Take any two coaching greats, put them together in the same work environment, and it is not hard to imagine the magic it can create.
Two of the greatest coaches in NCAA history once had offices right next to each other. One of them is the legendary John Wooden, the basketball coach who put UCLA in the history books. The other is Al Scates, the coach who has won the most NCAA titles in UCLA history.
“I had never talked to coach Wooden when he was actually coaching,” Scates said. “I was teaching full-time in the Beverly Hills school district, and I never had the opportunity to get into UCLA before (3 p.m.); he was always gone. But after he retired, I learned a lot from coach Wooden. I saw him five days a week, served on (a) sports advisory committee with him, spent weekends with him at whatever city we happened to be meeting with.”
Maybe Wooden taught Scates a few tricks, maybe Scates learned just from being around Wooden, or maybe Scates didn’t need help at all. However it happened, the UCLA men’s volleyball coach is one of the most victorious coaches in NCAA history, and joins Wooden among the coaching immortals of our time.
After more than 44 years of coaching, he has won 19 NCAA titles, has a lifetime record of 1,154-223, and is a five-time NCAA Coach of the Year. His reign has defined a winning tradition that brings the best players to Westwood year after year.
“Just playing underneath that legacy makes you want to try so much harder,” junior Tony Ker said. “(The tradition) is so important, everybody that comes here is so proud to be part of it.”
The triumphs of the Scates era are partly in thanks to the experienced coaching staff and the incredible athletic talent that come through the program each year.
The university’s prime Southern California location attracts some of the best athletes from across the nation. A lot of these successful players then go on to be coaches at UCLA or other programs, such as UCLA alumnus John Speraw, who just lead UC Irvine to its first national title in volleyball.
By surrounding himself with so much talent, Scates has been able to bring success to UCLA for decades. He led three Bruin teams to undefeated seasons, something no other volleyball program has accomplished. But for Scates, the season that stands out was last year’s remarkable national championship run.
“Last year, we had … four fifth-year seniors who stayed behind the blue curtain for most of their careers and finally learned what it takes,” Scates said. “They were great in the clutch, and they just got better and better; they worked so hard. I’m prouder of last year’s team than any other team.”
Scates in fact founded the very conference UCLA volleyball now plays in ““ the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (formerly named the Southern California Volleyball Association).
But his influence goes beyond the volleyball world. The very same office that used to be occupied by John Wooden is now occupied by a new coaching great: Adam Krikorian, the water polo coach.
“We only help each other because we inspire each other every day,” Krikorian said. “I feel very fortunate to have my office right next to Scates. Other than getting to know him and feeding off his confidence, it also keeps me humble to be around greatness all the time. You can’t take yourself too seriously.”
After so many years of coaching, Scates is showing no signs of slowing down. When asked whether he would retire soon, the response was simple.
“Hell no,” he said. “I definitely love coaching, and I think I’m getting better at it.”
With reports from Sam Allen, Bruin Sports senior staff.