Beyond Winning: The Timeless Wisdom of Great Philosopher Coaches

• Vince Lombardi • James "Doc" Counsilman • Woody Hayes • Brutus Hamilton • John Wooden • Percy Cerutty

Like the philosopher kings of ancient times, these six coaches shared a common wisdom, vision, and commitment. They believed a valiantly fought defeat is better than a poorly played victory. In Beyond Winning: The Timeless Wisdom of Great Philosopher Coaches, Gary Walton reveals the thoughts and teachings that made these legendary coaches successful—in sport and life. You'll get an intimate look at how each coach followed a different path in his pursuit of excellence.

Dividing time between athletics and academics is nothing new to Gary Walton—he's been doing it since he was a freshman at the University of California at Berkeley. At that time, he was influenced by the legendary track coach Brutus Hamilton, whose philosophy emphasized athletics as part of personal development.

Dr. Walton continues to live by this philosophy at the University of California at Davis where he is professor and coach. In addition to being the founding dean of the university's School of Management, he is president of The Foundation for Teaching Economics, a professor of economics and management, and an assistant coach for the university's track team. Dr. Walton received his doctorate in economics from the University of Washington and has authored and coauthored eight books in economics and American economic history.

Dr. Walton's duties on the track include coaching middle-distance and distance runners. He is also a devoted runner himself. As for his coaching philosophy, Dr. Walton emphasizes dedication and hard work, preferring that runners achieve their personal best rather than worry about getting their names in the record books.