Times have changed. Now David is the Chief writer of the Athletic. When Wootten began considering retirement near the end of the last century, the assumption, even by him, was that his son, Joe, would slide over one seat from his role as top assistant. DeMatha Hoops | DeMatha Basketball Alumni History powered by SportsMarkit Jones was 29 and had no previous head coaching experience. John Auston 62 On the other hand, a number of schools have sent multiple players to the NBA and are considered basketball powerhouses. Mike Jones 91 successfully followed up a legend by making his own legendary path by amassing over 500 wins in 19 seasons, eight WCAC Championships, and he himself played under Morgan and was a key member of the 1991 squad that went undefeated at 30-0. Before he decides to spend his savings on two DeMatha educations, Smith said he needs to hear an apology or a satisfactory explanation. University of Maryland, After graduating from DeMatha, Aldridge attended American University and worked as a writer for the Washington Post. Frazier is now an assistant at Illinois, his alma mater. Most of the teams play in the WCAC and play other private schools in the Archdiocese of Washington and Virginia area, such as Gonzaga, Good Counsel, O'Connell, McNamara, and Ireton. James Brown, Basketball, 1969 A three-time All-Ivy League pick and team captain at Harvard. DeMatha Stag Coaches Club: The following individuals are DeMatha Alumni, former DeMatha Coaches, or both: David Adkins Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Rod Balanis 88 Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame, Kenny Blakeney 90 Assistant Coach Columbia University, Mike Brey 77 Head Coach- Notre Dame, Marshall Cho Head Coach Lake Oswego HS (OR), Perry Clark 70 Assistant Coach South Carolina, Ron Everhart 80 Assistant Coach West Virginia, Evan Kee 08 Head Coach The Apprentice School, Sidney Lowe 79 Assistant Coach Washington Wizards, Travis Lyons 94 Head Coach Riverdale Baptist HS, Joe Mihalich Head Coach Hofstra, Frank Oliver 96 Head Girls Coach Bishop McNamara HS, Chris Parsons 91Al Assistant Coach UNC Greensboro, Mike Pegues 96 Assistant Coach Louisville, James Robinson 12 University of Delaware, Heath Schroyer 90 Athletic Director McNeese State, Kurtis Schultz 90 Assistant Coach USC, Duane Simpkins 92 Assistant Coach George Mason, Pete Strickland 75 Head Coach Irish National Team, Joe Wootten 91 Head Coach Bishop OConnell HS. At the meeting, Mustaf told the parents that it was the first time in his life that he had read a book by an African American author and that it forever changed him. Morgan was consistently recognized by the media, as well as his peers, as being one of the greatest basketball coaches ever at any level of play. Both teams will be playing further post-season basketball in the days ahead and both squads should be very strong next season as well. This list of distinguished DeMatha Catholic High School alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended DeMatha Catholic High School are at the top of the list. Anytime there is an interim tag, you dont bring someone from outside the organization, said one member of last years staff, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve his job prospects. Assistant Coach UNC Greensboro, Mike Pegues 96 Villanova University DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) He played college football at the, The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings. Ive reached out to every last one of those guys to express how proud I was of them and their commitment and their success. He learned more from the losses than the wins. DMV high school boys basketball rankings (3/3/23) He played at Iowa and Arkansas before attending Florida State. Read more about Coach Jones under his bio. Cook won the 2015 NCAA national championship with Duke, and won two NBA championships, one with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Danny Ferry, Basketball, 1985 Played in three Final Fours at Duke, where he was named All-America and won the Naismith Award as a senior. I cant escape into sports. The move upset not just Smith but many of the programs parents, other alumni and other stakeholders, according to interviews with a dozen people in and around the storied basketball team. Varsity Basketball Season Review - The DeMatha Stagline But to Smith and others, it should have been taken into account immediately, whether Strickland ends up staying on the bench or not. Volunteer Roster last updated on Mar 2, 2023 @ 2:34pm (GMT) Print Roster Correction All-Time Roster Boston Celtics, Joe Kennedy 64 Minnesota Timberwolves, Jarius Lyles 13 The basketball power he built produced dozens of NBA players, including Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley and 2017 No. It was the first day of the second weekend for DMV Live at DeMatha, one of two local summer basketball events meant to showcase players to college recruiters. 