Updated -- June 14, 2010

Just arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, basketball lost its heart and soul in Coach Wooden. At a loss for words. Sad day for sports. -- Coach Trent Johnson, LSU

The best way I can describe Coach Wooden is that every time I left him I felt better about mankind and had a quest to strive to be a better human being. Coach is what Einstein said about Gandhi: "Generations to come will scarce believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon the earth." He indeed is a legend in basketball but more importantly he is a legend in serving mankind as a master mentor. -- Dale Brown

Coach Wooden, through his living example of character, love, faith and striving for the best, left an indelible mark on all he touched, and he touched so many. One particular opportunity I had to meet Coach, I was left with an overwhelming sense of not how important he was to game, but rather how important he felt I was to him at that very moment in conversation. I wanted to ask him a hundred questions, and he was the one asking me about my life and coaching experiences. It was a significant moment in my life to realize someone who, in humility and grace, had accomplished so much greatness on the court, in reality accomplished so much more off the court through his exemplary relationship with others. He often quoted his father Joshua when he said "remember this, you're as good as anybody, but never forget you're no better than anybody, either." He loved us, and we certainly loved and revered him." Basketball, sport and our society will miss terribly his example. Let us strive to remember and exhibit his life living lessons. -- Alan Lambert, NABC International Committee Chair

He was the best on and especially off the court!! What else is there to say? Gary Washitzko -- Bethlehem, PA

I rejoice that Coach Wooden is home with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has greatly influenced me as a basketball coach, but what I most admired was how he lived out his faith. - Tim Grosz, Northwestern College

Coach Wooden was speaking at the spring clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan during the 1980's. He was waiting for his session, I walked over to talk about man-man defense. we spoke for over 30 minutes. Great ideas, sharing his philosophy, truly the greatest gentleman of profession. - David Hammer

I first met Coach Wooden in Atlanta in the early 70's at a coaching clinic. Though I was in awe of him, he was the most down to earth, gentlemanly, well mannered individual that I might have ever met. He thanked me for coming, he thanked me for asking for his autograph, and he challenged me to be a great teacher if I was going to be a coach. Like every other coach, I have read everything that Coach Wooden wrote and heard many times, every word he has said. Ultimately, I think he wanted to be known as a teacher. He taught us all how to coach, but also how to live. Not only is he the greatest coach of all time, he just may be the best teacher of all time.
Frank Harrell, Former Head Basketball Coach
Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Compliance, Tennessee Tech University

I interviewed Coach Wooden while a student at St. Bonaventure in 1974. We were playing UCLA at Pauley Pavilion and I asked him what he knew about the Bonnies. He said, "Son, we don't scout teams east of the Mississippi. We know St. Bonaventure is a good team and we will have to play well in order to beat them." Then, I met Coach Wooden when Denny Crum was being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. Coach Wooden was his presenter. I went over, introduced myself, told him where I worked, and welcomed him to Springfield. He said, "Springfield College is a tremendous school and has had a big impact on the game of basketball." What a thrill ... what a person! - Ken Cerino, Western New England College

I wish words could express my heartfelt feelings about Coach. One memory I will never forget is the week my wife and I spent on staff with Coach and Nell at a basketball coaching clinic, early 1960's, in the Catskills in upper New York state. Even early in his career, he had a profound impact on me and I still cherish our time together. Not only was he an icon in the great game of basketball, but even more importantly he walked his talk as a true Christian and man of God. -- Sharm Scheuerman - Founder and CEO of Basketball Club International

