Page 15 - How to Create a Winning Organization

PROLOGUE

THE JOYS OF MY JOURNEY

eadership offers its greatest reward beyond that of simply
Lachieving supremacy over the competition. At least, this was
true for me.
The joy and great satisfaction I derived from leadership—work-
ing with and teaching others, helping them reach their potential in
contributing to the team’s common goals—ultimately surpassed
outscoring an opponent, the standings, even championships. It cer-
tainly surpassed the public attention that comes with achievement.
In fact, it was the hoopla and attention accompanying UCLA’s
success in basketball that perhaps drove me away from coaching.
On Saturday night, March 29, 1975, UCLA played Louisville
in the semifinals of March Madness at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Going into the game, I had every intention of remaining as head
coach at UCLA for two, possibly three more years.
Some say they knew otherwise—that I’d indicated I would leave
the Bruins at the end of the season. Well, maybe they knew, but I
didn’t. What happened happened quickly and with no warning.
After the final buzzer, when Louisville Coach Denny Crum and
I had congratulated each other on a nearly perfect game, I turned
toward the pressroom for the usual postgame interview.

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