The basketball world recently lost one of its best people and coaches - George Raveling.

For those unfamiliar, Coach Raveling lived an incredible life:

• 1st Black player at Villanova

• 1st Black coach in the Pac 10

• Instrumental in getting Michael Jordan to sign with Nike

• Guardian of the original “I Have A Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. for over 50 years (before donating it to Villanova)

But for all his accomplishments, it’s his character that truly stands out. He was universally beloved and respected.

Fortunately for us, he published a book titled, “What You’re Made For: Powerful Life Lessons From My Career In Sports” in 2025.

The book shared 20 lessons. Below you’ll find 10 that stood out to me. I’ve also included action steps to put each lesson into practice.

It’s my hope that in doing so we all continue the legacy of Coach Raveling!

Beyond Xs & Os: 10 Life-and-Hoops Lessons from George Raveling

In the book, Coach Raveling frames each lesson as something we were made to do:

• To Listen & learn

  Application: are you willing to listen to your players? Are you willing to listen to your other coaches?

  We can learn something from everyone . . . if we believe that to be true. It starts with listening with an open mind.

  Be a learn it all, not a know it all!

• To Study Books

  Application:You can & should learn from your own experience. But reading provides a shortcut to even deeper wisdom.

  Readers learn from the experience of others. Whether it’s books about coaching or leadership, there is a wealth of knowledge out there.

  Seek it out and watch yourself grow.

• To Serve Others

  Application: Our job as coaches is to serve our players. They don’t really owe us anything.

  And yet, many of us coach like they do. Instead, go in with the mindset that you are there to make them better.

  In doing so, you’ll be more fulfilled & more impactful.

• To Tell The Truth

  Application: Simply, tell the truth. It sounds obvious, but few coaches do it.

  Your players deserve the truth. It may not be what they want to hear, but sugarcoating it only makes it worse in the long run.

  Be brave enough to be honest, especially with bad news. Your players will respect you more for it.

• To Reach Your Outer Limits

  Application: Don’t be afraid to try new things. So many of us fall into patterns. We do the same drills year after year. We run the same offense year after year.

  That’s not necessarily bad. However, it very well could be you selling yourself short.

  Learn a new offense or defense. Then try it with your team. If that makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably a good thing.

  Demand the best of yourself!

• To Grow A Coaching Tree

  Application: Develop your assistants. They put in a ton of time for little or no pay.

  You owe it to them to help them become the best coach they can be. You owe it to them to help them reach their goals.

  If they want to be a head coach, mentor them. You’ll find it’s extremely rewarding to help someone along their path!

• To Be A Good Steward

  Application: Leave it better than you found it. The programs we coach at will go on long after we are gone.

  The question is - did we make the place better while we were there?

• To Bring Order From Chaos

  Application: Coach a system that players understand and can execute.

  This is what great coaches do. It doesn’t matter how great your systems are on paper if your players can’t execute them.

  Become a master teacher so that your players feel comfortable & confident with your systems.

• To Win The Day

  Application: Bring your best every day. We ask our players to bring their best every day. We get upset when they don’t.

  But do we always bring our best? Do we take care of ourselves (get enough sleep, eat well, exercise) during the season?

  Do we put our best effort into every practice plan & drill? If we aren’t doing it ourselves, we shouldn’t ask our players to do it.

• To Change The World

  Application: Use your platform wisely. Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in a year than the average person will in a lifetime.”

  That’s powerful. I bet all of us can remember the coaches we played for. Your players will remember you. How so is up to you.

  Aim to make a positive difference in every player’s life. Who knows where the ripple effects of your impact will end?

Carrying the Torch: How Will You Be Remembered?

Wouldn’t you love to be one of those coaches whose players tell fond stories of at their 25 year reunion?

I know I would be.

If we apply the lessons above, we can be. Thanks, Coach, for sharing your lessons. Now it’s on us to pay it forward to the coaches and players who come after us!

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First David Edinger says: 9/30/2025 at 3:37:34 PM I first met Coach Raveling in the Fall of 1981 when I started my own coaching career. At the time, he was coaching at Washington State. Coach was very gracious with his time and his teaching. As I am now into my 41st year of teaching science and coaching basketball, I try to maintain the same high standards of giving to the younger coaches that come to me for advice and insight. We will miss Coach Raveling greatly! Like     login   register

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