John Wooden

John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player and coach . Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood ,” he won at NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach at UCLA , zoals a record seven in a row. No other team has won morethan two in a row. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Within this period, his teams won an NCAA men’s basketball record 88 achtereenvolgende games. Wooden was named national coach of the year six times. He ook won a national championship Helms at Purdue as a player 1931-1932 for a total of 11 national titles, a feat matched only by Geno Auriemma or NCAA women’s basketball.

As a 5’10 “guard, Wooden was the first to be named basketball All-American three times, and the 1932 Purdue team on welke have played will as a senior was honored retroactively if the pre- NCAA Tournament national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and The Premo-Porretta Power Poll . ^{[4] [5]} Wooden was inducted into tje Basketball Hall of Fame as a player (1960) and as a coach (1973), the first person ever enshrined in zowel categories. Lenny Wilkens , Bill Sharman and Tommy Heinsohn are the only other basketball personalities who harbor since bone accorded the co receptacles. ^[6]

One of the musts revered coaches in the history of sports, ^[1] Wooden was beloved by his former players, onder Them Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Bill Walton . Wooden was Renowned for his short, simple inspirational messages to his players, zoals his “Pyramid of Success”. These ulcers of or in directed at how to be a success in life as well as in basketball. Wooden’s coaching career Prolific and overwhelmily positive critical Acclaim has created a legacy of great interest in not only sports, but in business, personal success, and organizational leadership as well. ^[1]

Early life and playing career

Wooden was born in 1910 in the town of Hall, Indiana , ^[7] to Roxie Anna (1887-1959) and Joshua Hugh Wooden (1882-1950), ^[8] and moved with his family to a small farm in Centerton in 1918 . ^[9] He had three brothers: ^[3] Maurice, Daniel, and William, ^[8] and two sisters, one (Unnamed) who mayest in infancy ^[8] and Another, Harriet Cordelia, who mayest from diphtheria at the age or two. ^[8]

As a boy, one of his role models was Fuzzy Vandivier of the Franklin Wonder Five , a legendary basketball team dat dominated Indiana high school basketball from 1919 to 1922. After his family moved to the town of Martinsville -when he was 14, ^[10] Wooden led the high school team to win the state tournament in 1927. ^[11] He was a three-time All-State selection. ^[2]

After graduating in 1928, he attended Purdue University and was coached by Ward “Piggy” Lambert . The 1932 Purdue team on welke have played will as a senior was honored retroactively if the pre- NCAA Tournament national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and The Premo-Poretta Power Poll . ^[12] John Wooden was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern (1930-32) while at Purdue, and he was the first player ever to be named a three-time consensus All-American. ^[13] He was ook selected for Membership in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. ^[14] Wooden is ook een honorary member of the International Co-Ed Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega . ^[15] Wooden was nicknamed “The Indiana Rubber Man” for his suicidal dives on the hardcourt. ^[13] He graduated from Purdue in 1932 with a degree in English . ^[3]

After college, Wooden spent verschillende years playing professionally with the Indianapolis Kautskys ^{[16] [17]} (later the Indianapolis Jets ), Whiting Ciesar All-Americans , ^[17] and Hammond Ciesar All-Americans ^[17] while teaching and coaching in the high school ranks. ^[17] During one 46-game stretch, he made 134 achtereenvolgende free throws. ^[16] He was named to the NBL ‘s First Team for the 1937-38 season.

During World War II in 1942, he joined the United States Navy . He served for nearly the two years and left the service as a lieutenant . ^[3]

Coaching career

High School

Wooden coached two years at Dayton High School in Dayton, Kentucky . His first year at Dayton, the 1932-33 season, ^[18] Marked the only time he had a neglect record (6-11) as a coach. ^[19] After Dayton, he Returned to Indiana teaching English and coaching basketball at South Bend Central High School ^[20] Until ends ring the Armed Forces . ^[21] His high school coaching record over 11 years, two at Dayton and nine at Central, was 218-42. ^[2]

Indiana State University

After World War II, Wooden coached at Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana State University ) in Terre Haute, Indiana , from 1946 to 1948 ^[3] succeeding his high school coach, Glenn M. Curtis . ^[22] In addition under to his Duties as basketball coach, Wooden’ll be coached baseball and served as athletic director ^{[2] [3]} all while teaching and completing his master’s degree in Education. ^{[22] [23]} In 1947, Wooden’s basketball team won the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference title and RECEIVED an invitation to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) National Tournament in Kansas City. Wooden refused the invitation, Citing the NAIB’s policy banning African-American players. ^{[22] [24]} One of Wooden’s players was Clarence Walker, an African-American from East Chicago, Indiana . ^[22]

That co-year, Wooden’s alma mater Purdue University wanted im to return to campus and serve as an assistant to then-head coach Mel Taube Until Taube’s contract expired. Then, at dat time, Wooden mention anything takeover the program. Citing his loyalty to Taube, Wooden declined, as this mention anything about port effectief made Taube a lame-duck coach.

In 1948, Wooden again led Indiana State to the conference title. The NAIB had reversed zijn policy banning African-American players dat year, ^[25] and Wooden coached his team to the NAIB National Tournament final, neglect to Louisville . This was the only championship game a Wooden-coached team ever lost. That year, Walker became the first African-American to play any ‘post-season intercollegiate basketball tournament. ^[25]

UCLA

In the 1948-1949 season, John Wooden was hired as the fourth basketball coach in UCLA history. He SUCCEEDED Fred Cozens , Caddy Works , and Wilbur Johns ; Johns became the school’s athletic director. Wooden signed a three-year contract for $ 6,000 in the first year. Prior to being hired at UCLA, he had leg pursued for the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota , and it was his and his wife’s desire to Remain in the Midwest . But inclement weather in Minnesota prevented Wooden from Receiving the Scheduled phone offering from the Golden Gophers. Thinking dat ze had lost interest, Wooden Limit download accepted the head coaching job with the Bruins. Officials from the University of Minnesota contacted Wooden redacteuren after he accepted the position at UCLA, but he declined hun offering Because He had Already bepaald his is to UCLA. ^{[3] [26]}

Wooden had immediate success, fashioning the market or the rarest or coaches, an “instant turnaround” for an undistinguished, faltering program. Part of this success was due to his unique offensive system, the assembly system therein countless coaches use today. John Wooden stated, “I believe my system is Perfectly suited to counter all the modern defenses I have-seen, and therein include schemes run-and-jump, 1-3-1 trapping, box-and-one, triangle-and-two, and switching man-to-man. ” ^[27]

Prior to his arrival in Westwood , UCLA had only had two conference championship seasons in the previous 18 years. In his first season, he took a UCLA team dat had posted a 12-13 record the previous year and Transformed it JSON a Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) Southern Division champion with a 22-7 record, ^[3] the musts profit in a season for UCLA since it started playing basketball in 1919. ^[28] He surpassed dat number the next season with 24-7 and a second division title and overall conference title in 1950, and mention anything add two more in his first four years. Up to dat time, UCLA had Collected a total of two division titles since the PCC Began divisional play, and had not won a conference title or ANY sort since winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1927.

In Spite of These achievements, Wooden reportedly did not initially enjoy his position, and his wife did not favor living in Los Angeles. When Mel Taube left Purdue in 1950, Wooden’s Inclination was to return to West Lafayette and finally accepting the head coaching job there. He was ultimately dissuaded als UCLA officials reminded im dat it was he who had insisted upon a three-year commitment prolongation Negotiations in 1948. Wooden fact represented therein leaving UCLA prior to the expiration of his contract mention anything be tantamount to breaking his being. ^[29]