My earliest memory of Coach Wooden were as a junior in high school, watching the Bruins play the 1964 NCAA championship game against Michigan on TV. I rooted for UCLA because they were from the west coast and because my favorite players, Gail Goodrich and Walt Hazzard played for them. After this game I followed basketball religiously. I had the good fortune to be influenced by life and coaching lessons from Coach Wooden. He served as a model. I tried to emulate not only his offensive and defensive schemes, but also Coach's values of dealing with players. He more than anything influenced and inspired me to teach and coach. I heard him speak several times and it was like a church experience. He was giving coaches blueprints to change lives, not just games or seasons or careers.
I have two stories that I have to share. My wife gave me a copy of his book, Modern Practical Basketball. After he retired, he spoke at a clinic in Portland, Oregon. I do not recall much about the clinic except he was gracious enough to sign it for me and to give me some kind words of encouragement as a young coach. The second happened at the 1989 Final Four in Seattle. At the NABC convention, registration is crowded and moving slow. People start to grumble because it is taking longer than we think it should. In the middle of the group stands Coach Wooden, patiently waiting his turn. Since he is older than all of us and much more deserving of special treatment, we stop talking. My friend says, "I guess if he can stand in line, we can too". Coach Wooden will always stand as a model for coaches. He lived a long and prosperous life. Maybe not in material things but a legacy that really mattered: personal values, devotion to family and many people who have been influenced in a positive way to act as he did. We will all miss him. -- Ron Newton, Seattle

Coach Wooden was the greatest coach of all time, but, more importantly, he was a man of faith. Coach Wooden was a Christian coach who was an example to all people. And now the greatest coach all of time in right where he is suppose to be ...Coaching the Angels in Heaven.........I hope to coach with him someday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- Lonn Reisman, Tarleton State University

Coach Wooden had an impact on every player, coach and teacher because he was all of them. He taught us to be humble, he coached us and made us concentrate on what we do have, not on what we don't have. Most of all he was a teacher and had a passion for learning. He taught me a lot and I am thankful I had the opportunity to meet him, talk with him, write to him, and most of all learn from him. "Be quick but don't hurry", will always be in my mind and he will always be in my thoughts and prayers. -- Raymond G. Zebro

Coach Wooden R.I.P....Coach will forever live in the hearts and minds of people all over the world and in all walks of life. Thank you God for allowing us to see, learn and live during the same time period as such a great teacher on thy earth. Coach truly lived his life the way we all should strive to do both on and off the court. He will now live forever in a greater place than here on earth. -- Nate Dixon, University of Wyoming

It was like a death in my family to hear of the passing of Coach John Wooden. As a retired coach of 41 years with 32 being in college, Coach Wooden has been my mentor. I have read nearly all if not all of his books and have most of them in my personal library. I first saw him in person in Dallas, Texas at a clinic with he, Adolph Rupp, and Henry Iba and had a chance to visit with him briefly while he was waiting to speak. From that time I was hooked on Coach Wooden. His book "They Call Me Coach" is the best on coaching I have seen. His latest book "John Wooden, A Game Plan for Life" could be his all time best and we have started a move called the Coach Garrison Challenge to get as many coaches and youth coaches across the country to read that book. I know of no one who has had the influence John Wooden has had in all walks of life. He is one of the finest Christian role models and human beings I have ever seen and he will be missed but not forgotten. He will live on through his words of wisdom, books, and Pyramid of Success that he left us. My sincere condolences go out to the Wooden Family. Three of my most prized possessions include an autographed picture of Coach along with Coaches Rupp and Iba, a personal note he sent, and an autographed basketball by Coach. -- Cliff Garrison, Conway, Arkansas

A tremendous loss for our basketball world as Coach Wooden showed us what class and dignity was all about! -- Matt Kilcullen Jr., University of North Florida

I believe that Coach Wooden has had an impact on all basketball coaches, regardless of what level or gender". I can remember my high school coach referring to John Wooden when I played from 1975-1977.I remember watching his UCLA team of 1969 beat Drake in the Final Four. When I became a coach in 1983-84, one of the first things I started with was Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success. The one concern I have had over the last few years, is the number of today's players don't know who John Wooden was. That concerns me. I think it is our job, as "Guardians of the Game", to teach today's student-athletes who John Wooden was. -- Bob Fontana, Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa