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How to Be Like Coach Wooden: Life Lessons from Basketball's Greatest Leader

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I was introduced to this amazing book when Pat Williams talked about Coach Wooden at the end of a day long product seminar for Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors. If you ever have a chance to see Pat, he is one of the most intelligent, to-the-point and engaging motivational speakers I've ever seen. My only criticism of his inspiring book is the title: it would have been much simpler to call it "The Coach Wooden Catechism."

For Pat Williams fans, this is one of seven books in his "How To Be Like" series, which profile the virtuous characteristics of winners. A scholar and a gentleman, Coach Wooden himself got it right when he humbly stated, "I'm just an English teacher. Shouldn't I be writing a book about Pat Williams?"

Each chapter expands on the virtues that made Wooden the greatest basketball coach of the 20th Century. So, `if you want to be like Coach Wooden,' be a person of character, love God, love your family and other people. If you want to build knowledge and wisdom like Coach did, strive to be a teacher, learn from the good example of others, and read good books, lots of them. If you want to build winner teams like Coach, work hard to be a team player, be a leader, be disciplined and patient. If you want to be happy in life, strive for humility, master the `little things', keep things simple, be honest with yourself, and remember that in life, we reap what we sow.

Interspersed under each of these chapters are the testimonials of hundreds of sports legends offering their personal observations of the greatness Coach Wooden exemplifies. Where Williams and his co-author David Wimbish deserve great credit is the skill they demonstrate in weaving together these accolades and facts. Williams spoke to over 800 people to prepare this book. In spite of mountain of source material he accumulated, this book is a quick and impressive read. There are dozens of books about Coach Wooden, and many of them are excellent. As the parent of four basketball crazy boys, I strongly recommend this inspiring book for young adults and athletes in any sport.

Mr. Williams paints a wonderful picture of a great and humble servant of God by using stories of people he poured his life into as a canvas. One person who Coach Wooden admired was Abraham Liccoln. I believe he described him as "the greatest American." At Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield, IL are the words; "Now He belongs to the Ages". In one of the stories in "How to be Like Coach Wooden", Ann Myers Drysdale said that someone asked Coach; "What would you do if you could live your life over again?" He said, "I would like to be a better, kinder person." With all the success that Coach Wooden experienced, I believe that Mr. Williams captures his heart. He records Coach Wooden as saying; "I can tell you about all the blessings in my life, but blessings aren't success. Did I make my best effort to do my best? This is the only criteria, only I am the one who knows. Am I a success? I have peace of mind." Thanks for a great portrait. Now Coach John Wooden belongs to the ages.

We have been friends with John Wooden for years, my husband for decades, and were sad to say goodbye to him a few weeks ago. He knew he was going to leave us and KNEW he was going to be with his Nell and with his Lord. That is what made him so special! He was the first to say that it had nothing to do with basketball! He said he was "just" a teacher. Yes he was - and what a teacher! This and any book that speaks of the character of John Wooden is an imperative, necessary read for all, not just athletes, because John exemplified - he did NOT just talk about - character, loyalty, love, and commitment. If you have sons, they can learn from John's example how to become men; for your daughters, they can also learn about character, and also learn what to look for in a spouse someday. While no one can be like John in so many ways - and so the title at first put me off - the qualities of this wonderful man, who never felt himself better than anyone else, just blessed, are a blueprint for our next generation, who are subjected these days to arrogance, self-centeredness, and disloyalty. John is the epitome of what I believe God intended us to be, not perfect, he would say with a sly grin - just staying within the Master's Hand. If you knew John, you will see him in the character in this book. Good read.

Everyone needs a mentor, and there is no better hero than Coach John Wooden. Lays out the many principles and applications of Coach Wooden, and tells us how we can all take the simplest of principles to be succesful in life.