Photo provided by Steve SchultzBy Grace Chien, Staff Writer
This year, the boys varsity basketball team took training to new heights through the creation of a book club, which has inspired the players to exemplify leadership, good morals, and attention to detail on and off the court.
Coach and English teacher, Steve Schultz, created the book club for the varsity boys basketball team in order to promote leadership among his team. Each week, players meet in Schultz’s room during lunch to discuss the book, Coach Wooden’s Greatest Secret…How Little Things Make Big Things Happen, by Pat Williams.
“We come in at lunch and then there is one person on the team who leads the book club. It’s usually on one chapter. Then, [Schultz] just talks about [the book] and we joke around and laugh. It taught us about how the little things matter,” said Nathan Hong (‘16).
The book club first originated at Los Alamitos, where Schultz used to be the coach of the varsity team. Each year, the book club focuses on a different theme. This year, it is “Details Make the Difference.”
“I thought that the main thing lacking from this basketball program before I got here was attention and detail,” said Schultz. “I think most people would cut corners and look for a short cuts…you have to be someone’s who’s motivated by all the details.”
Through this book club, not only has Schultz combined both his passions for teaching through mentoring players on the court and students in class, but he has also inspired leadership among players.
“[The book club meetings] make me a better person outside of school, not just for myself,” said Jake Garrett (‘17).
