Syracuse, N.Y. – A familiar friend returned to the Heights on Friday afternoon as former Le Moyne men's basketball Head Coach John Beilein visited his old stomping grounds at Ted Grant Court.

Beilein addressed Le Moyne's student-athletes as part of The Le Moyne Way Speaker Series and spoke to those gathered about Life Lessons and Leadership. He stressed the need to identify personal core values and the importance of adhering to those values at all times.

"You must get to know yourself. You can't lead others if you don't know yourself," he said. "If you don't lie, cheat or steal, and if you follow the spirit of the rules, you will find success and have no issues in life. Identify your core values, write them down on paper. Then live them and actualize them."

He went on to outline four principles that have served him well over the years: Know yourself; grow your personal relationships; embrace adversity with a growth mindset; and possess an attitude of gratitude.

"The grass is always greener where you water it," he stated. "Positive leadership can be life-changing. I've always tried to recruit where I have been planted. Understand the mission of where you are and remain present. I've always said you should bloom where you are planted."

Beilein posted a 163-94 (.634) winning percentage as Head Coach at Le Moyne from 1983 to 1992. He assumed head coaching duties at Canisius following the 1992 campaign and went on to author highly successful head coaching terms at Richmond (1997-2002), West Virginia (2002-2007) and Michigan (2007-19).

He also served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association for one season (2019-2020) before retiring from active coaching. Beilein began his collegiate coaching career at Erie Community College in 1978 (1978-82) before a brief one-year stint as Head Coach at Nazareth College (1982-83).

"We are grateful to Coach Beilein for taking time from his hectic schedule to visit with our student-athletes and share some of the traits that have helped shape his immense coaching success," said Le Moyne Director of Athletics Bob Beretta. "Coach is a true Hall-of-Famer in every sense of the word, on the court and off. We are so fortunate that he has remained such an integral member of the Dolphin Family over the years.

"Coach Beilein credits much of his good fortune to the time he spent at Le Moyne. He has espoused our Jesuit values throughout his incredible coaching career and truly epitomizes the phrase 'excellence with integrity.' Coach remains a pillar of our Le Moyne community and serves as an amazing ambassador for this wonderful institution."

Following his departure from Le Moyne, Beilein helped Canisius earn two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) bids and one NCAA Tournament appearance in five years. His Richmond teams reached the NCAA Tournament once and NIT twice in five years before moving to West Virginia, where his teams reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament twice, and twice went to the NIT. The Mountaineers earned the NIT title under Beliein's guidance during the 2006-07 campaign.

The all-time winningest Head Coach in Michigan history, Beilein guided the Wolverines to two Big Ten regular-season championships, two Big Ten Tournament titles and twice advanced as far as the National Championship game in the NCAA Tournament.

He posted a 26–13 career coaching record in the NCAA Tournament, boasting National Championship game appearances with Michigan in 2013 and 2018.

Beilein registered an overall coaching record of 754-425 (.640) at four-year institutions and led Michigan to a 30-7 record and Sweet 16 appearance in his final year behind the Wolverines' bench. He currently serves as Senior Player Development Advisor for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.

"Le Moyne College holds a special place in our family's history and heart," Beilein said following his presentation. (My wife) Kathleen and I loved our nine years here. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to teach and coach here, and now come back for a visit.

"It was great to be able to spend time with our student-athletes and campus leaders, and I hope they took something away from the lessons I've learned in life."