5 in final MaxPreps Top 25 Breakdown: The Stags have established themselves as a mainstay in the MaxPreps Top 25, finishing. This didnt feel brotherly., Its nobody on this earth, the parent went on, that can tell me that if there were five White [assistant] coaches there that they would go find a 70-year-old Black coach to coach them without even talking to the white boys that were there. Bob Whitmore, Basketball, 1965 Keyed upset of Power Memorial and star center Lew Alcindor -- later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- at Cole Field House. Assistant Coach Louisville, James Robinson 12 As a sophomore, he helped his team capture its first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship since 2011. [33] "[9] In 2000, Wootten became the third high school coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,[1][10] and the first to be admitted solely as a high school coach. Like other parents, he spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution against his son. I DO want people to understand that representation absolutely matters, he wrote. Its Make DeMatha Great Again, he said. Orlando Magic, John Jones 62 Then Daquan Davis generated the game winner for the Cadets in the waning seconds. Paul Rabil, Lacrosse, 2004 Helped DeMatha to four WCAC lacrosse titles. . Grambling University, Hunter Dickinson Tennis doesnt seem to be helping. Dantley and legendary coach Morgan Wootten have even been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. According to a person in attendance, Strickland responded that he couldnt change the color of my skin and said his job was to meet them where they are.. Smiths love for DeMatha still runs so deep that before marrying his wife, Shena, Smith told her that any future sons could go anywhere from kindergarten through eighth grade but that DeMatha was the only choice for high school. Were happy with that.. Jones said he made the final decision with his wife Monday morning. Although Winston missed the free throw,. Boston Celtics, Adrian Branch 81 Cincinnati Royals, Adrian Dantley 73 I rep DeMatha everywhere, Smith, who now works in insurance, said in a telephone interview, no longer believing that his love for the school is reciprocated. I know they love the school and theyve invested a lot of their time and energy and intellectual property into developing young men. The final game of the year, played just weeks before the pandemic shut down high school athletics across the country, was a 70-56 victory over Paul VI in the WCAC title game. Earl Timberlake, University of Michigan Is Morgan Wootten the greatest basketball coach ever? He was named Coach of the year by the Washington Post in 2005 and served as a head coach at the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit in 2018. [3], According to the school's website, the music program includes "five concert bands, three choruses, three percussion ensembles, three string orchestras, six levels of music theory, and a History of Rock and Roll class" plus "two jazz ensembles, a pep band for basketball games, a gospel choir, as well as numerous small ensembles. 2. Stricklands hiring comes two years after DeMatha brought back football coach Bill McGregor, another White man in his 60s, to replace Elijah Brooks, who is Black, after he took an assistant coaching job at the University of Maryland. Joshua Wilson (born March 11, 1985) is a former American football cornerback. 2021 Graduates Elijah Hawkins The Howard University, Jordan Hawkins University of Connecticut (UConn), Will Reynolds Grambling University. With :48 remaining, Mack knocked down a trey for the Cadets, and St. Johns led 63-62. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended Gonzaga College High School and Montgomery Blair High School, from which he graduated in 1950. The Panthers girls basketball team dropped to 20-10 on the season. