Written by Jeff
Update: 06/05/2010
Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden, a model for coaches in all sports, passed away at age 99 Friday night, in Los Angeles. Jeff wrote this post back in October of 2009 and we thought we would re-post it to honor Mr. Wooden. There is also a wonderful home page tribute in the Los Angeles Times today. I have always felt honored to have met him back in the 1980s and felt I got a glimpse at that time of what a wonderful man he was. – Pam at IW
Post from October of 2009
John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach turns 99 this week and he should be recognized as an American icon. Forget about his 10 NCAA Championship titles and his overall record of 620-147 at UCLA and his 149-2 record at Pauley Pavilion. Coach Wooden left such a deep impression on his players that no one can find one player with a negative word to say about the man they call “Coach”.
His quotes are legendary:
“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
“Failure is not fatal but failure to change might be.”
“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
He has many more. Most of them apply to life as well as basketball. He has created the “Pyramid of Success” which is a tool that basketball coaches and organizations across the country use.
His wife, Nell, was the love of his life. They were married in 1932 and spent 53 years together before Nell’s death in 1985. To this day, Coach Wooden says goodnight to Nell before he sleeps. When UCLA wanted to rename the basketball court in 2003 after coach Wooden, the Coach insisted they name it the Nell and John Wooden Court, using Nell’s name first.
My favorite Coach Wooden story happened during the fall of 1972. After an unbeaten season, the team’s star player, Bill Walton, spent the summer touring with his favorite band, the Grateful Dead. He showed up on campus with a full beard and hair cascading down past his shoulders. Coach Wooden had strict rules about appearances and beards and long hair were not part of those rules. When Coach asked Bill when he was going to shave and get a haircut, Bill, the star, replied. “I’m not, Coach. I like the way I look.” Coach Wooden did not miss a beat and stated, “Bill that’s fine. If you like that look by all means keep it that way”. With that Bill started to smile, thinking he had finally beaten the Coach. The smile quickly left his face when Coach finished his thought. “The team sure is going to miss you.” The next time Coach saw Bill on campus he was clean shaven with short hair.
Check out Coach’s website www.coachwooden.com .
One last Wooden quote:
“Don’t give up your dreams, as your dreams will give up on you.”
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Comments
5 Responses to JOHN WOODEN: AN AMERICAN ICON / Dies At Age 99
When I moved out to California 29 years ago I was really not invested too much into sports. My husband was a fanatic but I was basically a Packer’s fan and had enjoyed high school sports but certainly did not follow college basketball.
I was a nurse in the ICU of a local well known hospital. We worked 12 hour shifts and usually 3 days in a row. I took care of this woman whose husband came and sat by her side from the time I arrived in the morning at 7 am until I left at 7:30 pm. You could tell he loved her very much and was very attentive to her needs.
There was always a lot of talk in the unit about this couple and administration was there daily making sure that I was taking good care of the patient and that their needs were being met. I had no idea who they were and figured they must be friends or family members of someone higher up than me.
When I went home after my third and final shift that week I told my husband about the couple and he said “are you sure they were not someone famous?” I told my husband the name of the couple and he just about flipped. He said ” You mean The John Wooden?”
He was a great coach and I could tell from our time together that he is also a great person.
Happy Birthday Coach Wooden.
Pam, that is a beautiful story. I must be emotional, I am near tears. What devotion.
I didn’t know too much about Coach Wooden. My bad. I like to think I have a general knowledge of the titans of all sports and he certainly fits the bill. Jeff, thanks for enlightening me a bit.
I came across this on Wooden’s Wikipedia page:
Since her death, he has kept to a monthly ritual (health permitting)—on the 21st, he visits her grave, and then writes a love letter to her. After completing the letter, he places it in an envelope and adds it to a stack of similar letters that has accumulated over the years on the pillow she slept on during their life together. (Now I am really ready to cry).
Happy Belated BD, Coach Wooden.
I’m so glad I came over to sports tonight! It’s a love story, and while I am not much of a sports fan, I love a good love story. Pam and Jeff, thanks for sharing this.
“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
That’s a great quote, just great.
I was listening to a bit of talk radio in the car today and there were many many tributes to Coach Wooden.
Rest in peace, Coach. You left a legacy not soon forgotten.
John Wooden was just basically a good guy. Never read or heard anyone have anything negative to say about him.
Make Each Day Your Masterpiece
I like that. I will work very hard to strive for that.