Legendary basketball coach John Wooden passed away last week. His passing at the age of 99 brought back many memories. As a kid I rabidly followed college basketball, especially the Tobacco Road variety played by Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State. This was during the Wooden Era when his UCLA teams racked up a remarkable winning streak (88 in a row) and dominated the college game (10 NCAA titles in 12 years). In 1974 I was extremely fortunate to attend the Final Four in Greensboro when North Carolina State upended UCLA in the semi-finals, disrupting Wooden's reign. My younger brothers and I were in awe during the whole experience. Not only did our heroes win the title that year, but we were close to the court in the presence of some of the best college coaches ever -- Wooden, Al McGuire (Marquette) and Norm Sloan (NCSU).
Wooden was peerless as a coach AND teacher. Reprinted here are his tips for team development. I think you'll agree that Coach Wooden's guidance applies in any situation:
- Be thinking at all times.
- If you do your best, never lose your temper, and never be out-thought or out-hustled, you will have nothing to worry about.
- Without faith and courage, you are lost.
- Have respect for, without fear of, every opponent and confidence, without cockiness, in regard to yourself.
- Never be a spectator, be in the fight at all times.
- Unselfish team play and team spirit are two of the foremost essentials for our success.
- We have tough battles ahead. Enjoy the thrill of being in a hard fight.
- Never stoop to playing dirty -- play hard and don't complain.
- Be sure you acknowledge and give credit to a teammate who hits you with a scoring pass or for any fine play he may make.
- Be a competitor. When the going gets tough, really get going.
