Mentor boys basketball coach Bob Krizancic embracing technology on several fronts

Jul. 24—Bob Krizancic is still learning about technology, and there's no doubt the Mentor boys basketball coach is enjoying the ride.

It started years ago when Krizancic joined Twitter. When he tweets, it's done with messages designed to motivate and inspire his players. A sampling of recent tweets by the longtime coach:

"If u accept it, expect it. Never accept mediocrity."

If u accept it, expect it. Never accept mediocrity.

— Bob Krizancic (@CoachKrizancic) June 20, 2022

"In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took."

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"In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took."

— Bob Krizancic (@CoachKrizancic) June 20, 2022

Krizancic — who stands at 699 career victories with an eye on 700 when the Cardinals begin next season against Uniontown Lake — never would have envisioned a coaching tool such as Twitter when he began his coach career at Girard. Years later, he has embraced it 100 percent — even though he admits he still doesn't fully understand Twitter and other technology. Nonetheless, he's all in.

"I really believe tweeting motivates my players," said Krizancic. "I tell them when you read a tweet by me it's geared toward yourself, one of your teammates or the team."

While Twitter allows Krizancic to connect with his players, technology is taking things a step further. On July 26, Krizancic is hosting a free webinar through BSN Sports, the nation's largest distributor of sporting goods, including uniforms. As of May, BSN Sports is the official distributor of athletic uniforms, merchandise, equipment and apparel for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Krizancic's July 26 webinar will be conducted live and last 60 minutes. It begins at 1 p.m. with Krizancic speaking for the first half and finishes with a question-and-answer session. It's titled, "The Momentum of Mental Toughness in Sports, Business and Life."

When the webinar was announced, Krizancic said more than 200 people registered in the first few hours.

Krizancic will discuss his recent book — co-authored with Cathy Lombardo — "Mental Toughness: The Game Changer." Krizancic's first time as a co-author produced great results. It debuted No. 1 on Amazon.com among basketball books and stayed in the top 10 for some time after that.

Among the topics Krizancic will discuss include "creating an identity/culture," "setting goals high," "creating the 'elite' individual" and others.

"The book has definitely been the catalyst for the webinar," said Krizancic, whose team just finalized scheduling a holiday showcase game against St. Ignatius on Jan. 8 — with the location possibly being Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The coach credits much of the book's sales to his son Conner, who played for Mentor when the Cardinals won the Division I state championship in 2013. Conner works in the marketing field, and used creative algorithms and other programs to promote the book to the biggest audience possible.

Ten years ago, Krizancic could never have dreamed — or believed — what technology has meant to his career, but he's embraced it all.

"No way could I have ever thought the way it's worked out so well," he said.