VABA Mourns the Passing of its Model, Coach Wooden

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View the VABA Coach Wooden Passing Story

 

View Coach Wooden Legacy Video

 

View Coach Wooden Video Montage

 

The Virginia Basketball Academy has as its mission “building character and shaping lives through the game of basketball.”  Every facet of its program attempts to follow this creed.  And, this philosophy, this mission, originally derived from Coach D’Alessandro’s coaching idol, John Wooden – the greatest coach of all time.  It was Coach Wooden who inspired the founding of VABA.  It is his legacy that VABA has hoped to carry on, and it is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of this enduring coaching icon and our inspiration. 

Coach Wooden never mentioned winning to his teams – the result was not his focus – his emphases were the  process, preparation, character and moral condition.  Industriousness and enthusiasm were the cornerstones for his Pyramid of Success, the blocks of which have been taught for over a decade through VABA teaching programs to hundreds of youth. 

It was divine intervention that eventually brought together a meeting of Coach D’Alessandro and Coach Wooden back in 2004 – and since then this friendship has grown and the VABA philosophy continually reinforced.  Thank you, Coach, for all you have done to inspire us, shaping this organization and vicariously impacting so many lives over the years.  Thank you for all the lives you have touched and will continue to touch through our organization.  We know you are with the Lord now, and with your precious wife, Nellie.  We pledge to carry on your legacy FOREVER!