John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was one of America's finest and most outstanding basketball coaches who ever lived. He was the best in his day, and few, if any will ever surpass his record of winning seasons as a basketball coach. More importantly, he imparted life changing principles in the lives of his players that prepared them for life and living successfully to serve others.
Although we will always remember the stunning triumphs of his career at UCLA, we must never forget the fact that John Wooden was just as well known for mentoring his players off the court and for his motivational "Pyramid of Success." He died at 6:45 p.m. of natural causes. He was 99. His 100th birthday would have been October 14.
Coach John Wooden was a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (inducted in 1961) and as a coach (inducted in 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories. Only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach
Wooden was the son of Roxie Anna and Joshua Hugh Wooden. He had three brothers: Maurice, Daniel, and William. His two sisters died before reaching the age of three. One was unnamed and died in infancy, while Cordelia died from diphtheria when she was two.
Wooden met his future wife, Nellie (Nell) Riley, at a carnival in July 1926. They married in a small ceremony in Indianapolis in August 1932. Afterwards, they attended a Mills Brothers concert at the Circle Theatre to celebrate. John and his wife had a son, James Hugh Wooden, and a daughter, Nancy Anne Muehlhausen. Nellie died on March 21, 1985 from cancer.
Wooden remained devoted to Nellie, even decades after her death, until Wooden's own death. Since her death, he kept to a monthly ritual (health permitting)—on the 21st, he visited her grave, and then wrote a love letter to her. After completing the letter, he placed it in an envelope and added .it to a stack of similar letters that accumulated over the years on the pillow she slept on during their life together.
In mourning Nellie's death, Wooden was comforted by his faith. He was a Christian for many years and his beliefs were more important to him than basketball, "I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior." Wooden's faith strongly influenced his life. He read the Bible daily and attended the First Christian Church. He said that he hopes his faith is apparent to others, "If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me."
John Wooden's book, They Call Me Coach, has significantly influenced my life.
The life lessons taught by John Wooden have become legend. Here's a collection of some of the greatest "Woodenisms."
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
"Never mistake activity for achievement."
"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
"Be prepared and be honest."
"Be quick, but don't hurry."
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character."
"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."
Posted on
Wed, June 9, 2010
by Hugh Morgan