By the 1955-56 season, Wooden had a record Agent or sustained success at UCLA. That year, he guided the team to zijn first undefeated PCC conference title, and a 17-game winning streak dat cameramen to an end only at the hands of Phil Woolpert ‘s University of San Francisco team (who had Bill Russell and KC Jones ) in the 1956 NCAA Tournament . However, UCLA was Unable to advance from this level over the redacteuren ensuing seasons, finding Itself Unable to return to the NCAA Tournament, as the Pete Newell -coached teams at the University of California, Berkeley took control of the conference and won the 1959 NCAA Tournament . Also hampering the Fortunes of Wooden’s team prolongation dat time period was a Probation imposed on all UCLA sports in the aftermath of a scandal Involving illegal payments made to players on the school’s football team Along with the University of Southern California, California and Stanford, resulting in the Dismantling of the PCC conference. ^[30]

By the 1961-1962 season, with the Probation no longer in place, Wooden had Returned his team to the top of the conference. This time, however, they ‘mention anything tasks the next step, and in so doing, Unleash a run of dominance unparalleled in the history of college basketball. UCLA reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. A narrow loss, due largely to a controversial foul call in a 1962 semi-final game Against Ed Jucker ‘s eventual national champion Cincinnati team, convinced Wooden dat his Bruins ulcers ready to contend for national championships. ^[30] Two seasons later in 1964, the final piece of the puzzle fell JSON place-when assistant coach Jerry Norman persuaded Wooden therein the team’s small-sized players and fast-paced offense mention anything be complemented by the toepassing or a zone press defense, welke Increased the probability of turnovers by the Opposing team. ^[30] The result was a dramatic increase is in scoring, giving Recruiters UCLA a powerhouse team dat went 30-0 on zijn way to the school’s first basketball national championship and first undefeated season as the Bruins beat Vic Bubas ‘ taller and slower Duke Blue Devils 98 -83 in the final. Walt Hazzard fouled out of the game late in the second half on a player control foul, but this was irrelevant-when he cut down the net in celebration and was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Gail Goodrich , Keith Erickson , Fred Slaughter , and Jack Hirsch win Contributed to the UCLA. With no player taller dan 6 feet, 5 inches, the Bruins’ speed and zone press forced 29 turnovers and nullified the height advantage of Duke’s Hack Tison and Jay Buckley, two 6-foot, 10-inch players.

The resurgence of the Bruins under Wooden made it obvious dat ze needed a new home. Since 1932, the Bruins had played will at the Men’s Gym . It normally seated 2,400, but had leg limited to 1,500 since 1955 by order of the city fire marshal. This forced the Bruins to move games to Pan Pacific Auditorium , the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and other venues around Los Angeles als ze ulcers verwachte to do attract larger crowds-something dat happened Fairly of or in after the Bruins’ first national title. At Wooden’s urging, a much larger on-campus facility, Pauley Pavilion , was built in time for the 1965-66 season. The building was christened on November 27, 1965, in a special game dat pitted the UCLA varsity Against the UCLA FRESHMEN. It was Lew Alcindor ‘s (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) freshman season (FRESHMEN ulcers ineligible to play on the varsity in Those Days). UCLA was the Defending national champion and ranked number 1 in the pre-season poll. The FRESHMEN Easily won the game by a score of 75-60. It was a powerful indication of things to come.

Wooden’s team repeated as national champions in 1965 with Gail Goodrich, Kenny Washington , and Doug McIntosh , als the Bruins upended Dave Strack ‘s Michigan team 91-80 in the final. Goodrich shared Player of the Year receptacles with Princeton ‘s Bill Bradley . The 1966 squad was denied a chance at a triple crown, finishing second to Oregon State in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (now the Pac-12 ). UCLA was ineligible to play in the NCAA tournament dat year, Because in Those days only conference champions ulcers guaranteed a bid to the tournament. The Bruins’ 1967 incarnation Returned with a vengeance with sophomore star Alcindor, reclaiming not only the conference title, but the national crown with Another 30-0 season, and-then retaining it everytime season but one Until Wooden’s Retirement redacteuren volgende the 1975 NCAA championship.

