4th and Goal: One Man's Quest to Recapture His Dream - Hardcover

Burke, Monte

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1455514047 ISBN 13: 9781455514045

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

This is a true story.
As a kid growing up in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood in New York City, Joe Moglia dreamed of someday becoming the head coach of a college football team-not of becoming a corporate titan.
But sometimes, life gets in the way of our dreams. By the time Joe was in his early 30s, he had risen through the high school and college football ranks to become the defensive coordinator at Dartmouth. His dream was very much within reach. Problem was, Joe wasn't making enough money to support his growing family. Faced with the hard choice between chasing his lifelong dream and supporting his wife and four young kids, Joe did the honorable thing: He walked away from football and went to Wall Street to try to find a job that would foot the bills at home.
Joe had no training in finance. He had no MBA. His resume reflected his coaching accomplishments and his teaching jobs. And yet, somehow, through grit and determination, he was able to land an entry-level position at Merrill Lynch.
Fast forward 25 years later. Joe had reached the business world's mountaintop. He was the CEO of TD Ameritrade, one of the country's most successful financial firms. He was recognized as one of the most respected corporate chiefs in America.
But over all those years, Joe never shook his passion for coaching football. In 2008, he made a fateful and stunning decision: He voluntarily walked away from his high-paying corporate job to do the one thing he'd left undone in his life. He decided to pursue his original passion for becoming a college football head coach.
Getting hired as a college coach proved incredibly difficult. College athletic directors told him it was an impossible feat. He'd been out of football for nearly three decades. Undaunted, and at age 60, Joe became an unpaid intern with the University of Nebraska's football team in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, he was named the head coach of the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, a professional league teetering on the brink of financial collapse. It was a risky proposition, but one he felt he needed to take to prove to his naysayers that he could coach a college team. Failure would mean the death of a dream that refused to die.
As told by Forbes writer, Monte Burke, 4TH AND GOAL is a detailed account of Joe Moglia's amazing and uplifting life story, his quest for his ultimate dream and its stunning conclusion. It's a tale of overcoming adversity...of never giving up...of never losing sight of one's true goals in life.
It is a story, quite literally, of a dream deferred, but never forgotten.

About this title

About the Author:

Monte Burke is a staff writer at Forbes magazine, and has also written for the New York Times, Outside, Men's Journal and Town & Country, among others.

Review:

We all like to dream big when it comes to pursuing our goals, but the truth is, the real world too often gets in the way. That's why Joe Moglia's story is so fulfilling. Joe dared to chase his dreams, and this wonderful book captures his story in a way that is both gripping and unforgettable.
--Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
The story of Joe Moglia is equal parts sports, business, and family. In 4th and Goal, we clearly see that the common denominator is passion, and we end up rooting for Joe as he gets one last shot at his dream.
--Jeffrey Marx, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Season of Life
Captivating . . . Burke combines snappy magazine prose with the natural drama of Joe Moglia's unlikely career arc.
--Publishers Weekly
No one should ever be ashamed of letting practicality and responsibility take their dreams away. But what an inspiration Joe is to never let his dream die. After reading his story, I remind myself I still have my own unfulfilled dreams to pursue.
--Steve Young, NFL Hall of Famer

For many of us, coaching football is more than a way of life. It's a calling. Joe Moglia clearly understands this, and his story is both powerful and inspiring. If you're a football fan, this is a book you must read."
-- Bill Cowher, legendary coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
A winning story for fans of Friday Night Lights and believers in the American dream.
--Kirkus Reviews

About this edition

• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1455514047
• ISBN 13: 9781455514045
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288