Highlights
Building the Wooden Family Fieldhouse
Coach John Wooden’s legacy lives on.
Katie Neff
get all the latest
Sign-up to get ministry updates from our global ministry into your inbox.
“I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live.”
Would you believe that these words were spoken by one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time? Coach John Wooden, who famously led the UCLA Bruins to 10 national championships in a 12-year period, uttered these unexpected words.
One might expect a struggling coach, or maybe even a moderately successful one, to say something like this -– perhaps to lessen the sting of defeat, or to provide perspective in the midst of a losing season.
But those were not the circumstances of John Wooden. He tasted success at one of the highest levels and still found it insufficient to build a life upon. Coach Wooden went on to say this:
“There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior.”
Faith in the Savior, Jesus, was the cornerstone of Coach Wooden’s life. Faith and family are Wooden’s legacy, which Athletes in Action® is privileged to have a part in honoring and celebrating.
In May of 2015, Athletes in Action launched the Campaign for EVERY. A vital aspect of this initiative was securing the funding to complete our Sports Complex & Retreat Center (SCRC) in Xenia, Ohio. The SCRC is a key strategic component in our efforts to build spiritual movements around the world.
AIA® is pleased to share that we have secured the funding to begin building the John Wooden Family Fieldhouse, a 65,000 square foot facility that will be the capstone of the sports complex. We are scheduled to break ground this year.
The Wooden Family Fieldhouse will be the only location outside of the UCLA campus where Coach Wooden has allowed his name to be used. AIA is honored to be a part of carrying forward the legacy of such a godly and family oriented man.
“There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior.”
As building begins, we are asking for the help of like-minded friends and partners in outfitting this state-of-the-art facility. Your gift helps to ensure that we are ready to welcome athletes and coaches from around the world come opening day. Necessary items include:
- Volleyball nets
- Volleyballs
- Lacrosse goals
- Wrestling mats
- Basketballs
We are expecting to host more that 300,000 athletes annually once the Wooden Family Fieldhouse is complete. These athletes will be equipped for growth mentally, physically and spiritually.
Your support will help continue Coach Wooden’s tradition of building young men and women of character. Please join us with your best gift today!
get all the latest
Sign-up to get ministry updates from our global ministry into your inbox.
READ THE LATEST
Where sport culture, relationships, character, identity, and faith collide.
