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I caught the tail end of a John Wooden interview the other night on TV, and I came away thinking that all coaches in all sports should try to imitate this guy in all that they do.
After all, in addition to the remarkable career the Indiana native had at UCLA in college basketball coaching – his teams won 10 NCAA Division I national championships – Wooden has become an icon in the sports and the advertising world. Offering sage advice to anyone within the sound of his voice, the 96-year old – yes, you read that correctly – is preparing to be honored in the year 2010 when the good folks in California reopen famous Pauley Pavilion, home to the Bruins, in his honor.
On that day, Wooden will turn 100 years of age, and, for the record, he plans on being there.
“Make each day your masterpiece” was the legendary coach’s mantra, an axiom given to him by his father.
Hmmm, I’m thinking. In our midst, four coaches come to mind for like thinking, and, ironically, considerable success.
At Bangor High School, longtime boys basketball coach, Roger Reed, has put together a Wooden-like program. A true gentleman if there ever was one, Reed is a classy man with a quiet demeanor, who constantly deflects praise to his players, another Wooden-like characteristic.
Roger’s seven state titles at Bangor are an indication that he is not only a superb coach, but that he is also a good person.
Another Bangor High coach of renown is Bob Kelley, who garnered eight state titles as a head baseball coach before his retirement in 2000.
Kelley had that Wooden-like demeanor as well, for there was never any question by players, assistant coaches, or umpires who was in charge of his team. And like Wooden, Kelley could quote the rules, chapter and verse, when there was a questionable call. As players, we used to get a kick out of those sessions, because, more often than not, the coach came away winning the argument.
Like Reed, coach Kelley’s success speaks for itself. He was a molder of youth, and his influence is still being felt in this area.
Down the road a piece at Husson College, two other giants in these games have demonstrated Wooden-like characteristics in their illustrious careers.
Longtime men’s basketball coach D. Bruce MacGregor, stood tall among his peers for more than 25 years as Husson’s basketball coach. Combining a classy demeanor with court savvy, MacGregor took his teams to seven national tournaments, accumulating more than 500 wins in the process.
Consider that. Then consider that his current tenure as head golf coach has seen his teams amass more than 800 wins.
Spend a little time with this gentleman and you’ll come away thinking that in MacGregor, all coaches have the opportunity to emulate greatness and humility, two characteristics not often associated with the coaching profession.
Perhaps the dean of Maine coaches, especially in terms of Wooden-like traits, is Husson’s own John Winkin, who currently coaches the Eagles baseball team.
Best-known still for his days as baseball coach at the University of Maine, Winkin began all this college coaching stuff at Colby College in Waterville.
While at UMaine, Winkin led his Black Bears to six berths in the College World Series. His teams have amassed more than 1,000 wins, and like Wooden, he gives all credit to his players.
Humility is an obvious trait of such a rare breed in coaching.
There they are: Reed, Kelley, MacGregor, and Winkin, four men who by their daily actions imitate, arguably, the greatest coach of all time, John Wooden.
The beauty of such men is the number of lives they have influenced or changed. By teaching the importance of hard work, loyalty to the team and the cause, and responsibility, they influenced young people to make each day a masterpiece, sage advice for all of us.
BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net
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