Coach Wooden’s Consistency
Swen Nater

In amateur team sports, it is a known fact; a team will—in time—take on the personality of the coach. I have never seen a group of players demonstrate consistent self-control, persistent physical effort, and sustained mental focus while the coach is on the sideline yelling at players, scolding officials, and showing disgust when things go wrong. A consistent model of emotion that is not governed to stay well between emotional boundaries, will gradually be taken on by those under the supervision of the coach.

I say, “gradually,” because it takes consistency—modeling the same behavior over a period of time—to create the change in the players. But there is good news; just as consistent bad behavior on the part of a coach can morph a team to that personality, consistent good behavior can lead a team in a positive direction. 

Coach Wooden had many UCLA teams from 1948 to 1975 and they were all very different in personnel. However, they all had one thing in common; each took on the personality of Coach Wooden. Every team was disciplined, mentally tough, under control, and poised to be at its best when our best was needed. I believe that this was largely due to Coach Wooden’s consistency.

The Four “Ds” of Consistency
Consistency is not limited to emotional control only. That is only one-fourth of complete consistency. Coach Wooden was constant, reliable and steady in all four fundamental areas of consistency: Dress, Disposition, Discipline, and Daily Operation.

Dress
Coach Wooden came to work in a suit and tie. This was above the UCLA faculty dress code. He believed in looking professional. His style may not have been that recommended by GQ Magazine, but his jacket, slacks, shoes, socks, shirt, and tie were in good condition and well-fitted.  The knot in his tie may have been a few years behind the style of the day, according to New York and Paris standards, but it was perfectly and symmetrically tied.

Coach Wooden always wore the same practice gear: Basketball shoes, UCLA socks, Blue warm-up bottoms, and a blue coach’s jacket, complete with the UCLA emblem.

I don’t know how he did it but his hair was always short and trimmed. It never appeared to be in need of a cut. He was always clean-shaven for practice and well-groomed all the way around.

Disposition
Coach was always in his serious teaching mode. I never saw him lose his composure or self-control. His boundary for being upset was saying, “Goodness gracious sakes alive.” I never saw him drop his head in disgust over a repeated mistake. On the other hand, I never saw him do jumping jacks on the side when a player did something great in practice.

Discipline
Of all the basketball coaches I had, Coach was the most consistent in the area of discipline. His motto was, “Say what you’ll do and do what you say.” If a rule was broken, there were consequences no matter who you were. There were no second and third chances. However, to be truly fair, he gave each of us the treatment we earned and deserved. He was consistent there also.

Practice began at 2:59 and ended at 5:29. Coach was never late, always early, and practice never went beyond 5:29. I’m not sure how many practices Coach missed before I got there but he only missed about one week when I played for him. He had a heart attack and, on doctor’s orders, he had to take a break and recuperate. Other than that, he was always there.

Daily Operation
Although coach varied the drills we used, the practice plan (and the way practice was run) was pretty much the same every day. We started with fundamental drills, designed to condition and drill in the basics.  Free throw practice was spaced throughout the practice as were drinks at the drinking fountain. The last half of practice was scrimmaging, in one form or another. Nothing ever changed much.

Coach was also consistent in and predictable in his high expectation. I can’t remember one practice where he didn’t push us to our limits, both physically and mentally.

Why is Consistency Important to Teaching?
Consistency is important because it facilitates learning. UCLA practices were all about teaching, learning, and progress. Every day, Coach Wooden was the same. He dressed the same, had the same disposition, disciplined the same, and taught the same. For us, there was comfort in that. That comfort led to open minds, extreme effort, and trust. 

But there was something else about his consistency that facilitated learning. By dressing as he did, treating us like men, disciplining to correct not punish, and providing a familiar atmosphere, Coach Wooden showed he respected us. We have all heard the expression, “To get respect you need to give respect.” No group of students or players had more respect than we did for Coach. That respect led to us, as a group, to become like him.

It is true, a team will take on the personality of its leader. In my opinion, it was Coach Wooden’s personality, modeled and taught by his consistency, that was largely responsible for UCLA teams being poised, confident, resilient, and mentally tough, just like he was.

Becoming consistent takes time and the rewards may not be seen immediately. Are you willing to make the effort to become consistent?

In order to create a positive learning environment your students should know what to expect from you each day. You need to be consistent.
Melissa Kelly, Top Six Keys to Being a Successful Teacher