Old Dog, New Tricks: The Power of Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Darren Blood is an embarrassment to the coaching profession: unrelenting, authoritative, and devoid of people skills. Twice fired and still shaking off a scandal, Blood’s career seems over—until his friend, university president and emotional intelligence expert Dr. James Harding, hires him to coach the struggling women’s basketball program at Virginia Central State University. Faced with a legacy of defeat, Blood must confront his flaws and embrace EQ strategies to turn around the Lady Foxhounds.

Old Dog, New Tricks is a fictional depiction of a brash coach transforming an underachieving program. By using emotional strategies that drive collaboration, build trust, and encourage resilience, Coach Barry Davis, PhD, demonstrates how coaches can win and create an enduring program using emotional intelligence.

Coach Barry Davis, PhD, is a prominent head college baseball coach of 35 years, a leadership consultant, and a keynote speaker. Recognized nationally for his skills in program transformation, Davis has revitalized three baseball programs. As a head baseball coach, he has led his teams to over 1,000 wins, four DIII Junior College National Championships, six Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships, and four NCAA Regional Tournament appearances. Davis is a five-time Hall of Famer. He holds a PhD in sports leadership from Concordia University Chicago and specializes in rebuilding programs and culture development.Coach Davis lives in Langhorne, PA, with his wife, Brett, and their dog, Buddy.