 Passion and Accountability! Spend enough time
with Brian Billick and you're going to hear those two words.
They are cornerstones to his foundation of coaching and
leadership. These are ingredients some players and staff lacked
when he took over as head coach of the Ravens in 1999. Not any
more. You want passion? Watch the Ravens play games or practice.
You want accountability? How about the 34-7 Super Bowl victory
over the New York Giants in 2001? How about a World Championship
in only his second season as a head coach?
"You have to have passion for the work you do
to succeed. If a player doesn't like to study, practice or
train, doesn't like the physicality of the game, he's going to
have a very difficult time succeeding. Passion is a lubricant
for success," Brian Billick explained. "Accountability is
obvious. You have to perform. Accountability is also a sign of
respect for your team. It is a reflection of a team's integrity
when individuals take responsibility for their actions." In his
second year at any level of being a head coach, Brian Billick
directed his team to the ultimate prize with the Super Bowl
victory. The Ravens finished with a 16-4 record (12-4 in the
regular season), blowing by opponents in the playoffs and
finally a crushing victory over the Giants in the title contest.
Brian Billick has now coached a Viking
offense that set the NFL record for the most points scored in a
season - 556 in 1998; and a 2000 Ravens' defense that smashed
the fewest points allowed standard (for a 16-game season), a
record once held by the now mythic 1985 Chicago Bears.
Brian Billick directed the best team in the
Ravens' five-year history in the 2000 season when the team
finished the year with 11 consecutive victories, including the
playoffs. Brian Billick's leadership shined in the playoffs when
the Ravens outscored their four opponents to became the fourth
Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl. Brian's ability to keep
the team unified and focused last October when the Ravens did
not score a touchdown and suffered a three-game losing streak is
notable.
Since moving to Baltimore in January of 1999,
Brian Billick enthusiastically helped improve the community.
Brian Billick gives extra time to the Central Maryland United
Way and to the Living Classroom Foundation, where he serves on
the board of directors. Brian has hosted significant fundraisers
for the Living Classroom, and has had a number of Raven players
volunteer at this important educational facility. Brian Billick
was picked as the Maryland Chapter of Multiple Sclerosis 2001
"Champion of the Year". Brian's wife, Kim, joins him in many of
these community works, plus she has helped Baltimore's Red Cross
with a number of important projects.
Brian Billick has co-authored two books,
Competitive Leadership: Twelve Principles for Success (with
Dr. James A. Peterson) and previously Finding the Winning
Edge with NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh and Dr.
Peterson. This latter is a blueprint for developing an NFL team,
covering everything from practice schedules to front office
structure.
Brian Billick was born in Fairborne, OH on
Feb. 28, 1954, but grew up in Redlands, CA. He earned a B.A. in
communications from BYU, where he also pursued a master's in
communication. Brian Billick endows a scholarship at the
communications' college at BYU.
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