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. In 46 seasons as the head coach of DeMatha basketball, he won five high school national championships, 22 Washington, DC titles, and 33 WCAC championships. The NFL expecting Snyder to stop lying, covering up, blocking and bullying is a little bit like expecting a poisonous cobra not to bite you. Jaylen Brown. Seattle Supersonics, Markelle Fultz 16 Mike Jones and his DeMatha Squads won an impressive 500 games (and only 121 loses). When Jones left, we were caught off guard completely, Day said, adding that he and principal Dan McMahon needed to act swiftly to provide some stability. Head Coach Riverdale Baptist HS, Frank Oliver 96 High school basketball rankings: Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 opens with Angry social media posts and emotional responses have gone viral within the DeMatha basketball community. Top 10 notable DeMatha alumni | Washington Examiner And to not even have a conversation with those guys before you bring in a quote-unquote interim I think thats kind of distasteful because all of those guys are qualified, if nothing else, to be an interim coach until you figure out who you want to bring in. Derek Mills, Track, 1990 One of three DeMatha grads to earn an Olympic gold medal. Smith and Mustaf said the stability the school claimed it sought in Strickland could have been achieved by hiring someone already on the bench. Today Maryland High School Basketball | Mrch 1, 2023The Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD) varsity basketball team has a home non-conference game vs. DeMatha . [4][6], UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (19102010) described his admiration for Wootten when he said, "I know of no finer coach at any level high school, college or pro. I didnt say, Get over it, Strickland said. (Jones did not respond to a request for comment). Chase Young, star defensive end for the Washington Football Team, is among many DeMatha graduates to reach the NFL. At DeMatha, Williams became a better player, but Morgan used basketball to teach him about life. Jones formally shared the move with varsity coaches shortly before the formal announcement, confirming what some had assumed when Strickland showed up to the gym earlier that day. Markelle Fultz (2016) is a professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic, who was the first pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. School Hours: 7am-3:30pm Wootten is one of the individuals memorialized in the ending of the film. 2019 Graduates: Carsten Kogelnik Brown University, Justin Moore Villanova University, Steve Settles The Howard University, Thaire Vance Morgan State University, Joshua Wallace Plays football for UMass, Jahmir Young University of Maryland. This Documentary Wants to Know Why", "DeMATHA'S SUPER SALESMAN Wootten gets great deal from players", "Morgan Wootten, Hall of Fame high school basketball coach, dies at 88", Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Morgan_Wootten&oldid=1104814781, University of Maryland, College Park alumni, High school basketball coaches in Maryland, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 5 high school national (1962, 1965, 1968, 1978, 1984), This page was last edited on 17 August 2022, at 01:49. Head Coach Howard University, Marshall Cho The same can be said for Springs Valley High School in Indiana, which was one and done with Larry Bird. Day said inclusion will factor in the decision, pointing to the recent hiring of Shaka Dickerson, who is Black, as dean of students. 1. Conference regular season champion Born on October 24, 1996, the 21-year old athlete attended Joseph Wheeler High School, located in Marietta, Georgia. Hunter Dickinson - Wikipedia Former NBA as a sideline reporter for Turner Sports (TNT). It really hurts my heart because I never thought DeMatha would get to this point and to not even think enough about us. But several said they feared that the hires signaled a reset intended to attract more White donors and to change the perception of a school that is located in predominantly Black Prince Georges County and has a student body that is 48 percent African American and about 65 percent non-White. Head Coach The Apprentice School, Sidney Lowe 79 Site by Glass Canvas. Mike Jones hired as Virginia Tech's Associate Head Coach - Virginia Now its pretty much like: F yall. But while Osaka Inc. is thriving, Naomi, the woman, is hurting. