JR Boisclair was this week's host and brought us Larry McKenzie, an inspiring speaker and Minnesota's winningest high school basketball coach ever. JR noted Coach McKenzie's incredible basketball accomplishments, but observed "more importantly, it's what he does to make these boys winners off the court." Coach came to Minneapolis North High School 3.5 years ago after coaching for a number of years at Holy Angels. At the time "North had been left for dead" and was scheduled to be closed, with only 69 kids enrolled. At the time the basketball program had no wins and a collective GPA of 1.6. Coach McKenzie set about changing the culture of the team to one where the boys could believe in who they are, and could then start to "refuse to lose". 

He taught the boys to value each day, to view each day as an choice to live fully or not, and to realize there are no do-overs on time squandered. He shows the boys consistently how much he cares for them, that strong character is what he expects of them, and that he will hold them accountable for their actions. He teaches that if winning was easy, everyone would be a winner; champions do what others are unwilling to do: go to bed early, study, say no at parties, and work at their opportunities. Coach McKenzie and his staff have made great personal commitments of time and money to these boys by structuring  after school programs to position the boys for success. Throughout the week the team meets after school and works till late into the evening. Far more than basketball, they practice yoga, financial skills, chess and more, receive wisdom from inspirational speakers, and work with mentors. Thank you to JR and Coach McKenzie for showing us an inspiring pathway to success for youth.