Against the Grain: A Coach's Wisdom on Character, Faith, Family, and Love

Bill Courtney is the coach from the Oscar-winning documentary, "Undefeated." Although his book looks like a football book, more like the movie, it's so much more. Courtney passes along the 14 core tenants that he believes every person should have in order to be successful. Courtney shares these and other compelling stories—with pithy statements such as “True compassion is when you reach out to another person when there is no benefit to yourself,” and “How we treat those we disagree with says more about us than our opinions”—to illustrate how readers can enrich themselves their families, their businesses, and their communities. Courtney goes against the grain of today’s me-first culture, while explaining why these time-tested principles are needed now more than ever. He shows that winning isn’t just about the score at the end of the game, or the profit margin. Ultimately, it’s about the impact you make on your fellow human beings and the legacy you leave behind.  “Bill Courtney is a special person with an inspiring and incredible story.” —Jimmy Kimmel, comedian and host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!  “Coach Courtney is an ultimate competitor with a passion for excellence. He continues to be an inspiration to coaches and players all around the football world—from high school to college to the pros—and also those from off the gridiron as well.” —Pete Carroll, head coach of Super Bowl XLVIII champions the Seattle Seahawks and New York Times best selling author  “If you haven’t seen the film Undefeated, you should, ASAP. @IamCoachBill is a real leader who draws out the true character of his players.” -- Bryan Burkhart, You’re the Boss blog on NYTimes.com, via Twitter  “Undeniably charismatic with a tough love approach towards his players.” -- IFC Film Reviews  “The star of a new documentary is a leader for our times.” –-Matt Sullivan, Esquire  “The role for a coach is often defined by wins and losses. Coach Courtney is a unique coach who understands that his role is not about a trophy, but about developing the next generation of leaders across the globe. Against The Grain speaks directly to that audience, both young and old, and is a must read for anyone who strives to impact others.” –Yogi Roth, former QB coach at USC, New York Times bestselling co-author of Win Forever and author of From PA to LA, Color and College Football Analyst for Pac 10 Football  “Sports is not the only realm where coaching counts. Bill Courtney has written a book that demonstrates to the beaten-down executive that by peeling down to the values of character, commitment and leadership, you can find your way back to a successful business and a meaningful life.”—Jeanie Buss, president, Los Angeles Lakers  “Bill Courtney has nothing to prove to anyone as a football coach, as a businessman and as a human being. But if you want proof that his life has been fascinating, Against the Grain gives you all you need. Enjoy the ride.” —John Feinstein, author and columnist  “The old-fashioned values of Coach Courtney come across as revolutionary in the cynical contemporary world. [Against the Grain is] full of detail and anecdotes worthy of a Southern preacher but without the guilt.”—Ron Shelton, director of Bull Durham and Tin Cup  “I was inspired, especially by the chapter on perseverance. Everyone faces adversity and if you persevere through the tough times, you become resilient, which leads to success.” —Pam Shriver, International Tennis Hall of Famer and ESPN broadcaster