As College Hoops Tips-Off, A Tribute to John Wooden

NEW YORK - College basketball’s 2016-17 season is tipping off this week and there are plenty of signs the season is alive and quite healthy. From a doubleheader at Madison Square Garden to ESPN’s 24/7 college hoops marathon to Dick Vitale’s ever-present enthusiasm to Bill Walton and Fran Fraschilla calling the Stanford vs. Harvard game from China, the season is underway.

In the college game, coaches reign supreme. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski is back for another year after defending the USA’s gold medal tradition, yet again, at the Olympic Games. Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans are primed for the big season opening twin-bill at The Garden, taking on John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats. Coach K, along with Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks will play in the nightcap.

All of those world class, Hall of Fame level, household name coaches have one thing in common and one thing only. They all agree that legendary UCLA coach John Wooden was the very best.

Wooden was not only the greatest coach of all time, but also a mentor to countless people. The UCLA legend won a record 10 NCAA men's basketball championships, but always maintained that success in life wasn't about winning games, but rather being the best possible version of oneself. He believed living with love, compassion, poise and integrity made someone truly successful. In the SUCCESS Magazine December cover story, contributing editor Don Yaeger, who co-authored A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring with Wooden, explores the impact Coach Wooden had on the world.

SUCCESS has partnered with the Wooden family to bring Coach's timeless lessons to life in the form of an online learning course. Discover how you can reach your full potential of competitive greatness through unparalleled access to Coach's teachings, philosophies and wisdom. Releasing on November 15, 2016, the course will show participants how to use the renowned Pyramid of Success to craft a championship mindset that will help them achieve any goal.

If you’re interested in Coach Wooden's life lessons on success, team building and leadership? Sports Fans, coaches and business executives alike can visit TheWoodenEffect.com. This online learning destination features Wooden's fundamentals in the form of articles, videos and offers unique tools such as the The Wooden Effect infographic, which is an assembly of business leaders, entertainment personalities, coaches, and athletes that have been influenced by Coach Wooden.

So, starting November 15th and continuing all the way to March Madness, you can plug in with the late, great coach John Wooden and learn from the very best. Whether you are a youth coach, a fan, a budding business exec or someone interested in human resources, self-help and self-improvement, this is an opportunity of a life-time. And, remember one thing, which the great Bill Walton often notes from his years of mentoring from Coach Wooden, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”