Coach Wooden

Coach John Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 NCAA basketball championships. My husband Ken and I got to know Coach Wooden; he was such a wonderfully humble Christian. At the age of 99, as he lay on his deathbed, his pastor asked him, “Coach, what’s been your guiding Bible verse all these years?” to which Wooden replied “Love the Lord with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.” His pastor then softly asked, “How’d you do on that?” After much labored breathing, Coach whispered, “Still working on it.” Then his pastor asked him one more question: “John, which of those two commandments is your favorite?” Then, taking one last breath, John Wooden answered “Loving God” – and with that, he entered heaven. Friend, that’s dying with dignity. God bless Coach John Wooden for his amazing example.