David Shaw

SI: What's the biggest stylistic difference between you and Jim Harbaugh?

DS: We're different personalities, but the core composition is the same: We both have football-coach fathers, and we understand that it's all about trying to win every day. One thing that defines me is that I'm very direct with people.

SI: WHAT'S ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?

DS: THREE BOOKS: A BIO OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ANOTHER ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON—MY TWO FAVORITE PRESIDENTS—AND THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD. I'VE READ IT 10 TIMES. IT'S INSPIRATIONAL.

SI: What would your players be surprised to learn about you?

DS: The span of my music collection. My iPod [includes] Jay-Z, Sade, Kenny Rogers, classical music. When I feel like grunge, I have Stone Temple Pilots on call. Sometimes I want Mozart.

SI: You participated in track and basketball in addition to football at Stanford in the early '90s. How did you manage that?

DS: I joined track to work on my speed at shorter distances. They talked me into running the 400, which was masochistic. I joined the basketball team to help them practice because they had nine guys. Against Oregon State we were winning big, and coach [Mike] Montgomery put me in. I have one NCAA stat, a rebound.