Donnie Jones: Leadership, Relationships, and Winning Teams

What makes a leader worth following?

In this episode of Uncommon Impact, Nathan Whitaker sits down with longtime friend Donnie Jones, head basketball coach at Stetson University and former University of Florida assistant coach during the Gators' back-to-back national championship seasons.

Donnie shares lessons from nearly four decades in coaching about leadership, culture, relationships, and why true success is measured by the lives we influence—not just the games we win.

Whether you lead a business, a team, a classroom, or a family, this conversation offers practical wisdom on earning trust, developing people, and building something that lasts.

In this conversation:

• Why connection matters more than communication

• The difference between success and significance

• Building trust in today's fast-moving world

• Coaching star players and role players without compromising culture

• Creating transformational leadership instead of transactional leadership

• Why the best leaders "lead, love, and share"

About Nathan Whitaker

Nathan Whitaker is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, former NFL executive, Super Bowl champion, leadership speaker, and executive coach.

Learn more:

https://nathanwhitaker.com 

Subscribe for new episodes of Uncommon Impact every Thursday.

Uncommon Impact explores the people, experiences, and principles that shape extraordinary leaders and teams.

Transcript

Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:23

Johnny then went on to be the head coach at Marshall University and the University of Central Florida. He is now the head coach at the Stenton University Hatters, perfect nickname, where he took Stetson to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance a couple of years ago. In addition to being a great coach and focusing on things like leadership and team building and character and wins and losses. Donnie's also great about relationships and focusing on the things that matter in life. I hope you enjoy the conversation. Well, thank you for joining us for Uncommon Impact. I am here with Donnie Jones, longtime friend and the head basketball coach at Stetson University. Coach, thanks so much for being with me.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Nathan, it's always an honor and pleasure to be with you. I appreciate you having me.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Thanks. You know, it's funny, given our Gainesville connections and longtime friends, it occurred to me we actually never have lived in Gainesville at the same time. But it feels like we should have at some point.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Yeah, no question. Well, your relationship and your family have meant so much to me. Uh, and we never had that chance to even be present at the time, like you said, but it's amazing uh how our relationship has been uh so special uh without us even being there uh in person.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

Yeah, no, it's been great. It's been great to stay in touch, and it's nice to have you. You know, this is your seventh year at Stetson, is that right?

SPEAKER_02 1:46

That's correct. Seven years.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Wow, but it was nice to get you back in the area in Central Florida, and for those who don't know, Stetson's in DeLand. And Donnie has done a nice job putting them on the map. Terrific school in a in a neat little town uh near Orlando, kind of Central Florida, over toward the coast as well. Um, but you took them to the first NCAA tournament.

Nathan could never beat Chipper Jones

SPEAKER_00 2:08

I may have shared with you my one Deland story from growing up, and that was playing American Legion baseball. And that we thought we were pretty good in Gainesville, and we had some solid players, and and we kept losing the land, and we finished second in the state to the land. And it turns out that they had this guy, Larry Jones, Chipper Jones, and I guess you're better. The team that has Chipper Jones playing shortstop is gonna beat the team that has Nathan Whitaker playing shortstop. I think that was my takeaway from that. But uh thinking, how is Deland? Who's Deland? How are they beating us every time?

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Well, you both should have been playing for the land of Braves, that's all I got to say. Just not Chipper.

SPEAKER_00 2:44

I wish. I wish, yeah. We had a different path. I just wanted to talk for you, talk with you for a few minutes about your journey, some of the things you've learned, things that might help our viewers when it comes to leadership, when it comes

The mentors who shaped Donnie Jones

SPEAKER_00 3:00

to teams. Who is somebody who shaped you when it came to leadership kind of early on?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

Yeah, you know, uh, you know, your travels are so vital in your growth uh, you know, as a leader. And obviously, started at home with me. I was fortunate to have great parents. Uh, my dad, Dan Jones, my mom uh was uh was a great inspiration on me. Uh anytime you can have that example in your house every day, uh has a huge influence from the start and it gave me a great building block to build from, Nathan. And I think you know, I had another guy that was important to me. I met as a 12-year-old kid, was a guy that walked into a basketball camp and his name was Greg White, and uh he was a great college player at Marshall University, and uh he became kind of the guy I followed as a young kid and wanted to be alike, and uh ended up my senior year. Uh he got the job at Pike from College, his first college job. He was 25 years old, and came up and signed me uh as his first recruit. And so I went to a little small college in Kentucky, and obviously he had a huge influence on me, taught me a lot about discipline, a lot about thinking big, a lot about you know how to dream, uh how to compete, how to prepare. And then, you know, obviously I had a chance. Uh, coaching was what I wanted to do. Uh, once I finished it, I met this guy named Billy Donovan that showed up at Marshall University. And uh Billy kept me. I was on the staff as a graduate assistant, and uh our relationship started there. We were together 13 years and had a huge influence, obviously, and the things I learned from him, uh, you know, about culture and competing and discipline and dedication and focus. I mean, uh, he's a Hall of Fame coach, as we know, uh, for a reason. But a lot of the things that I learned from a leadership is it's kind of been built around those early times of my life.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