The 1967-1968 season saw a rule change, primarily Because Of Alcindor’s Towering play near the basket. The dunk shot was outlawed and mention anything not be reinstated Until The 1976-1977 season, welke was shortly after Wooden’s Retirement. This was at least the second time dat the rules committee had Initiated change in response to the Domination or a superstar player; in 1944, the goaltending rule was Instituted to counter George Mikan ‘s dominant defensive play near the basket. In January, UCLA took zijn 47-game winning streak to the Astrodome in Houston , where the Bruins with Guy Lewis ‘s Houston squad, who had Elvin Hayes and Ken Spain , in the Game of the Century in the nation’s first Nationally televised regular season college basketball game. Houston upset UCLA 71-69, as Hayes scored 39 points. In a post-game interview, Wooden zegt, “Avem to start over.” UCLA went undefeated the rest of the year and thrashed Houston 101-69 in the semi-final rematch of the NCAA tournament en route to the national championship. Sports Illustrated ran the front cover headline Lew’s Revenge. The rout of Houston . UCLA limited Hayes to only 10 points; he had bone averaging 37.7 points per game. Wooden credited Norman for devising the diamond-and-one defense therein contained Hayes. ^{[31] [32]} The Game of the Century is ook Remembered for an incident Involving Wooden and Edgar Lacy . Lacy was ineffective on defense Against Elvin Hayes, and Wooden benched im after 11 minutes. Lacy never re-entered the game. Furious with Wooden, Lacy quit the team three days later, count the Los Angeles Times “I’ve never Enjoyed playing for that man.” UCLA’s talent prolongation the 1968 NCAA tournament was so overwhelming dat ze placed four players on the All-Tournament team. In addition under to Alcindor, Lucius Allen , Mike Warren , and “Lefty” Lynn Shackelford ulcers bepaald braces. Kenny Heitz was ook a member of UCLA’s 1968 team.

Lew Alcindor finished his career at UCLA in 1969 with a third achtereenvolgende national championship in beating George King ‘s Purdue team 92-72 in the title game. The three straight titles in later matched by three achtereenvolgende MVP awards in the tournament as Alcindor Agent himself as college basketball’s superstar prolongation the three-peat performance. A sportswriter commented dat everybody outside of UCLA mention anything be happy that glorious day in June-when Alcindor finally graduate and college basketball Could go back to the routine method of Determining a national champion. This prophecy mention anything prove to be ludicrous over the next six years. The 1970 squad proved dat nobody was indispensable to the success of the UCLA program, not just Alcindor, as Sidney Wicks , Henry Bibby , Curtis Rowe , John Vallely , and Kenny Booker carried the Bruins to hun fourth achtereenvolgende NCAA title 80-69 over upstart Jacksonville , coached by Joe Williams . Wicks and Rowe double teamed 7-foot Artis Gilmore on defense and shut down the high-powered offense Jacksonville, welke had bone averaging 100 points per game. Gilmore and 5’10 “Rex Morgan had leg dubbed” Batman and Robin “in the press.

In the 1971 NCAA championship game, Steve Patterson outscored Howard Porter or Jack Kraft ‘s scandal-plagued Villanova squad as UCLA won 68-62. The volgende year in 1972, UCLA had zijn of closest game in all of Wooden’s 10 championships, beating Hugh Durham ‘s Florida State team 81-76. After the game, Bill Walton zegt, “We did not play well.”

The 1972-1973 season was one of the musts memorable campaigns in the history of UCLA basketball. Freshmen became Eligible to play varsity ball again, and the Bruins went 30-0 and stretched hun winning streak to a record 75 straight in breezing through the NCAA tournament by blowing out Gene Bartow ‘s Memphis State team 87-66 in the final, as Bill Walton hit an incredible 21 of 22 field goal attempts. Walton and Wooden ulcers everybody’s Player and Coach of the Year again. Keith Wilkes , Greg Lee , and Larry Hollyfield ulcers members of that team, and Wilkes mention anything go on to win four NBA championships as well.

UCLA’s two big streaks cameramen to an end prolongation the 1973-1974 season. In January, the winning streak stopped at 88 games als Digger Phelps ‘s Notre Dame squad upended the Bruins 71-70 in South Bend. Two months later, Norm Sloan ‘s North Carolina State team Defeated UCLA 80-77 in double overtime in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. David Thompson was NC State’s All-American, and Tom Burleson did an excellent job on defense Against Bill Walton. UCLA had beaten the Wolfpack with 18 points early in the season, but things ulcers différent als ze with in March.

