Remembering Coach John Wooden
Coach Wooden: A name revered in the history of basketball, in the history of sport; a name synonymous with winning, and doing so with integrity. But for those who had the privilege of knowing Coach Wooden beyond basketball, it was clear that what made him a champion was much deeper than his success on the basketball court.
Humble Beginnings
As a child in rural Indiana, Coach Wooden had humble beginnings. When he graduated from a country elementary school after eighth grade, he received two priceless mementos from his father, Joshua Wooden. First, his father gave him a two-dollar bill and told him as long as he had that two-dollar bill, he would never be broke. Coach still had the two-dollar bill when he died. Second, he gave him a three-by-five card. On one side of the card was written a poem by Reverend Henry Van Dyke, which read:
Four things a man must learn to do
If he would make his life more true:
To think without confusion clearly,
To love his fellow man sincerely,
To act from honest motives purely,
To trust God and Heaven securely.
On the other side of the card, his father had written seven simple rules to follow for a successful life:
1. Be true to yourself
2. Help others
3. Make each day your masterpiece
4. Drink deeply from good books – especially the Bible
5. Make friendship a fine art
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day (faith in God)
7. Pray for guidance and counsel and give thanks for your blessings each day
Many parents give their children gifts, but with little money available, Joshua Wooden had a better idea; he gave his son wisdom that would last a lifetime.
Coach Wooden and Athletes in Action
In 1997, in a partnership effort between Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast was born. The plan was to present an award annually to a member of the basketball world honoring character, integrity and faith in the game of basketball. Who better to model the award after than Coach John Wooden?
In talking to Coach Wooden about the desire to make him the namesake for this award, he was very humble and didn’t want his name to be lifted up, but rather, he desired the focus to be on character traits. After much thought and discussion, the Coach Wooden “Keys to Life” award was born, featuring the seven simple principles given to Coach Wooden by his father many years before.
Since the commencement of the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast in 1997, and the “Keys to Life” Award in 1998, 13 men of character in the basketball world, have been presented with the award:
1998 - Coach Marv Harshman – Hall of Fame
1999 - A.C. Green – former NBA All-Star
2000 - Jerry Colangelo – chairman of USA Basketball
2001 - Junior Bridgeman – NBA veteran – Louisville Final Four
2002 – Mark Price – NBA All-Star
2003 – Clark Kellogg – CBS lead analyst for college basketball
2004 – David Robinson – NBA MVP
2005 – Bobby Jones – NBA champion 76ers – UNC Final Four
2006 – Lorenzo Romar – head coach U. of Washington
2007 – Jim Haney – executive director NABC
2008 – Hubert Davis – ESPN college basketball analyst – UNC Final Four
2009 - David Thompson – NBA All-Star – Basketball Hall of Fame
2010 – Coach Don Meyer – Northern State University – 2009 ESPY award winner
For six straight years, Coach Wooden was present at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast to present the award. Many times after that, his daughter Nan was at the event in his place, to present the award.
In addition to the “Keys to Life” Award, Coach Wooden’s connection to Athletes in Action has included:
~ Color commentary, along with Billy Packer, for the AIA basketball team’s televised games in the 1976 season.
~ Use of his name for the future AIA basketball training facility, to be named the “Wooden Family Field House.”
~ Ralph Drollinger, a player for UCLA for Coach Wooden’s last championship game played for AIA for several years.
~ Meet My Head Coach – a pamphlet that shares Coach Wooden’s thoughts on a game plan for basketball and a game plan for life.
Legacy
Coach Wooden will likely forever hold the title of the best basketball coach of all time. But more important than his ability to win basketball games was his ability to leave a mark on the lives of all he touched—his players, his fans, and even those who just knew him from afar.
Coach Wooden, your wisdom, loyalty, and genuine care will be deeply missed. You were a true gentleman.
by Megan Soderberg
Reflections on Coach Wooden…
Eric Nelson, Director of Sports Team, Athletes in Action:
I had the opportunity to meet Coach Wooden in his apartment several years ago as a high school coach. It just so happened that while I was taking a group of students on college visits in Los Angeles, I made a random phone call to a number I had received for Coach Wooden. He answered the phone and invited me to his apartment. That was the type of man that he was. Gracious with his time, cared about me during our few hours together and shared his life and wisdom freely; truly one of the most inspiring one-on-one conversations I have ever had. He has served the coaching fraternity in ways that will have an eternal impact on many. His service and love for others models the life of Christ.
Stephanie Zonars, Team Building Coach, Life Beyond Sport:
Two members of the AIA Women’s Ministry Board were UCLA alums and personal friends of Coach Wooden. They organized a time for us to go to his home to soak up as much wisdom as we could in an hour-long visit. In a condo adorned with hundreds of trophies and awards, Coach Wooden was a model of humility and grace. Our group of coaches, former athletes and ministry leaders sat in awe as he talked about coaching and life. He recited his favorite poetry and quotes from memory. He even granted a silly request to show us how to put our socks on, just as he did with his players on the first day of practice! It was a day none of us will ever forget.
John Farwell, Athletes in Action Basketball:
I had the privilege of getting to know Coach Wooden before I joined staff and was blessed to have the opportunity to continue to see him over the years. What jumps out at me was his ability to be present in the moment. When you spent time with him, you felt you had his complete attention and you were the most important person.
Obviously, he was full of wisdom, but it was also how he shared it. Humility oozed out of every word and grace in sharing a different perspective.
We shared the bond of being Boilermakers and he showed me that you can be an excellent coach as well as a well-rounded person. He would share a story about being stuck on the team bus in a snow storm on a road trip and having conversations with his players about the Lord, books and the larger world. He taught me that basketball does not have to define you, it is a gift from God to be able to be a part of the game; and you are there to serve others and not yourself.
The last thing that always amazed me in light of spending time with him over the years is how he always remembered my name. How did he do that? I would see him once a year for 4 hours.
He gave his life away and treated each person he met as someone made in the image of God.
Don Meyer, “Keys to Life” Award Winner, 2010
Coach was like a father to me and yet when we told stories he was like a brother.
~The greatest story-teller I ever met and an even better listener.
~He never let you leave him without feeling better about yourself.
~It was all about joy to him: Jesus, Others, You
~You knew you were in the presence of royalty but he treated you like you were special.
~They should build an exact replica of Nell and his apartment so people would see what meant the most to him, what he read, and how simply he lived his life surrounded by earthly affluence.
~He was always a Midwestern boy at heart and that is what really counts—what is in your heart.
~He was a man emulating the heart of Jesus. He practiced the presence of God that Brother Lawrence believed in.
Treasure by Ernie Johnson Jr.
HE SPEAKS FROM THE HEART…WITH THE WISDOM OF YEARS
WHEN COACH WOODEN’S TALKING YOU’D BEST BE ALL EARS.
MOST OF US HERE NEVER PLAYED FOR THE MAN
BUT YOU COULD SAY HE’S COACHED US AS ONLY HE CAN.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF… HELP OTHERS EACH DAY…
IT CAN BE A MASTERPIECE PAINTED THAT WAY.
DRINK DEEPLY FROM BOOKS..ESPECIALLY THE WORD…
THAT’S SOME OF THE SOUNDEST ADVICE THAT I’VE HEARD.
WHEN THE COACH SPEAKS OF FRIENDSHIP…HE CALLS IT FINE ART.
YOU DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED…YOU JUST DO YOUR PART.
‘CAUSE IT’S NOT WHAT YOUR’RE GETTING THAT’S FOUND AT THE CORE,
IT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE GIVING THAT MAKES FRIENDSHIPS SOAR.
BUILD YOURSELF SHELTER FOR THE RAIN THAT WILL FALL,
IT’S NOT COMPLICATED…IT’S FAITH…AND THAT’S ALL.
COUNT ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS…AND GIVE THANKS FOR THESE.
AND WHEN YOU NEED GUIDANCE…GET DOWN ONYOUR KNEES.
ON THIS DAY WE’RE THANKFUL FOR SO MANY REASONS.
FOR THE CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THIS COACH FOR ALL SEASONS.
A MAN WHO’S STAYED HUMBLE AMID THE ACCLAIM
AND WHO KNOWS THAT THE SPORT HE LOVES IS JUST A GAME.
FOR HE’S SET HIS SITES HIGHER…AND HIS FOCUS IS CLEAR
HE’S DRIVEN BY PURPOSE…THE REASON WE’RE HERE.
AMONG THE GIFTS GOD HAS BESTOWED FOR OUR PLEASURE
IS JOHN ROBERT WOODEN…A LEGEND…AND TREASURE.
Ernie Johnson, Jr.
Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast
Used with permission
www.johnwoodencourse.com
by kathy harl
7. June 2010 08:12
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