Given I’ve been coaching for over 50 years, I am always very interested in what others coaches do. For the most part, what I don’t get to discover is who they “be” in delivering the daily practices that develop their team.

Mostly I use how their teams go about their business. What kinds of winners are they? What kinds of losers are they? What is their demeanor in the action? Do they compete for the entire competition regardless of the score? Do they support each other regardless of the score? How do they respond to adversity?

Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics Hall of Fame Coach, always said that in evaluating players and teams he only trusted two things—his right eye and his left eye. I ascribe to that because there are so many sources that evaluate with hidden agendas which are basically “self-serving.”

Another Hall of Fame great as a coach AND a player, UCLA’s John Wooden said many times there were better coaches than himself that would never get the notoriety he achieved. He just had the good fortune to get better players. Their records did not diminish the impact they had on their athletes.

I have my personal Hall of Fame of coaches who could coach their game as well or better than anyone ever, and probably none of you will recognize their names. Here’s my list:

BEST FOOTBALL COACH TO NEVER BE ELECTED TO THE COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

Homer Beatty: Won National Championships at Bakersfield College, Santa Ana College
and California State College, Los Angeles

BEST BASKETBALL COACH I EVER PLAYED FOR OR AGAINST

Paul “Polly” Wilhelmsen: College of the Sequoias (CA) 1938-1958 Won his conference
championship EVERY year.
Hosted the first Community College State Championship in 1952 and won it in 1953. A true innovator of the game. 15 years ahead of his contemporaries.

BEST COLLEGE BASEBALL COACH EVER

Peter Beiden: Fresno State University, Played the PAC 8 teams every year and competed at the highest level. Developed pro players and coaches of the game with his innate grasp of the game.

These three are great examples of coaches who were known by insiders at their level and would never receive the attention they deserve for their amazing skill, talent and ability. Put them at the same levels as the best with equal talent and bingo, Hall of Fame time. I thank all three for their contribution to my life.