Page 241 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Adversity Is Your Asset
tion committee that subsequently invited me to come out for a 223
visit. What I saw wasn’t very impressive.
As soon as I got back to Indiana from my trip out West, I an-
nounced to Nell, “We’re going to Minnesota.” But I spoke too
soon. Fate was going to have the last word.
Gopher officials and I had agreed to every single term of the
contract except one; specifically, they wanted me to keep the
head coach I was replacing, Dave McMillan, on staff as my
assistant. I was unwilling to do this, because it was unfair to
both of us; each had his own system and way of doing things.
I didn’t want to constantly be second-guessed by a former head
coach who had a different philosophy of teaching and playing
basketball.
After several weeks of calls back and forth, Minnesota told me
their final decision would be made on the following Saturday and
they would call with the results at exactly 6 p.m. In the meantime,
I phoned UCLA to inform them that in all likelihood I would be
turning down their offer because I expected Minnesota officials to
grant my request and allow me to appoint my own assistant. In the
unlikely event this did not occur, I told UCLA I’d be willing to be-
come head coach of the Bruins. What I didn’t mention is how
much I hoped this would not happen.
On Saturday night, Nell and I sat in our living room in Terre
Haute waiting for the phone call from Minnesota. But it didn’t
come—not at 6:00, and not at 6:30. We were becoming increas-
ingly concerned until finally, at 7 p.m., the telephone rang. We
were both relieved and very eager to hear the news that would soon
take us to Minnesota.
Unfortunately, the call was from California. The voice on the
other end of the line was UCLA athletic director Wilbur Johns:
“Coach Wooden, what’s your decision?”
It was hard for me to say the words, but I replied, “Minnesota