Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team

The New York Times–bestselling sportswriter helps a high school hockey team go from losers to legends in this inspiring memoir and leadership guide.

When John U. Bacon played for the Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats, he never scored a goal. Yet somehow, years later he found himself leading his alma mater’s downtrodden program. How bad? The team hadn’t won a game in over a year, making them the nation’s worst squad—a fact they celebrated.

With almost everyone expecting more failure, Bacon made it special to play for Huron by making it hard, which inspired the players to excel. Then he defied conventional wisdom again by putting the players in charge of team discipline, goal-setting, and even decision-making—and it worked. In just three seasons the River Rats bypassed ninety-five-percent of the nation’s teams.

A true story filled with unforgettable characters, stories, and lessons that apply to organizations everywhere, Let Them Lead includes the leader’s mistakes and the reactions of the players, who have since achieved great success as leaders themselves. Let Them Lead is a fast-paced, feel-good book that leaders of all kinds can embrace to motivate their teams to work harder, work together, and take responsibility for their own success.

© 2024 Mariner Books (Ebook): 9780358540212

Release date

Ebook: March 19, 2024