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball, "Morgan Wootten, winningest high school basketball coach, dies at 88", "Morgan Wootten, Acclaimed High School Basketball Coach, Dies at 88", "Letter to the editor: A legacy connecting UNC and Duke", "Morgan Wootten, Hall of Fame high school hoops coach, dies at 88", "Winningest prep basketball coach Wootten retires", "DeMatha Catholic basketball coach Morgan Wootten placed in home hospice care, school says", "Teacher FIrst, Seldom Second, Wootten Has Built Monument to Excellence at Maryland's DeMatha High", "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:: Morgan Wootten", "Morgan Wootten, legendary DeMatha basketball coach, dies at 88", "Faith came in first place for DeMatha's Hall of Fame Coach Morgan Wootten", "The Son Also Rises: The Story of the Woottens and Basketball", "Another memorable visit for the Woottens", "Morgan Wootten Film | The Godfather of Basketball", "A County in Maryland Produces a Wild Number of Basketball Stars. 1 draft pick Markelle Fultz and 2019 all-star Victor Oladipo. In 1984 Branch led the Terrapins to the ACC Championship. Starting running back for Philadelphia Eagles since 2004 and two-time Pro Bowler. WCAC boys basketball Coach of the Year: St. Johns Patrick Behan. Thats not happening in America.. Records and information is as of 12 p.m. on Friday. Blakeney, who is Black, compares the transition to the one unfolding at his college alma mater, Duke, which announced a plan to have Jon Scheyer as coach-in-waiting for the retiring Hall of Fame legend, Mike Krzyzewski. K.C. Instead, Joe Wootten left to become the coach at Bishop OConnell, and Jones became the choice. In 2000, he was the third high school coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the first high school only coach to be inducted. The Paul VI squad converted four treys, 20 other baskets and 11 free throws for their 63 points. According to people with knowledge of Joness thinking, Reggie Veney was his preferred choice to step in. It wouldve made a little bit more sense if, when he came in, [Strickland] didnt have an interim tag. The Cadets put the offensive pedal to the metal throughout the entire third quarter and led 50-44 after 24 minutes were in the books. Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Assistant Coach University of Notre Dame. The 1964-65 Stags varsity basketball team, led by a young coach named Morgan Wootten, upset the seemingly unbeatable Power Memorial (NY) and their senior center Lew Alcindor (later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). In the fourth quarter, St. Johns led for the first 5:20 of game action. Assistant Coach South Carolina, Ron Everhart 80 The basketball program and DeMatha's proud athletic reputation owe a lot to the late Morgan Wootten, who was the varsity head coach for 46 seasons and won 1,274 games. We were hoping that the administration wasnt that tone-deaf. Also won an NCAA 400m title at Georgia. Pete knows that he means a lot to me. The Race For The Top High School Basketball Job In The - Defector Last week, after rumors surfaced that Virginia Tech was targeting Jones, the coach was bombarded with messages from Hokies fans urging him to join the program. Morgan was consistently recognized by the media, as well as his peers, as being one of the greatest basketball coaches ever at any level of play. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, he played his high school basketball under legendary DeMatha High School coach Morgan Wootten. St. Johns then outscored Paul VI 12-10 in the second quarter to take a 30-29 lead into intermission. After successful high school and college careers, DeMatha graduates often continue to play and coach at the highest levels. DeMatha coaches also holdsummer campsfor young athletes of all ages and coaching clinics throughout the year to share their successful techniques. The Howard University That success has attracted plenty of outside interest. Postseason invitational champion DeMatha helped shape me into who I am today. [texts-excerpt] multiplying imaginary numbers with square roots calculatorFREE EstimateFREE Estimate In the second quarter, St. Johns roared to leads of 18-8 and 21-11 on a basket by Kyndal Walker and a trey by Ava ONeil, before leading 21-17 at intermission. DeMatha hasnt been down this road often. DeMatha Hoops | DeMatha Basketball Powered by SportsMarkit, DeMatha Basketball Powered by SportsMarkit, DeMatha Basketball, DeMatha Basketball, SportsMarkit, Stags, WCAC, WCAC Basketball, Maryland Basketball, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, DeMatha Catholic High School Hyattsville, Maryland, Mike Jones, Coach Mike Jones, Coach Wooten, Nike Basketball, Nike Elite Basketball, bp-nouveau,page-template,page-template-full_width,page-template-full_width-php,page,page-id-125,theme-bridge,qode-quick-links-1.0,woocommerce-no-js,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,no_animation_on_touch,qode_grid_1300,footer_responsive_adv,hide_top_bar_on_mobile_header,columns-4,qode-theme-ver-11.1,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7,vc_responsive,no-js. Adrian