You know, it's fascinating. So I knew the Billy connection, obviously, um, and know the name, right? Know Billy well. Um but it's fascinating to me that that somebody like Greg White, right? Where if I wasn't from Kentucky or growing up in West Virginia like you, I hadn't heard of Greg. And and yet the impact that we have along the way can carry on so far beyond that that here's somebody I hadn't heard of who's impacting kids that you're dealing with today at Stetson University because of what he built into you along the way.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Absolutely. You know, every time we get in front of people, uh I've realized the importance of impact, you know, your words, your your your body language, your the things that we talk about a lot in leadership, but uh, you know, people are so influential. And uh and I say

Transactional vs. transformational leadership

SPEAKER_02 5:30

the impact, even today, even though our world is so transactional, uh, you know, I've always tried to understand the ports of transformation, right? Every time that we have a chance. And I think I learned that at an early age, and I felt it as a young guy, and and realized it's even more important in today's world with how fast everything is, and how sometimes insensitive and and responsible and respectful we are sometimes in situations. I think it's even a better opportunity to have even more impact.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

Wow. So all right, let me talk to you a little bit about that, the transformational aspect and how we treat people. You know, you've been coaching for over 30 years, right? Probably approaching 40 and a head coach

Finding your leadership identity

SPEAKER_00 6:15

for half that. Talk to me a little bit about maybe how have have you changed along the way as far as who you were as a head coach when you started, or young assistant, and and how you are now, or has that been kind of who you are now that Greg would recognize you?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Yeah, that's a great question. Well, obviously we have grown. Uh obviously, when you're younger, you're you're trying to figure out your identity. All right, who am I gonna be? Am I gonna be Billy Donovan? Am I gonna be Greg White? I'm gonna be like my dad, am I gonna be me? And what I've learned, I've kind of been a part of all that. And I think with that, finding your own identity early on as a coach is always a challenge because you've kind of modeled what you see and what you experience. And I think uh when you're trying to find your own personality and your own identity, is uh I can remember Billy saying this to me when I took my first coaching job at uh Marshall University. I was called back home to West Virginia, and this wasn't just a couple weeks after we won the national championship back to back 2008. Billy says, I'm I'm excited for you to have your opportunity. I'm just so worried about you because you're such a nice guy. And I'm worried you'll be so nice uh that maybe people will not take you serious. And you've always been the kind guy, right? Well, I had to play that role, uh, and I am a kind guy and take pride in that. But I think the biggest thing was just forming my identity, uh being the head coach when you step over into that seat, and now you have a platform to lead other people, Nathan. I think it gives you uh an opportunity to grow uh through some adversity, how we handle things emotionally, uh, how do you respond to things? Probably as a young coach compared to where you are now. This is my 38th year in college coaching, which has been a blessing to have a chance to be around some some great leaders, and I've always tried to find a way to

Why connection builds trust

SPEAKER_02 8:05

connect because to me, you know, coaching is about connecting just like leading. And I think there's so many uh connections uh and how you build trust and people buy into performing uh for you uh is based on how you can connect. And a lot of people can communicate, but very few can connect, and there's a difference, and I think you know, with that is how how you approach that. And I think that's kind of been my personality uh as a young coach, and even to where I am now, I think uh being able to connect and be transformational with kids and people and and have a sincere, genuine interest in for the best of whoever you're coaching uh in their life.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Wow, yeah, that makes so much sense. And and I guess then to go back to to Billy's point, certainly a lot of a lot of truth to what he's saying, that there are times when you have to make hard decisions and tough choices, and and you also had to figure out who you were in that in that new role. But then you also realizing that okay, this is how I'm wired. I think this is part of what I heard you're saying. This is how I'm wired, and so my strength is that I'm gonna be able to connect.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

That's correct.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

Yeah. And that it's not necessarily I don't know, not I mean, yes, you're you're incredibly nice and I love being around you, but there's also this aspect of listening, understanding. I mean, there are times you have to be tough, but that doesn't mean you're not still connecting because you understand what's best for them and and what they need to do to get to where they need to go.

