They Call Me Coach

by John Wooden and Jack Tobin

Book Overview

The legendary coach talks about his life, his players, and his winning philosophies in this bestselling autobiography

John Wooden's dedication and inspiration made him America's "winningest" coach. His beliefs in hard work and preparedness brought the UCLA Bruins an unparalleled 10 NCAA basketball championships. Now in this bestselling autobiography--with a Foreword by Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton--the college basketball legend reflects...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071424911
• ISBN13: 9780071424912
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating Insights Into One of Greatest Teachers

What many of us never quite realized is that Wooden was also a great player in his day; only one elected to Hall of Fame as both. One can surmise that much of what carried him to fame at UCLA was already picked up in his early days in life, as student, son, player and then coach in high school. His faith in the Lord and reading Bible daily was inspirational as well. Lessons taught by him to his players were not just about b-ball, but about life. The foreward by Bill Walton exudes this, and one can see how easy it was for his players to play for him. Great read to be re-read. Youngsters should read this.

They Call me the Greatest....is what it should be called.

They Call Me Coach by John Wooden is not only one of the greatest sport books I have read but also one of my all time favorites too. In his book he tells you of his early struggle through the Depression and from the constant moving of his family. In the book he tells you of his father's enormous impact on his life, from his inspiration talks with him or just the poems he quoted. One of Wooden's own thoughts has stuck in my head also. It reads,"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."(pg 56) This great book deserves five stars because of how John Wooden can take a topic of teaching basketball, and stretch it to other sports and even educational goals. If you do not even play basketball you will like this book because whatever the sport you play, this book has something that you can apply to it. His Pyramid of Success is great and I feel it should be in every locker room of every sport. The diagram states how success can be acheived through making your team an actual team, by making them come together and be in the same mind set. These are few of the major reasons why anyone should read this book.

More than basketball: a formula for winning in life.

John Wooden thoroughly puts forth the principles that he practices in his life as a coach, former coach, and citizen. His trips through nostalgia are insightful and incisive. More than a book on how to play better basketball, it is more in line with how to be a better person. A must read for individuals who are working with children and adults and feel that high standards and accountability are important for them and their charges.

A classic book about a classic coach.

When you have lost all of your faith in sports, buy and read this book. Coach Wooden takes us through the wonderful journey of his life, from a young boy growing up in a small Indiana town to the multiple national championships at UCLA. Its too bad there aren't more coaches like John Wooden, a truly inspiring individual

Great book for parents and coaches

This is a wonderful book for anyone who has ever coached kids in any sport at any level through college; or for parents of any kid playing any sport or for any college basketball fan. Wooden tells his philosophy and illustrates it with anecdotes, examples and stories from his life as a player and a coach. Inspirational for coaches and parents of players of any spor