What I learned from Leon High coach Gene Cox’s magic of thinking big | Judge J. Layne Smith
On August 24, the Leon High School Football Hall of Fame holds its 47th annual dinner, and this year I am serving as the emcee. Planning for this event has stirred memories.
As a kid, my chief ambition was to play football for Leon High School's legendary coach, Gene Cox. At one time, he was the winningest high school football coach in Florida. I worked to make it happen, and in the three seasons I played varsity ball for Coach Cox, the Lions won 25 of 33 games.
Cox designed the offenses and defenses his teams ran based on each team's talent. He and his coaches scouted our opponents to game-plan our strategy. We regularly beat evenly matched teams. Cox emphasized execution, conditioning, and strength training. He also stressed good character and planning for success.
Between my 10th and 11th grade seasons, Cox gave his players a self-help book to read. The book pushed two themes:
1. Your self-image determines what you become.
2. Having low self-esteem is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Thus, our leader taught us to set goals, believe, and succeed.
Football games unfold play-by-play. Our coaches filmed games and graded each player's performance with a plus or minus on every play. We each had specific assignments, and Cox sought perfect execution. He gave us honest, blunt feedback. We knew what he expected and practiced hard to make it happen.
There was nothing easy about playing for Coach Cox. Yet, playing ball for him taught us life lessons. We learned to set goals and play to win. He taught us toughness and work ethic. Football is a metaphor for life. You play through the whistle and get up when knocked down.
Cox had to assess players' strengths and put them into positions to win. For example, he knew I'd make a lousy quarterback but an excellent fullback and defensive end. So, I played fullback and defensive end. He put me in a position to succeed.
After my time as a football player ended, I continued to apply what I learned from Cox to my education and career. I competed to be the best student and trial lawyer. Now, I give my all as a trial judge.
Let me share seven pearls of wisdom from Gene Cox:
Decide what will make you happy. You might make a miserable engineer but a happy florist. Follow you bliss.
2. Aim big and be realistic. Some jobs require God-given athleticism or talent. For example, I could never be the starting center for a pro basketball team or a dancer for the Bolshoi Ballet. Yet, like me, you can achieve most things you put your mind to.
3. Visualize success, and don't feed self-doubt.
4. Work hard and put in the time and effort. Having a good attitude makes a giant difference.
5. Know the game's rules, and don't beat yourself.
6. Roll with the punches, and don't be afraid to adjust your goals when opportunity knocks.
7. Never quit or give less than your best effort.
Sadly, Cox passed in 2009. Thank you, coach. Your boys still remember.
The Honorable J. Layne Smith is the circuit judge for Wakulla County, Florida, a bestselling author, and a public speaker. He is a member of the Leon High School Football Hall of Fame.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: What I learned from Leon High coach Gene Cox’s magic of thinking big | Judge J. Layne Smith
