Against the Grain ─ A Coach's Wisdom on Character, Faith, Family, and Love

An inspiring leadership manifesto from Bill Courtney, the entrepreneur, motivational speaker, football coach, and subject of the 2011 Oscar-winning documentary, Undefeated.

Heralded by Bryan Burkhart of the New York Times as ?a real leader who draws out the true character of his players,” Courtney has worked both on and off the field as a community football coach and firmly established himself as a preeminent motivational speaker. The documentary, which Variety called ?enjoyably upbeat and intelligently inspiring,” follows the indefatigable coach as he tirelessly works to turn around a troubled inner-city football team, meanwhile putting out fires at his day job: a highly successful lumber company with over a hundred employees.

Now, in his first book, Bill Courtney provides hands-on lessons about what it means to be a truly great coach, leader, and mentor. He delves into topics such as forgiveness, leadership, determination, and teamwork, with pithy statements such as ?True compassion is when you reach out to another person when there is no benefit to yourself,” and ?How we treat those we disagree with says more about us than our opinions.” Through the personal stories of his players and employees, as well as his own private struggles, the coach and entrepreneur reveals how he has transformed so many lives both on and off the field, and shows the reader how to use these lessons in his or her own life and work.

Named Esquire magazine’s Coach of the Year in 2012, Bill Courtney offers an inspirational guide to overcoming challenges in the workplace as well as personal adversity. He shows us that winning?both on and off the field?isn’t just about the score on the scoreboard at the end of a game. Ultimately, it is the measure of a person’s character.

Bill Courtney is a volunteer football coach and the owner and operator of Classic American Hardwoods, a $40 million lumber company and Memphis Small Business of the Year. He is a sought-after motivational speaker and consultant for organizations such as the USOC Paralympic Leadership Conference, the FedEx Leadership Live Conference, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Courtney lives with his wife and three children in Memphis, Tennessee.