SPEAKER_02 9:28

Absolutely. And that's so true. You know, I think uh some people, you know, the old saying, tough love or love tough, right? So I've always been a love tough uh guy. I think it's building trust and being able to connect with you and understanding how I speak to you, you know. Coach Serves, famous uh phrase he uses a lot is uh shout praise whisper criticism, right? So I think so much knowing uh your customer and knowing the player and building those relationships and knowing their story is so important, I think, than how we communicate, how we teach, how we build trust, when do we confront, when do we applaud. Uh all those things are so vital because I think all kids are different. And uh and how you coach them, uh, it generally is the same but completely different when it comes down to the individual aspects of really moving performance, I think, in plumbers.

SPEAKER_00 10:22

Okay. Well, let me ask you a little bit about that then when it comes to culture. We all talk about culture and it's a buzzword, but it I do think it matters,

Building a championship culture

SPEAKER_00 10:30

so I think there's a reason we talk about it. Is there a when you're putting together a team and you've got a star player and you've got somebody who might be more of a role player, do you coach them the same? I I would guess there's not two sets of rules, whether stated or not. What do you do with that when an organization has a star worker and somebody else who's you know glue, a glue type person, right? What do you do? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:52

Yeah, you know what, and I and I think uh, you know, culture is what you're doing, right? That's that's the buzzword so important. I think it's something that we fight for all the time. And and you know, as I was talking to a you know, a coach here the other day, he was a really famous coach, and we were talking about culture, right? And that word's been around forever. But I think the most important thing, culture is what you're doing, and and I think how your people are performing in that culture is is something you have to fight for every day. And here I just finished up recruiting, which is completely different than what it was three years ago, is that 90% of your rosters formed in six weeks. And so, with that, through Zoom calls, through through uh dealing with other people uh that's just become involved with the kid, you're trying to get a feel for what fits and what culture is it. Used to be we knew these kids for two, three years, sometimes before they came and eventually joined your team. So, with that, how do we become good in a short period of time, identify what fits your culture and people? So I think we have to be more prepared with our our questions, more prepared with our research, more prepared with the people we're asking the right questions to try to get a feel what fits us as people first. Obviously, talent's got its price of the mission, you've got to have talent, but but I think you know, with the culture, the star player, and then somebody we feel may be just a little bit less talented, but still brings an incredible you know skill level to your program, you know, how how do you blend those together? And I think that's you know, one thing I've done here in another time we can probably share this. You know, I got this leadership program that that you know I do with our guys, and uh and I've spent the last six months just really detailing that for a whole new team, right? And so, how do we come in and how do we build trust? How do we fit? How do we get to know each other? How how do we build cultural trust in 10 months and play for each other? And that used to be a process over time, and still trust is a process, but how do we build trust uh with our team building, our activities, and take that star player and the new kid who wants to be the star, and maybe they're playing for one year and not four. And I think that that is a challenge. Uh, that's a long answer for a short question, but uh that's been a big focus for me is just how do we bring these guys in and and playing for something still bigger than the now uh uh in themselves uh in a world that's so transactional, it's about get yours, get more money, and get to the next place. That's all we're focused on, is where we're gonna be next. But how do we transform that uh in a culture uh you know with stars? And a lot of these guys have been the best player, all of them walking in in year one, not a process of over four years, which is different.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Wow. Well that's uh you know, the interesting thing about that, and and you and I have talked before about the Miami Heat and keeping one of your guys around, Edonis Haslam for years because he was kind of the guy who carried the culture, and so Spoolstra had him on board. But you have to kind of do it and but it's gr it's interesting to hear how intentional you are with this program that you're gonna dig into it. And I might add as an aside that that you are leadership and team building and and uh speaker and consultant from work that you've done along the way. You were with the Clippers for a while doing some stuff and consulting and scouting, and so in addition to coaching, you've also really delved into this leadership field as well. So what I hear you said, the other thing that I just want to touch on and make sure I follow through on is I was talking to Tony Dungey one time about you've got this idea of family that's part of the culture, and then all right, but hold on, let's move that over there and talk to me about the roster construction. He went, No, no, no, no, no. If it's a value, you can't move it over there and now let's talk about something else. He said it's gotta be so for you, trust it sounds like is a big part of we're gonna we're gonna build this sense of trust, whether it's where we're supposed to be, whether it's classes, whether it's practices, whether it's weight room, whether it's how we treat each other, we can trust each other. I mean, anyway, just to it sounds like that's a that's a key component, a core value for you.

