“I’m a basketball coach. I ramble. But I don’t apologize. Unlike you, I get to wear short pants to work,” Coach Gary Blair told the 275 attendees of the 2nd Annual Pre-TTI Day Celebratory Dinner, held at The Zone Club at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field April 30. Texas Roadhouse catered the excellent meal with three kinds of meat and a dessert.
As the keynote speaker, the winningest women’s basketball coach in A&M history often used humor in his home-style message to TTI employees and retirees. Some of his themes included:
- If you aren’t happy doing your job, get another one you like.
- Quit being negative.
- Don’t give your kids everything they want.
- Learn that Eminem is no longer just a candy.
With a history of winning at every coaching job he’s held, Blair is fresh off the historic women’s basketball national championship last year. He told the crowd, however, that he wasn’t always successful. The Dallas native flunked out of Texas Tech, ending his dreams of becoming an architect. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine and then moved to California and managed restaurants. Using the G.I. Bill, he went back to Texas Tech and earned a master’s degree in education.
In addition to his success on the court, Blair is a sought-after speaker and is very active in community activities, helping to raise money for Special Olympics and other charities.
“What are you doing to give back?” Blair asked in a series of questions posed to his audience. “Are you one of the ones complaining, griping about the pay or griping about the lack of advancement? Or are you one of the ones being positive?”
Blair, who rarely looked at his notes, made numerous points designed to get his audience to reflect on job satisfaction, attitude, self-worth and the national work ethic.
Before he ended his speech to a standing ovation, Blair explained that he uses a marker and places a positive (+) sign on his hand before each game. He said it helps him remember to have a good attitude.
“But sometimes it’s hard to stay positive,” he admitted. “It can be hard, especially if you have a freshman point guard.”