Books are a part of Wade's building blocks for Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball

Monday, November 25, 2013

photo UTC men's head basketball coach Will Wade directs players from the sidelines during a Mocs' basketball game at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga in this Nov. 16, 2013 file photo.
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One bookshelf behind Will Wade's desk is filled with reference materials.

The 2012-13 VCU play book is included, and that's a three-inch three-ringed binder. Other binders next to it rest on the shelf to the left of his computer desk on the fourth floor of McKenzie Arena.

The other bookshelf, the one closest to the window overlooking the corner of Fourth and Houston and the Blood Assurance Building, is stuffed with at least 100 books that he's read from front to back.

Reading is part of Wade's daily routine and it's an activity that he likes to pass along to his players.

"You get different ideas from each book," Wade said. "Some are on leadership, some are on marketing and selling visions. Some are war-strategy books.

"I usually try to take two or three points that we can apply to our program and our guys' lives."

Most of the books on Wade's shelves are sports-related. They include books on -- or by -- Bob Knight, Geno Auriemma, John Wooden, Tony Dungy, R.A. Dickey, Pete Maravich and others.

Some of the other books deal with leadership, motivation and military strategy. He majored in history at Clemson.

Non-sports books include "Moonwalking with Einstein," as well as "The Energy Bus," in addition to books by former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani and NBC broadcaster Tom Browkaw.

Over the summer, Wade, along with incoming UTC freshmen, read "This I Believe." He delivered his five beliefs -- appreciation, enthusiasm, competitiveness, unselfishness and accountability -- as the featured speaker at UTC's convocation back in September.

Wade treats his bookshelf as a library to his staff and players. Anytime anybody wants to read something good, just ask. He'll loan it out.

"Sometimes I give guys books to read," Wade said. "Rico has one of the John Maxwell books on leadership."

But that book is down the list of junior Ronrico White's current requiremennts. White will get to it, he said, after mandatorty academic books about marketing and business which are required reading for his major.

"He's a very knowledgeable man," said White, who has been out since July with an injury. "Coach wanted me to get a little inspiration during my tough time. During this Christmas break I plan on reading the book. I'll give it a shot."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP