Jay’s father, Bud Wilkinson, was one of the most successful coaches in college football history. His teams at the University of Oklahoma won three national championships, 14 conference championships, went nearly 13 years without losing a conference game and once won 47 straight games against the likes of Texas, Pitt, Nebraska and Notre Dame. That marks still stands unequalled in the ranks of major college football.

Even during his coaching days, Bud Wilkinson was a highly sought transformational leader. In addition to founding and hosting a series of coaching clinics from coast-to-coast, Wilkinson also was called upon to become the founding head of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, appointed to the post by President John Kennedy.

Later, Bud would serve in the administration of Richard Nixon. Wilkinson’s service to his country knew no political constraints.

But, above his many professional achievements, Bud Wilkinson was a family man and nothing was more important to him than the well-being of his two sons.

“Bud’s Boys” as Pat and Jay Wilkinson were known, opted not to follow directly in their father’s footsteps. Pat went off to college at Stanford University and became a successful doctor. Jay took his considerable athletic talents to Duke University.

It was at Duke away from home for the first time in his life, that Jay realized the world could be a challenging place. He sought understanding and compassion from his famous father, who responded over the next several years of Jay’s life with the “Letters from Bud”

These letters were a father’s written counsel to his son. The letters are filled with wisdom, advice and love. More significantly, as Jay realized much later in his own life, the content within the letters represents the game plan his father used to achieve much remarkable success in life, not only as a Hall-of-Fame football coach, but also as a nationally-known broadcaster, successful business leader, and advisor to two presidents…on both sides of the political aisle.

These letters, and there happen to be 47 that have survived the decades since they were written and received, served to shape Jay Wilkinson’s own extraordinary life, helping to transform his values, attitude, preparation and perseverance.

Bud Wilkinson was a transformational leader in every sense of the word, molding others to gain greatness in their lives. Thanks to these “Letters from Bud” and Jay Wilkinson’s remarkable ability to pull from these letters the direction and insight applicable in today’s world, now you can become a transformational leader, too.