The Sons of Westwood: John Wooden, UCLA, and the Dynasty That Changed College Basketball

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book, and my career as a historian, has been shaped and influenced by great teachers. Looking back, my interest in John Wooden began when I was an undergraduate, studying to become a teacher myself. As a lifelong basketball fan and aspiring teacher, I turned to Coach Wooden’s little blue book of wisdom, Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court. I took copious notes on everything Wooden wrote about teaching, coaching, and self-improvement. I did not know it at the time, but readingWooden’s maxims stuck with me; they became part of how I saw myself as a student and as a teacher. I never had the chance to meet Coach Wooden, but I hope that my book tells his life story in a way that he would appreciate. I did not know that I would become a historian until I met Pero Dagbovie at Michigan State University. He showed me that I could write about the two subjects I love most: history and sports. I will never forget how he encouraged me to always do my best. Lucky for me, he was the best professor I ever had at MSU. At Western Michigan University, Mitch Kachun’s mentorship helped me develop into a professional historian. Mitch always showed great enthusiasm for my work and took a genuine interest in me as a student and as a person. Thanks, Mitch. I owe a special debt of thanks to Randy Roberts, my major professor at Purdue University. In every way, Randy has influenced how I see myself as a historian. More than anyone else, Randy helped me conceptualize the book, shape its outline, and refine the writing. My name may be on the cover of the book, but Randy’s imprint is on every page. I am forever grateful for what Randy taught me, but most of all, I am thankful for his friendship and the generosity he and his wife, Marjie, have shown me. I am especially grateful to Aram Goudsouzian. In addition to advising about a dozen graduate students of his own at the University of Memphis, Aram became a mentor to me as well. His outstanding biography of Bill Russell influenced my entire vision of this project. Aram pushed me to become a better writer and a more thoughtful historian. Thanks for your encouragement and friendship, Aram. My professors and fellow graduate students in the Department of History at Purdue University offered tremendous professional and personal support. Professors Darren Dochuk, Nancy Gabin, and Jim Farr challenged me in graduate seminars and in the writing of my dissertation. Ron Johnson and I set numerous records for three-hour lunches discussing our projects. Ron’s genuine enthusiasm for my work energized me throughout the writing process . Eric Hall read every chapter of the dissertation, offering suggestions that helped me clarify my ideas and improve the writing. In the process of revising the dissertation into a manuscript, Andrew Smith provided constructive criticisms of many chapters. In support of my project, a Woodman Travel Grant from the Purdue Department of History helped finance a research trip to UCLA. The Purdue Research Foundation funded me for a summer, and the Purdue Graduate School generously provided financial support for an entire year with the Winifred Beatrice Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. Throughout the research process, many people offered their time and assistance . At UCLA, archivists Charlotte Brown and Monique Sugimoto helped me locate critical documents and answered numerous questions about the history of UCLA. At the UCLA Special Collections, Simon Elliott worked with me to select many of the photographs for the book. The UCLA Special Collections also provided copies of oral histories. Anyone who writes about the history of American sports should visit the University of Notre Dame’s Special Collections. Curator George Rugg offered invaluable assistance there, helping me find old basketball magazines, game programs, and media guides. Indiana State University archivist Susan Davis sent me a stack of news clippings related to John Wooden’s early coaching career. Kevin Walker, the son xvi . Acknowledgments of Indiana State player Clarence Walker, generously shared his father’s diary with me. Lisa Greer Douglass and Ellen Summers were especially helpful at the National Collegiate Athletic Association in Indianapolis. The Interlibrary Loan Department at Purdue University handled my requests with incredible efficiency and kindness. The most enjoyable aspect of writing this book was conducting interviews with former...