Influencing lives.

Today, Joe ends his series of excerpts from Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith’s book, “You Win in the Locker Room First.” Tomorrow, Bucs training camp begins. Smith will then become an open book to all.

Joe began this series to offer readers a look inside the mind of the former Dixie Chicks head coach now in charge of turning around the defense of the Pewter Pirates. Smith’s book is available on Google Play and iTunes.

Joe can honestly say, outside of Joe’s dad (and maybe not even), no one influenced Joe more than his high school football coach.

Regular readers of Joe have already read Joe’s periodic references to the coach who played for a veritable Who’s Who of coaches, including Tom Landry, John Madden, Gene Stallings and Lou Holtz. It almost makes Joe cry thinking of all the football teachings he has long forgot; but Joe still remembers quite a few.

But it wasn’t just football Joe learned from his coach. It was responsibility, as well, not to mention if you bust your arse as hard or harder than your teammates, you will be rewarded.

So when Mike Smith wrote in his book about leaving a legacy as a coach, and writing that outside of his parents, no one has influenced his life more than his past football coaches, Joe instantly could relate.

These coaches left an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime. I still vividly remember their styles of coaching and how they would find a way to bring a group of guys together to work toward a common goal. We did not always win but we learned many valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and humility – and most importantly, we learned that it is more about the journey and preparation for life than the game we played.

If you are a coach, please never forget how much of an influence you are to the people you come in contact with. Even if you aren’t a sports coach, every one of us can be a coach and influence the people around us. Everyone can leave a legacy by the way they lead and the impact they have on others. When you coach others and build a winning team, you build winners for life. No statue, no building or road named in your honor can compare to the legacy you leave in the lives of others.

Joe can’t say he knows Smith, but Joe has chatted with him briefly a couple of times. Mostly pleasantries and small talk. But from what Joe has heard of Smith, what Joe has heard from Smith and what Joe has read in Smith’s book, it seems one word quickly describes him: Unselfish.

Smith visibly cringes when someone asks about “his” defense. It seems, to Smith, it’s not his defense; it’s the players’ defense. How can I improve the player? How can I put him in position to succeed? How can I mold a defense to work to the best of its abilities against a specific offense or down and distance? How can I get this defense to be successful?

For Smith, the defense has very little to do with him. It’s all about the players. It’s all about the results.

To Joe, that’s not just smart, that’s unselfish and speaks to Smith’s character.