaching comes through. Even after he was named the Raiders’ head coach, he continued to teach the course. Yet, he believes in keeping this balance and views teaching as a part of his life’s work and identity.
“Through the hard work, the connection of passion, realizing that you can overcome stuff,” – Pete Carroll
His approach provides a springboard for students to take on impossible-seeming tasks and cultivate grit. Carroll’s own vulnerabilities and experiences are frequently laid bare. This practice fosters an accessible tone, setting the stage for students to feel at ease sharing their dreams and failures.
The energy Carroll brings into the classroom goes beyond that. It’s downright infectious. He inspires students through his own passion and energy for teaching life lessons that go far beyond the gridiron.
“He’s the epitome of the game is life,” – Shadi Angotti
Students value Carroll’s transparency in telling personal narratives that drive home important life lessons. His willingness to be vulnerable tells us much about his character and teaching style.
“To hear the true passion that he speaks with and vulnerability has been so crazy,” – Drew Liddell
The passion in Carroll’s engagement with his students is impossible to miss. What many convey is how he appears to make a personal connection with each person, just as every student knows they are valuable to him.
“He just somehow can find a way to connect with every single one of us,” – Mia Triolo
As he takes his next step with the Raiders, Carroll continues to believe in the resiliency of the human spirit. He understands that resilience is the price paid for success. He consistently calls out hope as an essential ingredient of pushing past barriers.
“Resilience is about having hope. If you’ve lost hope, you ain’t bouncing back. You’re done.” – Pete Carroll
Ultimately, Carroll wants his students to commit to their passions and create space for what’s important in their lives. He challenges them to develop their craft like a garden that needs to be tended.
“If you want something, you’ve got to get good at it…. You have to find a way to make time, make scheduling, set priorities, get your s–t so that you can be available to get good at what you want to get good at.” – Pete Carroll
His engaging and challenging teaching style has been instrumental in advancing his students’ career success. It provides them with purpose and direction in their lives. The experience gained in Carroll’s class frequently goes beyond the classroom, inspiring students to begin thinking about their own individual paths.
It’s clear business practice, which Carroll skillfully walks as a line between coach and educator. He is intensely passionate about fostering a culture where students can flourish. His legacy extends well past the gridiron. In doing so, he cultivates the next generation of leaders—equipped and inspired to change the world when they set out into adulthood.
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