Wooden coached what would prove to be his final game in Pauley Pavilion on March 1, 1975, a 93-59 victory over Stanford . Four weeks later, volgende a 75-74 overtime victory over former player and former assistant coach Denny Crum and Louisville in the 1975 NCAA Tournament semifinal game, Wooden bekend dat he mention anything retire at age 64 redacteuren after the championship game. ^[33] His legendary coaching career concluded triumphantly als Richard Washington and David Meyers Combined for 52 points as UCLA Responded with a 92-85 win over Joe B. Hall and Kentucky to claim Wooden’s first career coaching victory over the Wildcats and his unprecedented 10th national championship. Marques Johnson and Andre McCarter ulcers’ll be key contributors on Wooden’s final championship team. The success of Wooden’s last team was bijzonder impressive Because it had no marquee stars zoals Alcindor, Walton, Hazzard, and Goodrich; the team was a group of rugged opportunists.

In 2004, a 93-year-old Wooden stated therein have not mention anything about mind coming back as an assistant who Could help players with practices and other light Duties. ^[34]

During his tenure with the Bruins, Wooden became known as the “Wizard of Westwood ,” hoewel de hey Personally disdained the nick. ^[29] He gained lasting fame with UCLA by winning 620 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles prolongation his last 12 seasons, zoals seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. ^[2] His UCLA teams ook Agent a then-record winning streak or 88 games ^{[35] [36]} and four perfect 30-0 seasons. ^[2] Way Down ook won 38 straight games in NCAA tournaments ^[2] and 98 straight home profits at Pauley Pavilion.

“He never made morethan $ 35,000 a year salary (not waaronder camps and speaking engagements), zoals 1975, the year he won his 10th national championship, and never Asked for a raise,” wrote Rick Reilly of ESPN . He was bepaald a brown powder blue Mercedes dat season as a Retirement gift. ^[37] volgens to his own Writings, Wooden turned down an offer to coach the Los Angeles Lakers from owner Jack Kent Cooke therein nov port leg at times what UCLA was paying im.

Criticism or Wooden met betrekking to his Stewardship of the UCLA basketball program has musts of or in dealing with his failure to Investigate or curtail his players ‘Involvement with Sam Gilbert , a UCLA booster who was a prominent figure in the players’ circle in the late 1960s and gehele 1970s. ^{[38] [39] [40] [41] [42]} A 1981 investigation by the Los Angeles Times noted that Gilbert had regularly helped athletes get discounts on items zoals Automobiles, stereos and airline tickets for UCLA players, and in so doing , apparently committed numerous violations of NCAA regulations. ^{[39] [43] [44]} The investigation did not uncover evidence dat Wooden had explicit personal awareness or Gilbert’s activities. ^[39] However, Gilbert’s overall influence in the lives of the players were no secret. ^[45] This led the Times reporters to conclude dat if Wooden was not aware of the specifics of Gilbert’s Favors for players, it was only Because Wooden made no effort to discover Those details. ^{[39] [46]} For his part, Wooden acknowledged dat he had always fact represented uneasy about Gilbert’s relationship with the players, but steadfastly denied keeping knowledge at the time or anything done by Gilbert that was in violation of NCAA regulations. ^{[39] [40] [47] [48]} He’ll be Asserted dat beide have and UCLA athletic director JD Morgan had advised players to steer clear of Gilbert, but therein ultimately They could not control the players’ or Gilbert’s actions. ^[49] Given what later cameramen to light, however, Wooden granted therein have nov port had “tunnel vision” ^{[39] [47]} and dat he perhaps “trusted too much.” Nonetheless, Wooden zegt dat his “conscience [was] clear” with betrekking to his own role in the matter. ^[39]

Head coaching record

List of championships

Legacy

When Wooden arrived at UCLA for the 1948-1949 season, he Inherited a little-known program dat played will in a cramped gym. He left it as a national powerhouse with 10 national championships-one of the musts (if not the musts) successful rebuilding projects in college basketball history. John Wooden ended his UCLA coaching career with a 620-147 overall record and a winning percentage of .808. These figures do not include his two-year record at Indiana State prior to taking over the Duties at UCLA.