Winning lives, not just games

SPEAKER_02 15:00

That really is trust is. I think uh obviously family is uh always one. Uh faith is a big one as well. I mean, all those things never change no matter what the world brings to us. Those are still values of of character, I think, of who we are. And uh and obviously that's gotta be the center point of everything we do, it's gonna flow from that. And I think that's what we built from in this uh leadership program with our guys. And I think we kids want it. Uh, I think kids are looking to be a part of this. Uh I had a kid, Chase Johnson, you probably just saw it was with High Point, it was kind of the March Madness uh, you know, face of the pro program uh here this past March. You know, Chase started here with me at Stetson as a freshman and a sophomore, had two phenomenal years and you know, with the NIL transferred out, and uh he called and he came by and uh he wanted to come to town, he wanted to come to my house, he wanted my wife to cook for him, he wanted to see my family, and he just stayed in a hotel, we went to dinner, we got up, we had coffee, and all he wanted to talk about was Coach Thanks, because everywhere I've been I'd never got what I got here. I'm not saying that to praise what we do, and all it really was was was a family here at our house. It was Thanksgiving here, it was Christmas here, it was just to watch games, or it was just to care about you, or if because the world had got so fast, it just became about basketball. You know, it was never about life. And he wants to be a minister now, and he's talking about you know going to you know uh school to do that and about his faith and how he can impact people. And so, with that, you know, those are the things when we talk about transformation, we we win lives and we win games. You know, we want to win both. And I think uh there's a place for both. And I think that we have to fight for that differently. But I think this world makes us so fast sometimes in leadership, we just get caught up in the the wind, the win, the win. Well, what is the win? And I think that's important when you're building trust and identity and uh, you know, young people uh that need it more than ever during this time.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

Yeah, what is the win? Yeah, it's it's the score, and it's also when they show up back at your house because they want to uh come hang out with you because you've connected with them in a real way. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 17:14

Yeah,

Success vs. significance

SPEAKER_02 17:15

and we've heard that saying, you know, Nathan, and obviously I want to you know applaud you and Tony. I mean, I've learned so much just reading your books and the things that you and Tony have done to impact young coaches and young people like myself. And uh, you know, you talk about success and significance, right? You know, that's another big one. You know, uh it's great to be successful, we want that, but significance is a different trophy, it's a different celebration because it's about others, it's not about yourself. And I think that's the message, the difference between success and significance. And I heard Tim Tebow talking about that the other day when I was listening, said some stuff with him. So, so I think that's leadership to me, that's culture, that's when you're impacting people that that changes legacy and families and and lives in a different way. That's still a mission, I think, as coaches. When I got in this, that was what excited me. I love winning, but I love the relationships and the transformation that happened to me as a young guy.

SPEAKER_00 18:17

Awesome. And I think that kind of answers where I want to wrap with us, but I'll give you a shot at it anyway. That when you

What uncommon impact really means

SPEAKER_00 18:25

talk about significance and success, and the title is Uncommon Impact, this question of what we're doing to impact others and and how we're doing that. What does Uncommon Impact mean to you now as as we sit here as you head into your seventh season?

SPEAKER_02 18:39

Yeah, I love Uncommon. I mean, I've used that a lot, you know, from reading the books that you know that you and Tony put together. It's just it's priceless. That is a timeless book and a concept. And uh, you know, Uncommon Imp, uh, I really think goes back to what Uncommon was wrote for with you and Tony. And I don't think it's really changed. Even in this world, it's gotten faster and faster and faster. I think the common denominator still stands is people and and impact. And I think uh when you're talking about about being uncommon, that means you're not being like others. And when we talk about others, uh we're talking about uh the others that's really probably the less than the one to five percent of the world. There's a lot of great people in uh this world and sports and leadership and and business who impact other people. So to be in that, like we talk with our athletes, to be that 1%, to be that elite leader, to be that elite athlete, you have to be uncommon with your approach and how you show up every day, how you prepare and your habits every day, how you how you wake up and begin your day, how you end your day, how you're intentional with the things that that others don't always celebrate that doesn't get the credit when no one's around. The work that's being done for all those hours until game days are only celebration. So I think that uncommon with that can go to me so many different ways, but being uncommon is just being uh a culture that that leads and loves and cares, who who shares, who makes it about the others than themselves. And I think that is uh you know an uncommon impact to me in life and in leadership.

SPEAKER_00 20:27

Great thought to close with lead, love, share, outward focused, and that that certainly will make an impact for the rest of their lives. Coach, thanks so much. I really appreciate you taking the time. I I know you're running from one thing to another, but thanks so much for sitting down and sharing with us.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

Uh Nathan, thanks for your impact and uh into what you're doing, and congrats on your success. I love the leadership, follow you, and uh much respect for all the great things you're doing for us leaders out here to continue to you know to pour into us uh as we as we grow others in this beautiful place that we get to lead with.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

No doubt. No doubt. We're great. Well, thanks so much.

SPEAKER_02 21:04

You're welcome. Thanks, Anthony.