Coach: Words of wisdom from the greatest coach of all time

Still recovering from another heart stomping, pressure packed "go for two and the win" game for Glenbrook South's cardiac Titans, a tough fourth quarter for the Spartan contingent against Rolling Meadows, and marveling at the victory machine that GBS volleyball has become.

While in the midst of all that - and more - I had some thoughts on the great wisdom and simplified brilliance of the greatest coach of all-time. Understood the list of great coaches in sports is a long list indeed and arguing about who is THE greatest is about as futile as trying to pick up Jell-O with a toothpick.

The great coaches names roll off the tongue in all stages of popularity, including current coaching superstars like Bill Belichek, Nick Saban, Duke's just departed Mike Krzyzewski, and the NBA's Greg Popovich and Steve Kerr. All among the best of the best.

Then there are old-timers like NFL greats Don Shula, Tom Landry, Bill Walsh, Vince Lombardi and of course Chicago's very own George Halas. There are names like Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summit and Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma as well as hockey's Scotty Bowman, and college basketball's Bobby Knight, Dean Smith.

They all belong in the discussion, but right at the top of just about everyone list is the great John Wooden.

Many of the younger readers of this paper might not be familiar. Wooden was UCLA's basketball coach in the 1960s and 70s and built an absolutely dominant program that at one point, (are you sitting down?), won nine out of ten National Championships in a row!

Absolute dominance.

The Bruins under Coach Wooden put the "Madness into March" well before the term had ever been invented, but more importantly was his style and methods. He did it all in an understated way, rarely raising his voice, never pacing the sidelines and riding the referees, but instead sitting down for almost the entire game, with rolled program in hand and letting his players display what they had practiced. Not too much of that these days with typically overhyped coaches pacing up and down sidelines with their "every possession is life and death" mentality.

Wooden knew there was more to the game. He did his teaching in practice and then let the players play come game time. His quotes, messages, and philosophies were simple but still full of remarkable depth and wisdom. They apply not just to sports but more importantly how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives.

He had many famous quips, but here are some of the best, and see how they might apply to you in school, on sports teams, with friends, with family or in the workplace:

"Never confuse activity with accomplishment"

"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment"

"I had three rules for my players: No profanity, don't criticize a teammate, and never be late."

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one"

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do"

"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"

"It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts"

"It is not so much what you do, it is how you do it"

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character"

"If a player's not doing the things he should, put him on the bench. He'll come around"

"Somebody once asked me how come it took so long to win a national championship and I said I'm a slow learner, but you notice when I learn something, I have it down pretty good"

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you"

"It's not so important who starts the game, but who finishes it"

"If I am through learning, I'm through"

"If there is anything I could point out where I was little different, it was the fact that I never mentioned winning"

"I talked to players and tried to make them aware of what was good and bad, but I didn't try to run their lives"

"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit"

"Players with fight never lose a game, they just run out of time"

• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan. To contact him with comments or story ideas, email jcsportsandtees@aol.com.