Yahoo Sports recently published a series of articles on college basketball records they deemed to be “untouchable.” The #1 untouchable record: The seven consecutive national championships by the UCLA Bruins from 1967-1973. Much has been written about the tainted nature of those teams due to the relationship between UCLA booster Sam Gilbert and the players, but the NCAA never investigated those teams and the records stand. None of that changes the fact that John Wooden was a great coach.

However great coaches can learn and get better. That happened to Coach Wooden.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s Wooden’s teams were not very successful in the tournament. They often flamed out early. In the early years the team’s practices got longer as the tournament approached and continued like that even during the tournament. Wooden also spent more time readying the Bruins for the opposing team’s offense and personnel. By the start of the title streak, Wooden scrapped that approach, shortening practices late in the season and spending that time correcting his own team’s flaws rather than prepping for the opponent.

One of his players described what Wooden learned, and changed, this way: “”If you emphasize the other team too much or work players too hard, you’re going to bring on a possibility of physical and mental fatigue at that point in the season. Those were the two big things I think he did later in his career.”

Let me suggest four takeaways from Coach Wooden’s experience:

1. Learning and changing, though not always easy, are almost always necessary for growth and success in both leadership and life.
2. We succeed by building on our strengths and doing whatever we do with excellence.
3. Sometimes less is more. Focus on priorities and don’t be distracted by trying to be or do everything other people want you to be or do.
4. You’re never too old to learn and change. Wooden was in the final quarter of his long coaching career when he changed and saw his greatest success.

Pastor Steve Hogg