Coach of the Century, an Autobiography

This book was a little personal for me as I was born and grew up in Stamford. I knew several football players who played for Gordon Wood, and they all spoke highly of him. After reading the book, I can see why. If you follow high school football, you probably get bogged down in all the muck that really doesn't mean a thing. Coach Wood cuts through all of this and only concentrates on what matters. It's easy to see the reason for his success, and I imagine if he was to come back to coaching we'd see even more. The thing that makes this book unique is that all age groups can benefit by reading it, from the interested adult to the current high school football player. Coach Wood's players wanted to win and did whatever it took to achieve that goal.

My wife purchased this book a few years ago here in Brownwood, TX, Gordon Wood's home town. Gordon signed it and I kept meaning to read it. Mission accomplished this year. WOW. I've been in Brownwood over 20 years and was lucky enough to watch "The Coach" in action several times. I only wish I had gotten to see more of his playoff games.This truly explains the reasons Coach Wood was so sucessful. I never knew he had also won state championships in track and golf. The man knows how to win and have fun at the same time. He is quick to acknowledge his assistant coaches also. The football stadium named after him in Brownwood was recently renovated with a bronze statue of Coach prominently displayed out front. Truly fitting tribute for what he means to this community. He put Brownwood on the map. If you love high school football, this is the book.

Great story of the winningest high school football coach of all times. Most seasons are prefaced with a brief historical background to provide the setting. Wood's memories concerning his dealings with opposing coaches (for example, Wood accuses John Clark's Plano Wildcats of "cheating" Brownwood out of a state title game by unethically swapping suspiciously-edited game films, and he discusses the psychology of determining locations for playoff games) go way beyond the facts reported in newspapers or viewed by fans in the stands. On the book's last page, Coach Wood published his home phone number and encouraged readers to call to meet him. I hope to do so!

Even if you don't like High School football, you have to love Coach Gordon Wood. He's a "man's man" who grew up tough, but displays a great deal of respect for his family, his assistant coaches, and his players. This combination has led to one of the most successful winning records in the game. Coach Wood doesn't cut any corners on his opinions. No "politically correct" stuff here. What you do get is a great look inside what is "right" about the game. One of the most impressive aspects of Coach Wood's career isn't his win/loss record - but rather the significant accomplishments that his players went on to achieve in the business, political and sports worlds. That speaks volumes about the impact that a Great Coach and a Great Man had on some young boys in Brownwood Texas. I wish my son could play for Coach Gordon Wood.

The author states that he's still trying to figure out what made Gordon Woods such a successful coach. You won't have to wonder after reading his book. Woods had a gift for making football fun and for making his charges believe they would win.Filled with wonderful anecdotes and strong opinions (example: Bear Bryant's Junction camp set back coaching in the state of Texas by 20 years), this book is a must-read for any Texas football fan. Any football coach who doesn't read it must just hate to read.