Hoosiers is a film following the journey of Coach Dale and how he brings a troubled basketball team from hometown champions to state champions. The film depicts power struggle, getting out of your comfort zone, and what a true leader looks like. This paper aims to highlight how Coach Dale is a leader and the different concepts that apply to his leadership style.
Coach Dale’s leadership can be connected to the five practices of the “Ten Commitment of Leadership”. The first practice listed is “Challenging the Process”. This is where leaders refuse to accept the status quo and take risks by bringing change. Coach Dale emphasizes this practice by coming into a small town in Indiana that are set in their ways and don’t necessarily seem very keen
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“Expert Power” comes from one’s expertise and knowledge on a subject. They have an authority because they know so much about one topic. This is the first power we witness in the beginning of the film. As mentioned earlier, Coach Dale makes it evident to the townsfolk that he has coached college basketball and knows what he is doing, which is why he refuses to take advice from them on what to do. This power can be tied back to the barbershop scene where he leaves after he is being questioned and told what to do with the team. While it left the men confused, it sets the tone that Coach Dale is not going to take anyone’s advice. His knowledge and expertise is what led the team to the state …show more content…
“Emotional Healing” is when a leader helps followers heal from trauma, disappointment, and hardship. This type of leadership makes its presence known in the film helping Everett cope with his alcoholic father. It is seen that having an alcoholic father puts a strain on Everett because he is embarrassed by him and doesn’t want to end up like him. Coach Dale takes the time to help Everett cope with his father, especially when he is made the assistant coach.
The last type of Servant Leadership is going to be “Elevating Purpose”. “Elevating Purpose” is where a leader prioritizes a larger mission and working towards a shared goal. While the main goal is to get into the State Championships and win, Coach Dale uses this opportunity to work on the players personal development as well. All these practices and games weren’t just about winning, Coach Dale also used these opportunities to teach them teamwork, grit, and to believe in oneself.
All in all, Coach Dale has been portrayed as a leader who is stern but has their best interest at heart. He wants nothing but success for his players but that involves different types of leadership and power like we examined earlier in this paper. To conclude, one can learn a lot from Coach Dale and apply his practices into the real world. He embodies what it takes to be a great leader and show that there is more to basketball than just getting the ball through the