Dantley, Basketball, 1973 A two-time All-America at Notre Dame, a gold-medal winner at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and a Basketball Hall-of-Famer after a 15-year NBA career. Dantley and legendary coach Morgan Wootten have even been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His Pistons teammate, Saddiq Bey, started out at DeMatha, but transferred to another D.C. private school, Sidwell Friends, after being unable to crack the Stags lineup as an underclassman. Rankings are compiled by DC News Now sports reporters Alex Flum and Jake Rohm. Sidney Lowe, Basketball, 1979 Along with DeMatha teammate Dereck Whittenburg, led North Carolina State to the 1983 NCAA title. Our conditioning helped us. Two days later, DeMatha hired Strickland, an alumnus with connections to the basketball team stretching five decades, for at least the next season. And since DeMatha requires coaches to be educators, Strickland can easily fill the position in the English department vacated by Jones. Thomas III, Charles ( So.) Bryant University, Carsten Kogelnik He announced his departure on Instagram. DeMatha Graduates who play in college: 2022 Graduates Tyrell Ward Louisiana State University (LSU), Rodney Rice, Jr. Virginia Tech, Bryson Hill Marymount University, Aaron Roberson The Howard University, Jerrell Roberson James Mason University (JMU). And I dont think that they would ever come out and say that, but they didnt like that.. Jones inherited the area's most prestigious high school basketball job . Volunteer Help the coach manage this team. On top of being one of the best basketball teams in the Washington, DC area, the school has won six national championships and 41 WCAC Championships. I wanted them to know that this was the most difficult decision of my life, Jones said. The Stags have had just two basketball coaches since 1956, and the previous hire had its share of controversy. He transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park in 1953 and became the junior varsity basketball and football coach at St. John's College High School. This past winter, pandemic restrictions limited DeMatha to a condensed schedule without a postseason, and the team finished 11-0. St. John's (30-2) - Last week: 2. Twin titles: St. John's girls' and boys' basketball teams both net Paul VI, the 2021-22 WCAC boys basketball champions, then inbounded from 94 feet away and immediately called timeout. [18][19], In 1992, Wootten wrote a manual for coaching, Coaching Basketball Successfully, with co-author Dave Gilbert. DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones, after 511 wins, takes top DeMatha 70 Paul VI 72 Final Box Score Feb 26, 2023 @ 11:29pm In the WCAC boys basketball quarterfinal games, St. Johns defeated Good Counsel, 68-63; Paul VI defeated Bishop Ireton, 77-52; DeMatha topped Bishop OConnell, 66-63; and Gonzaga defeated McNamara, 72-47. The couple now have two young boys. Portland Trailblazers, Sid Catlett 67 He led the Stags to five national championships and 33 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) titles. [16][17], Wootten died January 21, 2020, at his home in Maryland, at the age of 88. DeMatha means everything to me, Jones said. With Mike departing for Virginia Tech, and after the interim term of Pete Strickland 75, the Stags welcomed Coach Mike G Jones, III as the new Head Basketball Coach. But the success of its basketball and football programs has elevated the school to national prominence. I feel like they let us down.. In terms of basketball and teaching, I can vouch for him. DeMatha Basketball Roster 2022-23 Players (19) Staff (5) Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. [The Athletic is a subscription-based sports website that provides national and local coverage.]. As second edition of the book was published in 2003, and a third edition in 2012, co-authored with Joe Wootten. But what DeMatha officials might not have anticipated was the outrage over the process. Whoever takes the position will be just the schools third coach since 1956. 