Pyramid Tribute: Loyalty, Jason Ludwig (Video Coordinator - UCLA)
A 2005 graduate of UCLA, Ludwig served as a student manager during his undergraduate days. After working as the assistant video coordinator during two of the Bruins' Final Four seasons (2005-06, 2006-07), Ludwig pursued an opportunity elsewhere, following former UCLA assistant coach Kerry Keating to Santa Clara after Keating was hired to lead the West Coast Conference school.
While at Santa Clara, Ludwig served as video coordinator for a season and then Director of Basketball Operations from 2007-09. He returned to his alma mater and Ben Howland's staff after the 2009 season.
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To yourself and all those dependent upon you. Keep your self-respect.
Coach Wooden described loyalty as part of a human being’s
higher nature. It is also the nature of great teams and those
who lead them. It is impossible to be a good leader without
loyalty to your team. It is not always easy. It starts,
however, with loyalty to yourself - your standards, your system,
your values. Compromising them - especially under the
banner of expediency - is disloyalty; personal betrayal of
yourself.
Throughout my life, Coach Wooden’s definition of loyalty has helped me stay the course and pursue my dream of becoming a college basketball coach. In this day in age it is very easy to deviate from your core beliefs and turn your back on friends, colleagues and mentors just to get ahead. In fact, sometimes it is the easy thing to do. Although it usually requires patience, I know by staying true to myself and my values good things will happen. By not ever compromising myself I know I have gained the respect of people I have worked for and with, which in the end is always more important.
Furthermore, I have seen loyalty become the backbone of some great teams I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. In 2006 and 2007 our UCLA Final Four teams had players and coaches that always had each other’s backs. Everyone in the program had the same common goals and nothing could derail us from pursuing them. We all had complete trust in each other and our values. It was amazing to see what type of success could be attained when everyone stayed true to themselves and the team.
Like Coach Wooden said, “It is the nature of great teams.”
- Jason Ludwig
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