As should be clear by now, being a Wildcatter is not solely related to business…it is way of life. Wildcatters embrace adventure, compete with all of their heart, continually problem solve, and are committed to be the best person they can be. A classic example of a Wildcatter from the world of basketball is John Wooden.
Wooden was the coach of UCLA for 27 seasons. During that time, he accomplished the following:
- A winning percentage of .804 (664-162)
- 10 NCAA National Championships, with a record seven in a row (for perspective on this record, no other team has won more than two in a row)
- A record 88 game winning streak
- National coach of the year six times
- Inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach
- In 2009, he was named by The Sporting News as the Greatest Coach of All Time
- If all of this wasn’t enough, he also won an NCAA National Championship as a player in 1932 for Purdue University.
Wooden was respected by players and fans alike. His attention to detail was legendary. Bill Walton has told the story of his first day of practice at UCLA, when the very first thing Wooden taught the players was how to put on their shoes and socks. If done correctly, shoes and socks should have no bearing on the outcome of a game. However, if done incorrectly, a lose shoestring could make the difference in an evenly matched battle of the hardwood.
Wooden spent a great deal of his time during and after his basketball career trying to help others succeed. In fact, he was the author of 14 books that had a focus on not just basketball, but on how to live a successful life. He knew that winning basketball games was not nearly as important as succeeding in the game of life.
One of Wooden’s favorite methods of teaching a life lesson was to use short, yet insightful, sayings and maxims. Some his favorites were:
- Be quick, but don’t hurry.
- Perform at your best when your best is required. Your best is required each day.
- Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
- Flexibility is the key to stability.
Wooden passed away in 2010 at the ripe age of 99 years old. Although he had an amazing career as both a player and a coach in basketball, Wooden leaves behind a much more powerful legacy of helping others to reach their goals of having a rich and fulfilling life.
John Wooden truly embraced the spirit of the Wildcatter.
