A Tale From The Hardwood
The following is an excerpt I wrote for Tales From The Hardwood The experience I wrote about provided me with an excellent lesson in being humble, caring and helpful. As I moved through my career/life it has become obvious to me how much aligning with these attributes makes not only yourself better but those around you. And it feels good too!
In my third year as a head basketball coach our team was invited to the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Each year the tournament invites eight of the top Catholic High school teams in the nation to participate. To say the least, we were ecstatic to receive an invitation. Our school community was proud that our program had reached such a level as that.
I was excited about being around some of the top coaches in the country--especially Ray Mullis of Baltimore Cardinal Gibbons and the Hall of Famer Morgan Wootten of DeMatha. I must admit I felt a little out of place since I was so young and there were so many legends in the tournament. The opening day of the tournament called for a morning breakfast in the hotel banquet room where everyone was staying. I was told we would have breakfast and then the coaches would be interviewed afterwards. I expected a relaxed event, so I went downstairs in my team warmups. As I got off the elevator, I saw Morgan Wootten surrounded by a group of people. He was in a suit and tie. I didn’t think anything of it; thinking he probably had some TV event to do; after all, he was in the basketball hall of fame.
Coach Wootten saw me and stepped away from the group and motioned for me to come over. He graciously reached out his hand and we shook hands. He took me aside so we could talk one on one and said, “Coach Spainhour, you may not know but this event is always pretty formal. It is as if the whole town comes out and there will be plenty of TV cameras. I just want you to know.”
“I had no idea,” I said. “I thought we were just having breakfast and doing a few interviews with some newspaper guys.”
“No, it’s a pretty big deal. I just wanted you to know.”
“I should probably change, shouldn’t I? Do I have time?”
“That’s up to you. I know that as the new team here you will be the first coach to speak but I’ll offer to go first if you are not back in time.”
I hurried back upstairs and put on my dress suit that I was going to wear for that evening’s game. I raced back downstairs and made it just as the program was beginning. Coach Wootten had saved me a seat next to him on the dais and I sat down next to the coaching icon, now appropriately dressed.
I have thought of this event a few times throughout my career. Coach Wootten could have very easily let me go into the banquet hall dressed as I was. Instead, he did what great leaders do--he saw something/someone who needed assistance and he went out of his way to give it. He even made it easier by offering to go in my place if I wasn’t back in time. He did not force me to do anything and left the decision completely up to me. But he offered his wisdom, and it was up to me to choose to accept it or not. I’m so glad I did.
The same traits that made Morgan Wootten a great coach also made him a great leader and person. I am thankful that our paths crossed.
–DS