Rivera's 'stoic' coaching style stems from his military father originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Washington head coach Ron Rivera has only been with the organization for around 11 months, and in that time, almost every possible obstacle has been thrown his way -- both on and off the field.
Through it all, Rivera has shown up each day and tackled each challenge in the same manner. He's calm, composed and ready to evaluate what's ahead. Remaining tranquil in those moments is not easy, but Rivera makes it look that way.
His ability to do so stems from his family's military background. His father, Eugenio Rivera, was a member of the U.S. military for 32 years and spent time serving as an officer and leading others during all types of chaos.
Speaking with service members on Tuesday as a part of Washington's virtual tour of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Rivera revealed that when he began his journey as a coach, his father shared with him an important piece of advice on how to lead: Always be the person that others can look to in times of adversity.
“He said to me, ‘You know Ronny, I want you to understand this. When all heck is breaking loose they’re going to turn and look for the officer in charge. Okay, so when all things are going crazy they’re going to turn and look to you,'" Rivera said. "'If you’re out of control and you have no idea, that’s how you’re team is going to be. They’ll be out of control and have no idea. But if you’re in control, if you’re calm, if you’re collected, that’s how your team will respond to you.’
“People always wonder and they always ask me, ‘Why are you always stoic?’ Because that’s what I learned from my dad," Rivera said. "I said, 'there’s a certain way that I have to behave on the sideline to keep confidence in my players, and so I try to maintain that way.'”
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In addition to the way he composes himself, Rivera's experience in a military family has also helped him identify important pillars of his coaching philosophy. Growing up on a military base, he saw how structure allowed everyone to get their job done and create a successful environment.
Most importantly, he understood that with leadership comes responsibility. Those at the helm are there to help, and represent, everyone else.
“First and foremost, when you grow up on an army base, the first thing you learn is you learn the chain of command. You understand that everything, there is a top. Everything starts there, and that person is responsible for the entire base," Rivera said. "Well, that’s kind of how I feel. I’m at the top of the pyramid, everything starts with me. I take full responsibility for what goes on with this organization.”
Being at the top of the pyramid means that Rivera needs to lay out the rules for his players and staff. That's where discipline comes into play. Just as he followed rules and stuck to his responsibilities growing up, he expects others to do the same.
“The second thing is discipline. There’s a certain discipline that you need to be a functioning base," Rivera said. "Well, there’s a certain discipline you need to be a functioning football team, and I try to make sure our players understand just how important it is to follow the discipline that we’re trying to lay out for them.”
Being a head coach in the NFL is not easy, and Rivera's first year in Washington has been even more challenging than normal. Still, he's carried the same attitude into each situation and is now working to create an environment that features values that stemmed from his military background.
Lessons from his childhood and his father have helped Rivera push through hardships and find success as a coach, something he'll always be grateful for. With the NFL holding its Salute To Service Month throughout November, he's excited to pay tribute to a group that holds a special place in his heart.
"To me, it’s very special and if there’s any opportunity to recognize our military folks. And again not just the men and women that serve but the spouses and the dependents. Because from my perspective just knowing what it can mean to a child. Knowing that your parent is in the military, that’s really big," Rivera said. "I try to make sure, if there’s an opportunity to do something, to give back, I most certainly want to be there to show our support.”
