Rhett Lashlee - Living Leading and Competing with High Standards

Coach Rhett Lashlee

2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award Finalist 2023 Dave Campbell's Texas Football Co-Coach of the Year
2023 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award Finalist
2023 Maxwell Football Club National Coach of The Year Award Semi-Finalist

Head Coach Rhett Lashlee enters his third season as Head Coach for SMU in 2024.  Coach Lashlee has been the driving force in leading the Mustangs’ return to prominence in his first two years as the leader of the program, highlighted by a championship season in his second year, going 11-3 and undefeated in AAC play (8-0).

Lashlee made history on Dec. 2, 2023, with a 26-14 victory over No. 22 Tulane in the AAC Championship game, giving the Mustangs their first conference championship since 1984 and 12th overall as a program. It was the first outright conference title won by the school since 1982.  The historic campaign led to a fifth straight year of being bowl eligible, the longest stretch in program history.  

Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), also served as the offensive coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award (top assistant college coach), Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami).

He is married to the former Lauren Lee. They have twin sons, Thomas and Hudson, and twin daughters, Rowyn, and Scarlet.

Some of the specific takeaways from our conversation:

Takeaways:

1. Being content.  Coach Lashlee talked about this as one of the main lessons he learned as he made his way through the process of being an assistant coach, hoping to get to the head coaching level at some point.  He talked about acknowledging that you’re never in complete control of everything anyway.  So, it’s just best to let the process take care of itself.  As he said, if you’re not good where you are, the next big thing isn’t gonna happen anyway.  So, focus on being good where you are now.  Once he made that mindset change, it all worked out…and he was able to enjoy the 10 years of being an assistant which included interviewing for several jobs that he didn’t get.  We all need to remember this in terms of how we chase our goals.
2. Being genuine.  I love how coach said he desired to reach a level where other people might look at him and want what he had inside him.  For this to happen and to truly make such an impact with people you have to really walk the walk.  It’s gotta be genuine and real.  Otherwise, they’ll all see through you and your credibility will be shot - and nobody will be impacted by you, and nobody will want to follow you. 
3. Being intentional and accountable in terms of living your priorities.  If you notice, this is a pattern we’re seeing in successful leaders.  In today’s fast paced world filled with so many distractions, we simply must take control and be intentional. Or we’ll soon start finding ourselves off track most of the time.  Coach mentioned how he tries to make sure he focuses on getting what he needs priority wise - like quiet or prayer time.  He does this so he can fill himself up - so he can be of better service and IMPACT on those around him. 
4. Be accountable and have people around you to hold you to who you are.  Coach mentioned that he likes to have strong assistants around him in football to do so.  More importantly, he talked about a powerful and annual discussion he has with his wife every year where he asks her - is my family suffering because of my job?  He then says if so, you say word and I’m out.  What a great example of LIVING your priorities and being willing to be accountable.  We should all strive for the courage to maintain our priorities in this way.
5. Coach’s keys to his program.
   • Family. No better vision for a program.
   • Competitive excellence.  Coach mentioned the key difference between competing WITH each other - like brothers and the notion of iron sharpening iron - and competing AGAINST the opponent on Saturdays.
   • Hard work.  Coach holds high standards for effort.
   • Be FINISHERS.  Coach mentioned how this applies to sports and life  - being a finisher in terms of how you do EVERYTHING.  It’s so easy to start things…but nothing matters unless we FINISH them.  Great word for all of us.
6. Winning with Class as a sign of strength and security. Coach mentioned how it's the OPPOSITE of soft.

Please follow The Mustangs and Coach Lashlee:

Links:

Website: www.smumustangs.com

Instagram: @rhett_lashlee; @sjmufb

X: @rhettlashlee; @SMUFB