What is the greatest book ever written on basketball?

Practical Modern Basketball written by John Wooden is still the best basketball book. It has all you need to know to become a good basketball coach. The best, non-technique book about basketball is Season on the Brink by John Feinstien. It’s about Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers.

What was the last class you taught? Do you enjoy teaching?

I love to teach. The last time I taught was Psychology of Coaching in our Master of Education with an emphasis in Physical Education Program. Most of the students were coaches, so I was able to help them develop their philosophies and understand their athletes better. The best class I ever taught was Health Education to Azusa Pacific undergrads. It was not only enjoyable for me, but it also helped me stay in touch with the overall students at APU, not just the athletes.

What coach have you modeled your coaching style after?

John Wooden had a big impact on me, but the coach who I have modeled myself after was Tom Byron. He coached at Westmont and I was his assistant for three years. He didn’t just teach me on-the-court coaching – he also taught me to understand players, how to be a good husband and father, and how to be a man of God in a competitive environment.

It's the final game of the year against Biola. The Cougars are down two with five seconds on the clock. What do you tell the team?

SCORE! So much depends on the situation. Where is the ball? What players are on the court? What defense is the opponent playing? I would get the ball to the best penetrator and let him go, and then set up options on both sides of the court. But with only five seconds left, it will be up to him to create something. Force the official have to make a call by challenging the defense.

What do you read first – the front page or the sports section?

When I answer this, you will probably know why some people call me anal. I first read the front page of the Los Angeles Times, then the sports section of the Times. I then read the sports section of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and then the front page of the Tribune followed by the Tribune editorials. Why? Because that’s what I always do.

What school has a richer athletics heritage: Westmont or Azusa Pacific?

When I think of the word heritage, I think of the past. Westmont, I believe, played at a higher competitive level for many years before APU. When I was playing and coaching at Westmont during the ’60s, we did not play Azusa Pacific or Biola because they were not competitive enough. Our competition was Pasadena Nazarene, Cal Western, and the state schools. This was true for all sports, not just basketball. During the ’70s, it started to even out, and although Westmont and Biola dominated the ’80s in basketball and the other sports, we were developing at APU. The national track championships showed the potential of the Cougars and the decade of the ’90s were dominated by APU. We have won the All Sports award for the last seven years!

Which team would you rather coach – the 1998 Chicago Bulls or the 1985 Lakers?

The ’85 Lakers. I loved the tempo and enthusiasm of the game that they created. They were more team oriented and had better balance. They had players coming off the bench that gave both scoring and defense. They had inside and outside threats. They were a team that pushed each other and held one another accountable for their effort. PS: They didn't have "The Worm."