Legendary Coaches: John Wooden

As we reach the end of this series of posts about legendary coaches from the special feature on the We Are Marshall DVD, we’re ready to learn from one of the greatest leaders/coaches in sports history, John Wooden. “… never cease trying to be the best you can be.” (Wooden)

On teaching …

A coach is nothing but a teacher. You’re just teaching a different subject than, say, English, which I taught for many years. But you’re still teaching, you still follow the laws of learning, work with people under your supervision, just as you do in any other position where you’re in charge, so to speak.

On talent …

I think all of those who reach–in the coaching profession, that reach the status where they seem to be considered among the better, it’s because they all had extraordinary talent. You don’t do it without talent. Not everyone does it with talent, but no one does it without talent.

On gentleness …

Abraham Lincoln said, ‘There’s nothing stronger than gentleness.’ And I believe that. […] It’s like leading and driving. I think the gentle person leads, I think the driver, it’s like being more in front with a banner than being behind with a whip.

On legacy …

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

On getting prepared …

Cervantes said, ‘The journey is better than the end.’ I consider the journey–I equate that with practices. The end is the games. And I do believe that is important. It is the — getting prepared is the most important thing and that is the journey.

On being the best you can be …

Never try to be better than somebody else. You have no control over that. And that’s something my father gave me years before when I was in grade school: ‘Never try to be better than somebody else. Just learn from them, and never cease trying to be the best you can be. That’s under your control and the other isn’t.’

Great words from a great coach. Be sure to check out my earlier posts on Jack Lengyel, Bobby Bowden, Pat Summit, Lute Olson, and George Horton.

And for more info on the movie this special feature came from , see the We are Marshall page at imdb.com as well as the review we wrote of the movie.

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