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Gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field took John Wooden’s teachings from the court to the mat

Over the years, John Wooden often settled into his front-row seat to watch Valerie Kondos Field’s gymnastics team.

By Mansi Sheth

Oct. 14, 2010 3:02 a.m.

Next to the entrance of Yates Gymnasium in the John Wooden Center is a two-story Pyramid of Success, commemorating the legendary coach’s famous diagram. Written on the keystone is “competitive greatness,” what coach Wooden considered the very essence of a championship team.

Coaches from across the nation have embraced Wooden’s pyramid of success, but none as sincerely as UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field. The six national championship banners hanging on the walls of the gymnasium are a testament to the premier program she has built in only 20 years based on the philosophy of her mentor and friend.

Before Kondos Field met Wooden in 1996, she was a confused and frustrated coach, uncertain of her own strengths as a teacher.

“When I took over the coaching in 1990, I did what I thought was smart, which was actually one of the worst things any one can ever do in life,” Kondos Field said. “I tried to mimic other coaches that had won national championships, and we failed miserably. We were awful.”

With the help of a home-cooked meal, the former ballerina’s career path took a fortunate turn after an introduction to John Wooden. Despite having never met him before, Kondos Field invited Wooden to dinner at her home.

“I went and picked him up from his home in Encino, and I felt like I was driving our national treasure,” she said. “I wanted to put pillows all around him in case I had an accident, God forbid. He came over, and we just clicked.”

The friendship between Kondos Field and Wooden blossomed into a lasting and loving bond. After that first meeting, the gymnastics coach and her husband, UCLA Associate Athletic Director Bobby Field, would invite coach Wooden over for dinner at least 10 to 15 times every year.

Then, in 1998, UCLA gymnastics hosted the national championships in Pauley Pavilion, and Kondos Field asked Wooden to speak to her team before the final competition. He agreed and soon afterward, became a regular at every home meet, sitting in his preferred spot near the floor.

Coach Wooden’s loyalty toward Kondos Field ran deep, and his enthusiasm for her team was never-ending. Even at the age of 95, he was at Pauley Pavilion for home meets, accompanied by his daughter Nan Muehlhausen and Kenny Washington, a member of Wooden’s 1964 championship team. But one Sunday, Wooden found himself without any means to get to the meet.

“I looked to the corner of Pauley Pavilion, and I saw coach Wooden walking in all by himself with his cane,” Kondos Field said. “He said, “˜I could have called Valorie and told her that I couldn’t make it since I didn’t have a ride, but my father always told me no whining, no complaining, no making excuses.’ So he had gotten in his 1988 Camry, or whatever car it was, and drove himself from Encino to Pauley Pavilion at 95 years old.”

In gymnastics, Wooden – who attended a meet as recently as – found a sport that proved the importance of a strong work ethic. When the difference between a perfect routine and an embarrassing fall can be the placement of a single hand, there is no room for unnecessary showiness.

“He did not like the dunk or all the flashy moves that basketball players do now,” Kondos Field said. “You can’t do that in gymnastics. It’s a very refined sport.”

Witnesses to the dynamic relationship between the two coaches were Kondos Field’s gymnasts, who felt every day in practice the intense presence of coach Wooden and his philosophies.

“I saw a very loving relationship, but I also saw a supportive relationship,” said redshirt senior Brittani McCullough, who first met Wooden her freshman year. “I really saw his encouragement of her; he was constantly just giving advice and words of wisdom.”

McCullough’s teammate, junior Elyse Hopfener-Hibbs underscored the importance of learning the Pyramid of Success.

“Miss Val lives by the pyramid, and by doing that, she set an example for us that we just carry on throughout our life, not just in gymnastics,” Hopfner-Hibbs said.

It may seem strange to some why Wooden, who drilled into his players the importance of teamwork, would find the individual-driven sport of gymnastics so captivating. To Kondos Field, the answer is obvious.

“He appreciated that these young women had the poise and confidence to go up on an event and compete by themselves in front of all these people,” she said. “But after they dismounted, they immediately assimilated back into a group. He really believed gymnastics was a team sport.”

Wooden was much more than a beloved friend to Kondos Field. He was also an influential mentor. He was detail-oriented in his practice preparation, and although Kondos Field confesses to be the exact opposite, her thoroughness is evident in the way she expects her gymnast to train. Every finger must be in the right spot.

These small similarities in coaching style pale in comparison to what Wooden really taught Kondos Field.

“The biggest lesson I learned was never try to be anything other than yourself. Be the best that you are capable of becoming, which is his true definition of success,” she said.

The gymnastics coach took the message to heart, realizing that following exactly in Wooden’s footsteps was not the right decision if it conflicted with her own system of coaching.

“When we had occasional interviews together, one question would be, “˜How much did you rely on team meetings?’ At the exact same time, he replied “˜never’ and I said “˜all the time,'” Kondos Field said.

“I was trying to always be like coach Wooden; that is an instance where I could think maybe we shouldn’t have so many team meetings, but he taught me to stay true to what I feel.”

Less than two months before coach Wooden passed away, Kondos Field led the UCLA gymnastics team to its sixth NCAA championship. She called him to tell him the team had just achieved its goal of hitting 24 brilliant routines and that winning the championship was a bonus.

“I said, “˜Coach, I know you are proud that they won, but you are going to be extra proud of them when I tell you how they won,'” Kondos Field said. “I told coach Wooden the story and he said, “˜My dear, it seems your team has reached the top of the pyramid, competitive greatness.’ He was very proud.”

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Mansi Sheth
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