The Michael and Cathryn Borden Memorial Book of the Day.*

Forget the goofy, mumbling, "aw shucks" tv football analysis. Lou Holtz is a leader of men who has dedicated his life to turning boys into gentlemen. Every dad could learn a thing or three from him.

Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography by Lou Holtz

From Publishers Weekly:
With a strong overtone of moral teaching, college football coaching legend Holtz offers a prosaic but endearing memoir. It's clear from the beginning that Holtz sees coaching as nurturing more than mere athletic achievement; it's an opportunity to mold promising student-athletes into superlative young men: "Coaching gives one a chance to be successful as well as significant." Holtz grew up in a hardscrabble West Virginia mining town in the 1940s and '50s, keeping a determinedly working-class and strictly religious attitude no matter how high he climbed as a coach. His stories of assistant and then head coaching at institutions from Ohio State to North Carolina State—as well as run-ins with big names like Bill Cowher and Bill Clinton—are full of funny anecdotes and neat little lessons, but they tend to blur in the mind. A standout is Holtz's long-term position at Notre Dame, of special importance not just because of his devout Catholicism but also his refreshing devotion to strict academic standards for the players. In fact, what stands out is his modesty and adamant belief that football is ultimately less important than education. (August)
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From Booklist:
Holtz was one of the most successful major college football coaches in the last quarter of the twentieth century and beyond. He was head coach at Notre Dame, Minnesota, and South Carolina, among others schools. In this typical coachography, Holtz recounts his difficult post-WWII youth, thanks all who helped him along the way, and then settles into recounting the itinerant life of a gypsy football coach. He moved many times as an assistant, sometimes seeking a better spot as a career move, sometimes because he was part of a staff let go in a head-coaching change. He's funny, has a nice sense of timing when he relates a humorous anecdote, and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. In fact, he emphasizes that the wins and losses don't really matter, but he hopes he'll be remembered as having played a significant role in the lives of those around him. Holtz comes across as a nice man; his story makes a pleasant reading experience for football fans; and his reputation will generate interest. - Wes Lukowsky Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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