On Friday, February 5th, Trinity College School students had the opportunity to hear Canadian basketball legend Leo Rautins speak about his keys to success, as part of the Mac Campbell Lecture Series.

Mr. Rautins, who is most recognizable today as a basketball analyst on television and in print, told students that they should surround themselves with enablers, avoid negative influences and be willing to make sacrifices to get where they want to be. He related his own story as a player and then a coach and the hardships he had to overcome to make it to the NBA despite 14 knee surgeries.

Mr. Rautins’ path to success began early. At the age of 16, he was the youngest person ever to make the Canadian national basketball team. After an impressive career with Syracuse University, where he was named most valuable player in the Big East tournament, he became the first Canadian ever chosen in the first round of the NBA draft in 1983. He would go on to play professional basketball in Europe and has been inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was named coach of the Canadian men’s national team. Off the court, Mr. Rautins earned his degree from the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications and he has been a television analyst for the Toronto Raptors since the team was founded in 1995.

Following his presentation, students had the chance to ask questions of Mr. Rautins about his experiences as a player, coach and analyst, as well as his thoughts on leadership.