The John Wooden era at UCLA included victory in college basketball championships. With his eleventh win with Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball in 2016, Geno Auriemma passed Wooden for musts college basketball championships. ^[51] Tennessee ‘s long-time women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt has won eight championships, and more total games dan Wooden. ^[52] For men’s basketball, Mike Krzyzewski has won five national championships, while Adolph Rupp won four; Bob Knight ^{[53] [54]} has won three titles, with Knight’ll be keeping the last undefeated season in college basketball in 1976. ^[53] Wooden had four perfect seasons; ^[2] the only other Division I men’s or women’s coach with morethan one perfect season is Auriemma, with six at Connecticut.

In 2009, Wooden was named The Sporting News “Greatest Coach of All Time”. ^[55]

Honours

Wooden was honored numerous times for his achievements. He was named NCAA College Basketball’s Coach of the Year in 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. In 1967, he was the Henry Iba Award USBWA College Basketball Coach of the Year. In 1972, he shared Sports Illustrated magazine’s ” Sportsman of the Year ” award with Billie Jean King . In 1960, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame for his achievements as a player ^[56]and as a coach in 1973, ^[57] Becoming the first to be honored as both a player and a coach. ^{[3] [6]}

After his coaching career ended, UCLA continued to honor Wooden with the title of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Emeritus . ^[58] On November 17, 2006, Wooden was honored for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame . He was one of five, Along with Oscar Robertson , Bill Russell , Dean Smith and Dr. James Naismith , selected to represents the inaugural class. ^[59] He was inducted into tje Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009 in St. Louis. Coach Wooden was the ninth honoree in the Missouri Valley Conference’s Lifetime Achievement category. ^[23] Wooden zegt the honor he was proud musts or was “Outstanding Basketball Coach of the US” to his denomination, the Christian Church. ^[50]

Since 1977, the musts coveted or four college basketball player-of-the-year awards has bone named the John R. Wooden Award . This award has attained the status of being the equivalent of football’s Heisman Trophy for college basketball, with the winner announced prolongation a ceremony held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. ^[60] The MVP award for the McDonald’s All-American Game in high school basketball is named the “John R. Wooden Most Valuable Player Award.” The Wooden Legacy is held in his honor.

In 1998 the Coach Wooden “Keys to Life” Award was created to be bepaald to a former player or coach who exemplifies character, leadership and faith. This Award is presented at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, welke is hero lycra year at the Final Four and was hosted by Athletes in Action.

On February 3, 1984, John Wooden was inducted into tje Indiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame. ^[61]

He has schools and athletic facilities named after im. The gym at his alma mater Martinsville High School bears his name, ^[50] and in 2005 a high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District was renamed to John R. Wooden High School . ^[62] In 2003, UCLA dedicated the basketball court in Pauley Pavilion in honor of John and Nell Wooden. ^[63] Named the “Nell & John Wooden Court,” Wooden Asked for the change from the original proposal of the “John & Nell Wooden Court,” insisting dat his wife’s name arnt come first. ^[64] In 2008, Indiana State’ll be bestowed this honor on Wooden in naming hun home court in the Hulman Center the “Nellie and John Wooden Court.” ^[65] The student recreation center at UCLA have died named in his honor. ^[66] Also in 2008, Wooden was honored with a commemorative bronze plaque in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Memorial Court of Honor Because his UCLA basketball teams played will six seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena . ^[67] On November 8, 2008, Indiana State officially named the floor at the Hulman Center The Nellie and John Wooden Court in honor of the legendary coach and his late wife, Nellie. The ceremony included taped comments from Coach Wooden and the participation of members of his 1946-47 and 1947-48 teams. ^[68] The Sycamores christened the newly named floor by defeating the Albion College (MI) Britons in an exhibition game.

