Inspirational Coaches: How John Wooden Redefined Success

By Ash Read on November 4, 2011

John Wooden was the men’s basketball coach at the University of California Los Angeles, between 1948 and 1975. He won ten NCAA National Championships in a 12-year period, including 7 in a row – a feat which is unlikely to ever be matched. He also led UCLA to an incredible 88 consecutive victories.

Born in 1910, Wooden is one of the most admired coaches the basketball world has ever seen and he is beloved by his former players, among them two of basketball’s all-time greats; Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Walton.

Whilst his coaching record at UCLA boasted an impressive 620 wins to 147 losses, Wooden’s philosophies weren’t all about winning, he taught his kids valuable life lessons. Lessons that would often change their lives.

“Coach Wooden never talked about winning and losing, but rather about the effort to win,” explained former UCLA great Bill Walton, who played under John Wooden from 1970 to 1974. “He rarely talked about basketball, but generally about life. He never talked about strategy, statistics or plays, but rather about people and character. Coach Wooden never tired of telling us that once you become a good person, then you have a chance of becoming a good basketball player.”

Maxims

John Wooden was known for his kindness and wisdom. His theories and outlook on life, didn’t only change the lives of those he coached, but also millions of people around the world. He will forever be remembered for his maxims, or ‘Woodenisms’. Here are a few of them;

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“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.”

“What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player.”

“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”

“The best way to improve the team is to improve ourselves.”

The Pyramid of Success

Whilst he was teaching English to High School students, Wooden often heard parents criticising their children for not receiving ‘A’ or ‘B’ grades in class. That’s when he realised he needed to find a way to pass on his theory that success isn’t just about how much you have or how powerful you’ve become.

In his own words; “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

Though this was his own definition of success, Wooden felt that it wasn’t enough, he needed something more and spent the next 14 years identifying the 25 behaviours he believed were necessary to achieve his idea of success and developing ‘The Pyramid of Success’.

Click here to view the ‘Pyramid of Success in a new window.

Coaching for People, Not Points

In the below video Coach Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father’s wisdom.

John Wooden was a truly inspirational man whose teachings transformed the lives of those he coached and millions of people around the world. I’d like to end this post with the words he said to his UCLA team before they went out to play for the National Championship;

“When it’s over, I want your heads up. And there’s only one way your heads can be up – that’s to give it your best out there, everything you have.”

Did you know much about John Wooden before reading this post? How have his theories changed the way you coach, or live your life? What’s your favourite ‘Woodenism’? I’d love to hear your thoughts and carry on the conversation in the comments below.

Image Credit: Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

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