Most Inspiring Basketball Coaches

Kay Yow

Kay Yow coached the North Carolina State women’s basketball team from 1975-2009 and had an overall coaching record of 737–344 and led the USA to an Olympic gold in 1988. Yow, who was inducted into the women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, was fighting a different game--breast cancer.

Despite losing the battle against the disease in 2009, Yow kept her integrity by following Jesus Christ’s example throughout her achievements. “I love to study Jesus' attitude in all of the situations He faced and how He responded and He dealt with things. That's the exciting part for me-to not just to understand excellence in the field of sports, but in a life guided by Jesus' example. He has an example for what it takes to have excellence. And to me, excellence is all about glorifying God,” Yow told Chad Bonham in an interview with Charisma Magazine.

Learn more about Kay Yow by purchasing "Leader of the Pack: The Legacy of Legendary Coach Kay Yow"

Mike Krzyzewski

"Leaders have to give time for relationships. But more demands will be placed on their time as they become more successful. So if a person’s success is based on developing relationships, then they have to continually find new ways of getting it done,” said Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Krzyzewski is not only cultivating relationships, he’s been pilling up motivational books and wins. Coach K moved into second place on the men’s all-time win list in December (880) and built a dynasty at Duke over the last 30 years winning 12 ACC Championships and four NCAA tournament National Championships, a track record few programs can match.

Learn more about Coach K by purchasing "The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team"

John Wooden

John Wooden coached UCLA to 10 NCAA national championships during a 12-year period and was adored by former players like Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The “Wizard of Westwood” was known for his inspiring messages, including the “Pyramid of Success” that taught how to thrive in basketball and in life. Wooden was named as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player (1961) and as a coach (1973).

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are,” he said in one of his many short inspirational messages. Wooden died in June 2010. He was 99.

Learn more about John Wooden by purchasing "The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court"

Jim Valvano

Jim Valvano’s coaching career spanned over 19 years with stints at Johns Hopkins, Bucknell, Iona and NC State. He coached the Wolfpack for 10 seasons winning the ACC Tournament and the NCAA National Basketball Championship and was named ACC coach of the year twice. One of the most memorable moments of his career came in 1983 after NC State’s game-winning shot at expiration in the NCAA finals. Like Yow, Valvano also fought cancer. He died shortly after accepting the ESPY's Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award and speaking about his new V Foundation (cancer research) in 1993.

“I don't know how much I have left and I have some things that I would like to say,” a tearful Valvano said in his acceptance speech. “Hopefully, at the end, I will have said something that will be important to other people, too…” The V Foundation has raised over $100 million since its inception in 1993.

Learn more about Jim Valvano by purchasing "Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up with DVD: The Inspiration of Jimmy V--One Coach, 11 Minutes, and an Uncommon Look at the Game of Life"