Wilson Leadership Lessons

Part Two – Leading By Grace

(St. Louis, MO) – Evansville basketball hall-of-famer Marcus Wilson is employing valuable lessons during his post-basketball career. In the second half of our ‘Voices of the Valley’ interview with Wilson he tells us about ‘leading by grace’, his memories of former coach Jim Crews and how he views the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference season.

Wilson scored over 2,000 points for the Purple Aces and led them to the 1999 MVC regular season championship. His ‘Player of the Year’ award was well deserved and his 34 points in an NCAA Tournament game loss to Kansas is legendary.

But what caused this South Bend, Indiana native choose Evansville and what does he appreciate about former coach, mentor and boss Jim Crews? Wilson repeatedly brags on Crews who recruited and coached him at Evansville and then hired him at Saint Louis University. Wilson says Crews helps other people become better people.

 

 

After an eleven-year pro basketball career Wilson needed to begin his second career. After starting over at the entry level jobs (see Part One – Evansville Great Marcus Wilson) Wilson landed a job working for Chik-Fil-A. It was there that the father of two learned a lesson of ‘leading by grace’.

He was surprised to learn that his boss rejected the notion of firing employees. It was a life-altering leadership style that would follow Wilson to his current role as Executive Director of the Monsanto Family YMCA in North St. Louis.

Wilson is working hard at creating the right kind of culture in one of the most dangerous zip codes in America.

 

 

Looking At the Valley

Wilson is a part of the Purple Aces’ broadcasting team and will add color commentating to some games in the Valley’s television network. With his background as a player, a coach and business leader, he brings a unique perspective to the broadcast booth.

He is bullish about Evansville basketball. He’s excited about what rookie coach Walter McCarty is bringing to the Purple Aces. However, he knows the Valley boasts of some very talented teams. Reigning champion Loyola returns three starters and some highly rated recruits. With virtually all their starters back with their teams, Illinois State and Southern Illinois will be formidable.

Wilson believes great things are in store for the MVC season. He has great respect for the Valley programs and coaches.

 

 

Marcus Wilson is one of those all-time great players that make Valley fans proud. He played the game with great skill and passion and has followed that up with a post-playing career marked with success and by ‘leading by grace’. He is one of those young men that remind us why we love the Missouri Valley Conference.

Do Good