117 | Part 6: Coach Dino Babers Talks Roaches, Man Hugs, and the Art of Building a Team with Love

About the Guest

Dino Babers is the former head coach of the Syracuse Orange football team and has a storied career in college football. His previous roles include being an offensive coordinator at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2000, where he worked under Coach Dick Tomey. Babers also served as the head coach at Eastern Illinois, earning the title Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year twice, Bowling Green, and at Syracuse was honored as the AP ACC Coach of the Year honor in 2018. Babers began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Hawaii with Coach Tomey in 1984.

Episode Summary

In this captivating episode of "Becoming UnDone," host Toby Brooks delves into the life and legacy of the legendary Coach Dick Tomey through the eyes of one of his former assistants, Coach Dino Babers. From an unforgettable 1998 football season at the University of Arizona to Babers' first encounter with Coach Tomey during a home visit, this episode provides an in-depth look at the man behind the coaching philosophy that shaped countless careers. Drawing attention to Tomey's emphasis on team unity and cultural integration among diverse players, Babers offers an enriching perspective on what it meant to coach and be coached by Tomey.

The conversation unfolds around Babers' personal anecdotes like dealing with roaches during recruitment visits and the classic football wisdom imparted by Tomey. The Hawaii native shares poignant reflections on Tomey's ability to cultivate family (ohana) within his teams—a culture that valued consistency, loyalty, and love for each other as essential elements of success. Brooks and Babers also explore how Tomey's coaching methods would adapt to today's era of college football transformations like NIL, transfer portals, and analytics, drawing lessons that align with the central themes of leadership and legacy embedded throughout the discussion.

Key Takeaways

• Coach Dick Tomey's approach centered on profound human connection and team culture, emphasizing that "football isn't complicated, people are."
• Babers attributes his own coaching style to Tomey's teaching: "you're either coaching it or you're letting it happen," highlighting the importance of accountability.
• Through humorous and earnest stories, Babers illustrates Tomey's strategy of employee empowerment, placing trust in players and coaches alike.
• The episode examines meaningful cultural integration within teams, presenting diverse backgrounds as a strength and fostering inclusivity.
• In today's shifting landscape of college sports, the adherence to Tomey's lessons on consistency and teamwork retains timeless relevance and empowers current and future coaches.

Notable Quotes

• "You're either coaching it or you're allowing it."—Dino Babers, reflecting on accountability and responsibility.
• "He mixed different cultures; he instilled ohana."—Dino Babers, on Tomey's innovative team-building methods.
• "It meant making men love one another; it meant creating ohana out of chaos."—Dino Babers, summarizing Tomey's legacy.
• "He had the ability to walk into anybody's living room."—Dino Babers, acknowledging Tomey's adaptability and cha