UST Men's Basketball Coach Strives for Excellence On and Off The Court

Reprinted from Traditions, Spring 2017-2018
July 24, 2017

"Excellence then is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle

John Tauer’91, Psychology Professor and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of St. Thomas, has this simple mantra as his foundation for a culture of leadership that has sown unprecedented success both on the basketball court and off.

With a career dedicated to the formation of student leaders, in both athletics and the classroom, Tauer puts motivation to succeed and leadership to the test each and every day.  It seems to be working;  he coached UST to NCAA DIII Final Four National Champions in 2016.  He is one of only six current NCAA coaches to have a win percentage higher than 80%.

Tauer stands out in NCAA history with the unique distinction of having played in a Final Four game (UST, 1994), and having served as both an Assistant Coach in a Final Four (UST, 2011) and Head Coach (UST, 2013 and 2016). His winning percentage is in the top five out of more than 1000 coaches in NCAA basketball. He may be the only NCAA basketball head coach nationally that is a professor with a PhD. in sport-related psychology.

“Sports is a great teacher of leadership,” stated Tauer, Speaking as a former player, himself, and now a coach, this psychology professor explains, “Athletes are people put in challenging positions that require them to respond to both unpredictable success and failure with both their interpersonal as well as their physical skills.”

Tauer has spent his whole adult life exploring how to help others strive for excellence. “I am fascinated by the fact that true leaders in athletics are often not the most talented, or those that love the sport the most – they are the ones who work hardest and behave most selflessly.” As a psychologist, he has published significant research on the factors that affect intrinsic motivation.

In fact, Tauer, whose work has been featured in the  New York Times wrote a book on the world of youth sports, parental influences and children’s motivation: “Why Less is More for WOSPs (Well-intentioned, Overinvolved Sports Parents): How to be the Best Sports Parent You can Be.” In the UST Men’s Basketball program, NCAA Division III National Champions in 2011 and 2016, Tauer is says it is imperative that the team works together on common goals, but that the players lead themselves in ways that are self-sufficient. “A strong leader is motivated on his own to do the right thing in the right way– by following his or her own moral compass.”

As both a coach and a teacher, he draws on this commitment to create a culture of ethical leadership in his work with his students and players.

“A commitment to excellence, solid and consistent values, and a respect for others must intersect as groups work together in pursuit of common goals,” noted Tauer. And, as Aristotle said, it is a continual process and it demands balance and continual attention.

“In order to lead ethically, we need to lead by example,” proclaimed Tauer. He explains that words and actions matter. A clear vision matters. An environment that rewards hard work and ethical behavior matters. Parents matter. “I was blessed with the most amazing parents who taught me to follow my dreams and work diligently and ethically. I was fortunate to have coaches and teachers at every level who challenged me and were concerned with my growth and development as a student, athlete, and person.

A product of Catholic education himself, he has a deep appreciation for its role in his life. Even at the university level, he abides by the simple mission in his program:

Faith, Family, Academics, Athletes – Honor the first two; Excel in the last two.

Tauer looks back to his days at Cretin-Derham Hall as foundational to this philosophy teachers who impacted him in countless ways. In addition to sports, Tauer was in Men’s Choir, which was one of his favorite classes at CDH, Ecology Club and National Honor Society. “I was blessed to have numerous teachers and coaches who impacted me in countless ways,” Tauer said.

In 1987, he was in the first freshman class of the newly merged, Cretin-Derham Hall, and he is most grateful for the daily interactions with both students and teachers who became amazing mentors.

As an All-State and Academic All-State athlete in basketball and baseball, Tauer particularly noted how he matured as a student athlete during high school.

“Baseball Coach Dennis Denning'62 inspired us to embrace the challenge of wining and competing with tenacity and sportsmanship. Len Horyza, my basketball coach, taught us discipline, no excuses and having a sense of humor while working hard.”He also mentioned Randy Muetzel, who was his freshman basketball coach and laid out a harsh reality that if Tauer didn’t work on his weaknesses, he might never wear a varsity uniform in any sport. This focus on brutal honesty and continual improvement are hallmarks of Tauer’s coaching philosophy.

“We won the state championships in baseball (1990) and basketball (1991), and those were formative experiences that reinforced the notion that hard work and unselfishness could make dreams come true,” recalled Tauer. These lessons have stuck with Tauer throughout his career as a coach and a teacher.

As a parent, he is excited that his oldest son Jack will attend CDH this fall and soon follow in his father’s Raider footsteps.

Tauer hopes his own two boys can chase their respective dreams and balance passion, hard work and a desire to help others. “Life is a magical journey and I hope my sons have the chance to work with people who challenge them to grow and learn in an enjoyable and ethical environment.”

He values the fact the school continued to grow and evolve while maintaining its core values. “I am always struck by the positive energy among students and staff whenever I am in the building. The smiles, the learning, the curiosity and the zest for life are contagious, making CDH a truly special institution.”

This article and more are featured in the Spring 2017-2018 issue of the CDH Magazine, Traditions.