Peter Vermes Visits Rockhurst

When it comes to leadership, there are many lessons to be learned. But Peter Vermes, Sporting Kansas City coach and general manager, was able to translate what he’s learned on the soccer pitch, into what Rockhurst University students will learn in the work place.

On March 25, Vermes came to speak to a group of students, faculty and staff about what he’s learned throughout his life that has made him an effective team player and team leader.

For an hour, Vermes discussed how to deal with a variety of personalities, how to surround oneself with effective people and how to make the hard decisions, even when they’re not always right.

“With leadership comes a great amount of responsibility,” Vermes said. “Leadership is about making good decisions, but if you don’t, it’s about how you are after that decision. It’s about how you react to it.”

Vermes was invited to speak at Rockhurst University by the Nu Omega chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, the business fraternity at the Helzberg School of Management.

Amy Drouin, director of major giving, attended the event. She said it was important for students, especially those about to graduate, to learn how someone even in Vermes’s position still has to work well with his bosses, the owners, and work with the people that report to him, the players.

But if there was one lesson that Vermes wanted to drive home to his audience it was that leaders will be their most effective when they have a passion for what they are doing.

“I love it,” Vermes said about his time as Sporting KC’s coach. “I wake up every day and I’m very excited about the next challenge.”