Joe Wootten, the boys basketball coach at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, reached a coaching milestone with his 500th career victory as his Knights defeated St. Mary’s Ryken from Leonardtown, Md., at home, 81-65, Jan. 5.
He reached the mark midway through his 24th season at O’Connell, bringing his overall record to 500-247. Wootten took over as head coach of the O’Connell boys basketball program in 1999, and since 2010, he has also served as the school’s athletic director.
He was selected as the Arlington County Coach of the Year four times, Virginia State Independent School Coach of the Year three times, and WCAC Coach of the Year once. His influence on the game goes well beyond wins and losses in the high school ranks. Over his 24 seasons as head coach at O’Connell, Wootten’s players have moved on with more than 85 college players and managers, and 11 professional players. Additionally, 20 of his former assistant coaches have become head high school or college coaches.
He has been a positive role model in youth basketball, through the Coach Wootten’s Basketball overnight and day camps in Northern Virginia and Maryland, as well as the Coach Wootten’s Top 150 Camp in Dallas. He has hosted numerous youth and coach clinics nationally and internationally, and is the chairman of the McDonald’s All American Games, the pinnacle of high school basketball, featuring future WNBA and NBA prospects.
“Coach Wootten is a tremendous leader in this community,” said Head of School Bill Crittenberger. “I deeply appreciate his contribution to our school — obviously as a basketball coach, but also as a man of great purpose, energy and joyfulness.”
Wootten and his wife, Terri Lynn, and three children — Alexa, Reese, and Jackson — are parishioners of St. Mark Church in Vienna. He is the son of the late Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten who coached at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md.
