Changing Lives: The True Legacy of a Coach is a powerful and deeply personal account of how coaching extends far beyond wins and losses—it’s about shaping young athletes into leaders, role models, and men of character.
Drawing from decades of leadership and coaching experience, Scott Garvis, Larry McKenzie, and Dennis Parker share their invaluable lessons they have learned in building a championship culture rooted in character education. This book goes beyond X’s and O’s, offering a blueprint for coaches at every level who want to make a lasting impact on their athletes both on and off the field.
Through real-life stories, proven strategies, and the Changing Lives Curriculum, the book demonstrates how instilling core values such as discipline, accountability, and resilience leads to both personal growth and team success. Whether you’re a seasoned coach, a new leader, or simply someone passionate about mentorship, this book will inspire you to embrace coaching as an opportunity to change lives—because the true legacy of a coach isn’t measured in trophies but in the legacy they leave in shaping our future leaders.
Perfect for coaches, educators, and anyone invested in the development of young people, Changing Lives: The True Legacy of a Coach is a must-read for those who believe that sports are about more than just the game.
Scott Garvis is truly one of the best in the business. His insights on leadership and coaching are not only impactful but highly relevant in today’s sports landscape. He speaks directly to coaches at every level, offering practical strategies for making a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of their athletes—both on and off the field.
I highly recommend this book!
Dr. Anthony D’Onofrio
Assistant Professor
Director, Graduate Sport Leadership Program
Endicott College
As a 31-year coach, I learned new ways to change and build culture in my program through reading this amazing book! I am a long-time believer in the Changing Lives curriculum, and this book is the perfect complement to Coach Parker’s outstanding work. Coach Garvis has hit another home run with this detailed lesson on making a difference in the lives of others.
About the Author
A coach, educator, author and speaker, Larry McKenzie, the only coach to win four straight state titles in the 99 year history of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball tournament is sharing his success strategies for “winning” on the court and in life.
Coach McKenzie shows why Basketball is merely a metaphor and a tool that can be used to transform lives. Larry A. McKenzie is currently going into his fourth season, as the Head coach of Academy of Holy Angels, was formerly General Manager and Head Coach of the Minnesota Ripknees of the American Basketball Association (A.B.A.). In nine seasons, Coach McKenzie and his staff developed the Patriots into one of the nation’s top high school programs.
Under his leadership the Patriots won four consecutive Class A.A.A. State, five Region 5 A.A.A. titles, three Twin Cities titles and six consecutive Minneapolis City Conference titles, finishing with an overall record of 202-34. Prior to the arrival of Coach McKenzie and his staff, the Patriots had not won a State title in 55 years. Under McKenzie’s direction, the Patriots established themselves as a team dedicated to hard work, tenacious defense, and a high-octane offense.
McKenzie’s mission was to develop a championship program while also using basketball as a tool to empower young men to be champions in their classrooms, families, and communities. By developing a highly structured program and a group of dedicated young coaches, the team showed tremendous improvement in the classroom, increasing the team G.P.A. from 1.6 to a 3.1. In just two years 95% of the players had made the A or B honor roll.