Basketball legend Nancy Lieberman’s new book features leadership strategies

Now it’s Nancy Lieberman’s turn to share her playbook.

The legendary basketball star, broadcaster and coach was in Chicago at a Sky game recently to promote her new book, “Playbook for Success,” a guide that offers strategies and techniques about how to be a strong leader, particularly in the business world.

“It’s the first business book I’ve done,” said Lieberman, an NCAA champion, a Hall of Famer and a former player in the United States Basketball League, a men’s professional league. “It’s a navigational system for being successful. I’m trying to teach people how to work together.”

Not too long ago, it was Lieberman who was trying to learn some tricks of the trade from someone else’s playbook.

She says she will never forget the day that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau unexpectedly shared his entire defensive playbook with her.

This winter, Lieberman made history when she became the first woman to coach a professional men’s basketball team, the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. She says she couldn’t have broken through that barrier without the support of people like Thibodeau.

“We were trying to make the playoffs the last couple days of the season back in May and we were struggling with our defense,” Lieberman said. “I needed some ideas.”

Known for being a defensive guru, Thibodeau was the first person Lieberman wanted to approach. But she didn’t know him personally.

“Basically, I cold-called Thibs from my hotel room in Maine, where we were on the road at time,” Lieberman said. “He calls me right back and he says ‘What do you need? What can I help you with?’ We were on the phone an hour and a half, maybe two hours and I’ve got a pen and paper and we’re talking about all kinds of stuff. He walked me through so much. I was blown away that he would give me so much time and energy and information, especially as they were making their run through the playoffs.”

But Thibodeau wasn’t done yet.

“I get back from the road trip and he had overnighted me the Chicago Bulls defensive playbook,” Lieberman said. “I mean, who does that? The support I got from Thibs and other coaches around the NBA was unbelievable.”

The experiences Lieberman had with her male players were just as positive.

“I loved coaching (the Legends),” Lieberman said. “I’d say I’ve never enjoyed anything more in my entire career. The professionalism, the talent, the guys. My guys were awesome.

“Apparently the guys had this over/under as to whether or not I would take a spill in my stilettos along the sidelines. We had a lot of fun.”

Lieberman will be taking a break from the fun, though.

She won’t be back on the sidelines for an encore next season because she wants to spend time with her son T.J., a 6-foot-7 basketball player who is about to start his senior year of high school.

“I have one son and he has one senior year,” Lieberman said. “I didn’t want to miss it.”

Lieberman will spend the season in the Legends’ front office and doesn’t rule out a return to coaching. She says she could see herself almost anywhere, including the WNBA, where she coached the Detroit Shock for three seasons starting in 1998.

“I would never say never to anything,” Lieberman said. “I love the WNBA and I’m very proud of where this league came from, what these young women are doing. They’re beautiful and talented. We hoped to have a WNBA when I played. They expect it and that mentality is infectious.”

Patricia Babcock McGraw, who covers the WNBA for the Daily Herald, also provides color commentary for Chicago Sky broadcasts.