Former Coach of the Buffalo Bills
Through the ages there have been great men who have had a major influence on the people with whom they have come into contact with. One such man is Hall of Fame, former Buffalo Bills Head Coach Marv Levy. Levy, who has a Master’s degree from Harvard, was best known as an intelligent and analytical football coach. Perhaps better suited for the political field rather than the football field, Coach Marv Levy used his Harvard education to motivate and shape the careers and lives of many pro football athletes.
College Football
Coach Marv Levy, (more affectionately known to fans and friends simply as Marv) was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Coe College in Iowa, where he earned three varsity letters in football, four in track, and one in basketball. After graduating college, Marv Levy entered law school. About three weeks later, he made the decision to drop out of law school to become a football coach. Instead of just another lawyer in the world, the world ended up with one of the greatest football coaches of all time.
Buffalo Bills
Marv Levy was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1986 and went on to become the most successful coach in Buffalo Bills history with a 123-78 record. Behind the likes of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith, it took Levy only two years to lead the Bills to the AFC Championship game. The Bills would win the eastern division six out of the next eight seasons and make the playoffs in eight out of the next nine years. During that run, Marv Levy and the Bills would become the only team in NFL history to play in four straight Super Bowls from 1991-1994.
Inspirational
According to the future Hall of Fame running back, Thurman Thomas, “Coach Levy is one of the most inspirational people that I have ever known. He helped change our lives on and off the field. I would recommend him to any company or organization that is looking to reach its highest potential.”
Retirement
After 47 years of coaching, Marv Levy retired in 1997. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his very first year of eligibility in 2001. He will be remembered not only as the winningest coach in Buffalo Bills history and a Hall of Fame coach, but also as one of the NFL’s classiest individuals. Marv Levy not only molded football players, but he also molded men’s character, class, and pride.
Books
Since retirement he has published several books including: Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Buffalo Bills History, Go Cubs Go, and Between the Lines. Enjoying the process of writing, Levy intends to contribute more works of literature in the future.
Successful Team Building and Motivation
In this speech, Marv Levy uses his experience in coaching a historic winning football team to outline the keys to success in any arena. What it takes to succeed is simple, but isn’t easy. He will tell you about successful leadership, and how to prepare for success. Also, Marv will share his insights about how to motivate yourself and others. He will tell you about overcoming obstacles, disappointments, and setbacks through persistence and resilience. In addition, this speech is filled with humor, NFL anecdotes and insights, and pertinent quotations to provoke thought and inspire us all.
All Marv Levy Books