10 high schools that produce the most NBA players - ClutchPoints Virginia Tech One Black former DeMatha player suggested that hiring Strickland, on the heels of McGregor, signals the desire of the administration to reset the culture and return to the days when Wootten would leave victories and head over to Ledo in College Park and draw up Xs and Os over some pizza and Miller Lite. Each coach emphasizes preparation, respect, fair play and teamwork on the playing field and the importance of academic success and growth in the classroom. Jordan Hawkins On top of being one of the best basketball teams in the Washington, DC area, the school has won six national championships. In this wide-ranging documentary, top coaches, players, and sports journalists - Coach K, Roy Williams, Mike Brey, James Brown, John Feinstein, and others - tell the story of DeMatha High School and its legendary coach who shaped the game of basketball and changed lives along the way. Seattle Supersonics, Sidney Lowe 79 Jones said he was most excited by the opportunity to learn from Young and compete in the ACC with a team that has a lot of returning talent. Cook is a professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. June 10, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Bryson Hill They know people are mad, but theyre not touching it, said Smith, who has friends on the coaching staff. In junior high, he went to school in Greenbelt, where his basketball coach arranged for Morgan Wootten to come see him play. When people are passionate about a school or a teacher or a coach, then you get passionate responses. I think its about being consistent with kids. During his time at Florida State, the team won the ACC championship, which was the first time in school history, and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Justin Moore Won four National Prep titles. DeMatha has one of the top basketball programs in the nation. Recipient of an honorary monogram from the Notre Dame Monogram Club, Brey is a former chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rules Committee. [13][14][15], In 1996, Wootten nearly died because of a malfunctioning liver and was quickly rushed to the hospital for a liver transplant. Dematha'S Class of 1985 Extraordinary Classy Athletes Director of Player Development Portland Trailblazer, Rod Balanis 88 Im not going to try and learn all of the handshakes, but I am who I am., The dearth of black coaches in the NFL is a problem that somehow still hasnt been fixed. It has, quite simply a sharp shooting, smooth-handling, defense . St. Johns knocked down one trey, 16 buckets and 13 free throws for their 48 points. With 1:06 remaining, Paul VIs Patrick Ngongba converted a putback basket, and the Panthers led 62-60. BLACKSBURG Mike Jones, the head coach at DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland since 2002-03 and a 22-time USA Basketball coach, has been named associate head coach of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team, head coach Mike Young announced Monday. Mike Brey, head coach of Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball, also played under Wootten. To Smith and others, these high-profile moves suggest a pattern of bias and discomfort with Black leadership. 70-56 victory over Paul VI in the WCAC title game. Assistant Coach Washington Wizards, Travis Lyons 94 Williams was a shooting guard much like Maurice, a dive-on-the-ball player known for his defense. Strickland, in an interview, admitted that the first hour was heated as parents peppered him with questions. DeMatha Basketball, DeMatha Basketball, Coaches, Alumni, Athletes, Mike Jones, Morgan Wootten, Victor Oladipo, Quinn Cook, Jerami Grant, Markelle Fultz, Hunter Dickinson, Justin Moore, Jemari Young, Earl Timberlake, SportsMarkit, Stags, WCAC, WCAC Basketball, Maryland Basketball, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, DeMatha Catholic High School Hyattsville, Maryland, Mike Jones, Coach Mike Jones, Coach Wooten, Nike Basketball, Nike Elite Basketball, David Aldridge, James Brown, Carsten Kogelnik, Jeff Peterson, Justin Moore, Steve Settles, Thaire Vance, Joshua Wallace, Jahmir Young, Earl Timberlake, Paul Smith, Elijah Hawkins, Jordan Hawkins, Will Reynolds, Tyrell Ward, Rodney Rice Jr, Bryson Hill, Aaron Roberson, Jerrell Roberson, bp-nouveau,page-template-default,page,page-id-1683,theme-bridge,qode-quick-links-1.0,woocommerce-no-js,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,no_animation_on_touch,qode_grid_1300,footer_responsive_adv,hide_top_bar_on_mobile_header,columns-4,qode-theme-ver-11.1,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7,vc_responsive,no-js. [2] [1][2][3], Wootten enrolled at Montgomery College and in 1951 began coaching baseball, football, and basketball at St. Joseph's Home and School for Boys, an orphanage in Washington, D.C. He coached his predecessor, Jones, in high school, then recruited and coached Jones again at Old Dominion University. Wootten was named Coach of the 20th Century and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.