John Wooden coached college basketball for 29 years, achieving a record of 667-161 (.806 pct.). His teams at UCLA won 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years between 1963 and 1975. Coach Wooden was named “Coach of the Century” by ESPN, and is the only person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (All-American and NCAA champion at Purdue) and a coach. Coach Wooden passed away last week at age 99.
- “Never mistake activity for achievement.”
- “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
- “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
- “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”
- “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
- “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
- “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
- “You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
- “Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
Rest in peace, Coach.