What New Coaches Can Learn From Desmond Gumbs' Simple Daily Training Routines

As a new coach, you're inundated with information. You're juggling X's and O's, player personalities, parent expectations, and the front office. It's a whirlwind of complex strategies and logistical nightmares. We often believe that to succeed, we need intricate plans and revolutionary drills.

But what if the secret isn't in complexity, but in consistency?

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Desmond Gumbs, a man whose career seamlessly blends the worlds of elite sports coaching and profound life coaching. He's a motivational speaker who has transformed thousands of lives, and his perspective on what builds a successful coach and a successful life is radically simple.

When I asked him about training routines, I expected a playbook. Instead, he gave me a philosophy embedded in a few "simple" daily actions. For new coaches feeling overwhelmed, this framework isn't just helpful; it's a lifeline. Here’s what new coaches can learn from the daily training routines of Desmond Gumbs.

Beyond the Whistle: The Philosophy of the Daily Routine

The first thing Desmond Gumbs made clear is that a coach's real training routine isn't what they do on the field; it's what they do before they ever step on it.

"New coaches burn out because they're all output and no input," Gumbs explained. "They give all their energy to their team but save none for themselves. Your daily routine is your personal charging station. If it's not recharging you mentally, physically, and emotionally, you're starting every practice on 20% battery."

This is the core of his philosophy: a routine isn't a to-do list; it's a ritual of self-investment. It's the non-negotiable foundation upon which all your coaching rests. For an athletic director looking to build a sustainable and successful athletic program, fostering this mindset in their coaches is a priority number one.

Deconstructing the 'Simple' Routine: The Five Pillars

What struck me about Gumbs' approach was its holistic nature. It's not just about the sport; it's about the person who coaches it. Here are the five pillars he practices and preaches, a "training routine" for the coaches themselves.

Pillar 1: The 'Mental Warm-Up' (Setting Your Intention)

Before the chaos of the day begins, before the emails, the texts, and the problems, Gumbs dedicates time to mental solitude.

"You can't lead a team you haven't first led in your mind," he told me. "Most coaches are reactive. They walk into the locker room and react to the team's mood. Great coaches are proactive. They set the mood because they've already decided what the day's purpose will be."

What New Coaches Can Learn:

1. The Action: Don't just wake up; arrive. Before you check your phone, dedicate 10-15 minutes to stillness. This isn't complex meditation. It can be visualization (seeing a practice go perfectly), reviewing your personal "why" (why you coach), or simply setting one single, clear intention for the day. (e.g., "Today, I will be a source of positive energy.")
2. The Impact: This simple act shifts you from being a victim of your day to being its architect. You stop being a firefighter and start being a leader. This is the life coach and motivational speaker side of Gumbs, blending with the sports coach: your internal state dictates your external results.

Pillar 2: The 'Personal Growth' Block (Sharpening the Saw)

"A coach's growth ceiling is the team's growth ceiling," Gumbs stated emphatically. "If you're not learning, you're not leading. Period."

Many new coaches believe their learning ended with their certification. They watch game film, which Gumbs agrees is crucial, but they stop learning about leadership, psychology, and communication.

What New Coaches Can Learn:

1. The Action: Dedicate 30 minutes every day to non-sport learning. Read a book on leadership (Simon Sinek, Brené Brown), listen to a podcast on communication, or study the habits of successful people.
2. The Impact: This practice refills your "idea" bank. It gives you new ways to solve old problems. When a player is struggling with confidence, you'll have more tools than just "play harder." You'll have a framework for understanding their mindset. This is what separates a good sports coach from a truly transformative mentor.

Pillar 3: The 'Authentic Connection' Practice (Building Trust Daily)

In our conversation, this was the point on which Gumbs was most passionate. He believes trust is the single most important currency a coach has, and it's not built in team meetings.

"We schedule 'team-building' events, but we miss the 100 small opportunities for 'team-building' moments every single day," he said. "Trust is built in the margins."

What New Coaches Can Learn:

1. The Action: Implement the "1-on-1 Principle." Every single day, make it a non-negotiable routine to have a one- or two-minute conversation with one athlete about anything other than the sport. Ask about their classes, their family, and their favorite music.
2. The Impact: This small, consistent act demonstrates your "authentic" interest in them as people, not just players. As Gumbs, the "empathetic mentor," explains, "When you show them you care about the person, they will run through a wall for you as the coach." This practice, scaled across a season, is what truly builds an unbreakable culture.

Pillar 4: The 'Physical Foundation' (Leading by Example)

This seems obvious for a sports coach, but Gumbs' perspective was different. It's not about being in peak physical condition. It's about credibility.

"You can't preach discipline if you don't practice it. You can't ask your team to respect their bodies if you're disrespecting yours," he said. "Your team sees everything. They see you exhausted. They see you living on coffee and fast food. That's a non-verbal message that 'do as I say, not as I do'."

What New Coaches Can Learn:

1. The Action: Schedule 30 minutes of non-negotiable physical activity. A walk, a light jog, a bodyweight circuit. It doesn't have to be intense. It just has to happen.
2. The Impact: This isn't just for your health; it's for your leadership. It builds your own energy and mental clarity, but more importantly, it builds credibility. You're demonstrating that you, too, are disciplined. You're living the standard you're setting.

Pillar 5: The 'Reflective Cool-Down' (Reviewing and Adapting)

For a man so focused on results, Gumbs is surprisingly focused on the process. His day ends just as it begins: with intention.

"Most coaches end their day by collapsing. They're too tired to think," he explained. "But the last 10 minutes of your day are the first 10 minutes of your next day. You have to close the loops."

What New Coaches Can Learn:

The Action: Before you "check out" for the day, take 10 minutes. Put your phone down. Ask three questions:

1. What worked today?
2. What didn't work today?
3. What is the #1 priority for tomorrow?

The Impact: This simple "results-driven" routine prevents stagnation. It stops you from making the same mistake twice. It ensures that you're not just busy, you're progressing. It's the "continuous growth" value he champions.

How This Routine Transforms Your Coaching and Your Athletic Program

This entire routine might take 90 minutes, spread throughout your day. But the impact is compounding.

A new coach who only focuses on drills and game plans is building a house of cards. The first gust of wind, a losing streak, a team conflict, a personal challenge: will knock it all down.

A new coach who adopts Desmond Gumbs' routine is building a foundation of bricks.

• The 'Mental Warm-up' helps you develop proactive leadership.
• The 'Personal Growth' block builds your wisdom and adaptability.
• The 'Authentic Connection' practice builds your trust and culture.
• The 'Physical Foundation' builds your energy and credibility.
• The 'Reflective Cool-down' helps you build continuous improvement.

This is how you transition from being just a coach to becoming a leader. This is how you build a resilient, high-performing athletic program, not by adding more complexity, but by mastering these powerful basics.

The Final Takeaway: It's a Life Routine, Not Just a Coaching Routine

As our conversation wrapped up, Desmond Gumbs left me with a final thought that truly tied it all together.

"Don't do this to be a better coach. Do this to be a better person," he said. "The 'coach' is just a role you play. The 'person' is who you are. Invest in the person, and the coach will be transformed as a side effect. That's the real secret. It's holistic growth. It's empowerment. The principles that make you a great coach are the exact same principles that make you a great parent, partner, and leader in your own life."

For new coaches, the lesson is clear. Stop searching for the next revolutionary drill. The revolution you're looking for is in your own simple, daily, consistent routine.