MMA Lab's John Crouch takes some MMA inspiration from the hardwood

For years, John Crouch has been considered by the MMA masses to be one of the game's elite coaches.

And yes, he's heard it from a lot of people, himself – and he appreciates the recognition of the work he puts in. But the coach who heads up The MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz., near Phoenix, who has trained multiple fighters to UFC and other major titles said he doesn't tend to believe his own press, as the saying goes.

Instead, he uses other coaches – in MMA and other sports – as spirit animals.

"I love coaches and coaching. It's my life, so I study coaches," Crouch told MMA Junkie Radio. "… It means a lot (getting praise), but you can't get too carried away with criticism and you can't get carried away with the praise. You just have to keep doing the right work.

"Otherwise, you start believing what everybody else says, it's not good for you. So, while I do appreciate it, and there's a momentary, like, 'OK, good,' but then you just go back to work and you've got to fight next week and you better show you're good again, or it's going to be over."

Crouch helped coach Benson Henderson to WEC and UFC lightweight titles, and Jamie Varner won a WEC title with him in his corner prior to that. He also has past coaching relationships with Sean O'Malley and Mackenzie Dern, who went on to become UFC champions.

The Lab team currently includes top-tier UFC fighters like recent title challengers Mario Bautista and Jared Cannonier, Arnold Allen and Alex Caceres.

Those fighters and others, though, are just as likely to hear Crouch dishing out advice he gleaned from a hoops coach as an MMA coach.

"Greg Jackson is everybody's role model, I think, in MMA, and that's the one that motivated me the most. But (I look up to) all coaches," Crouch said. "I loved watching Phil Jackson and what he did (with the Chicago Bulls). You see Red Auerbach with the old (Boston) Celtics, what they did. Jimmy Johnson with the Cowboys and how he ran them – it's not really my style, but man, maybe the greatest team of all time.

"I really am a fan of coaches in all genres. I just met Joe Mazzulla from the Celtics. He was in Phoenix and came by the gym. What an amazing guy, and so funny and iconic on the mic, but doing such a great job leading those athletes. There's just so many good coaches I look up to. But yes, I try to take the things that I think will work and apply them to my sport, as well."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Lab's John Crouch takes some MMA inspiration from the hardwood