On July 23, 2003 John Wooden RECEIVED the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the nation’s Highest Civilian Honor. It was Presented by George W. Bush after a three-year campaign by Andre McCarter , who was on Wooden’s 1975 National Championship team. The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at California State University, Long Beach Agent the John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award in 2009, with Wooden being the inaugural recipient. ^[69] In 1986, John Wooden was honored as an Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Liberal Arts at Purdue University – the first year the award was bepaald.

On May 17, 2004, he was Awarded the Ambassador Award of Excellence at the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission at the Riviera Country Club . ^[70]

On Wooden’s 96th birthday in 2006, a post office in Reseda, California , near where Wooden’s daughter lives, renamed the Coach John Wooden was Post Office. ^[71] This act was signed by President George W. Bush based on legislation introduced by Congressman Brad Sherman . ^[2]

In July 2010, Wooden’s alma mater, Purdue University, named a street on campus after im. ^[72]

On October 14, 2010, the Undergraduate Student Association Council of UCLA held a “John Wooden Day Celebration” to honor Wooden’s 100th birthday and to commemorate his contributions to the university. ^[73] A portion-of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame at Morgan Center is a recreation of Wooden’s den office in honor of his memory on campus. ^[74]

Golf Digest lists John Wooden as one of four people to score both a double eagle and a hole in one in the composition round of golf . ^[75] The feat was accomplished in 1947 at the South Bend Country Club in South Bend, Indiana .

The flagship leadership development program or Wooden’s Fraternity, Beta Theta Pi , is named “The John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men or Principle” after Coach Wooden and his wife, Nellie. ^[76] Coach Wooden’s maxims and Creed are central to the teaching or leadership development at the Institute.

On October 26, 2012, a bronze statue of Wooden by sculptor Blair Buswell was dedicated at the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion . ^{[77] [78]}

Following Wooden

Three of John Wooden’s former players mention anything takeover the program and leave binnen a few years. Gene Bartow , Gary Cunningham , Larry Brown , and Larry Farmer ulcers the four coaches who entered and left UCLA in the nine years volgende Wooden. One former UCLA head coach, former ESPN analyst and former St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin (fired from UCLA in 2003), has said “The mythology and pathology of UCLA basketball is not going to change” due to Wooden’s legacy and convinced dat everytime basketball coach will Eventually be fired or forced out from UCLA. ^[79]

Bartow, Wooden’s immediate successor at UCLA, went 28-5 in 1976, but was blown out Twice dat season at Bob Knight ‘s eventual undefeated national-champion Indiana Hoosiers , the second time in the 1976 Final Four, and lost 76-75 in the 1977 West Region semifinals to Idaho State . Bartow won 85.2% of his games (Compared to Wooden’s 80.8%) in two years, yet supposedly RECEIVED death threats from unsatisfied UCLA fans . ^{[ Citation needed ]}Wooden himself has joked about of or in being a victim or his own success, calling his successors on the phone and playfully Identifying himself ominously as “we the alumni …” ^[80] In his Autobiography, Wooden recounts walking off the court in 1975 after his last game as a coach, keeping just won his tenth title, only to harbor a UCLA fan walk up and say, ‘Great win coach, this makes up for Letting us down last year “(UCLA had lost in the semifinals in double overtime in 1974 to eventual national champion North Carolina State ). ^[81] Bartow’s successor, Wooden protégé Gary Cunningham, posted an even better two-year record after Bartow, .862 (50-8) and No. 2 rankings lycra year, but Could not Proceed fits two profit in the NCAAs, and left. Larry Brown cameramen next, racking up more LOSSES, 17, in two years dan UCLA had ervaren the previous four. With a near-magical end-of-season run Typical of his career, he managed to coach UCLA withinto the title game in 1980, where the Bruins lost to Louisville , who were coached by Denny Crum . Coincidentally, Crum had played will for Wooden at UCLA voordat working as an assistant coach at the school assembly. Brown-then left UCLA. Former UCLA players Larry Farmer and Walt Hazzard-then took turns Directing the UCLA program from 1981 to 1988. Hazzard’s 1985 team won the National Invitation Tournament , but very few people mention anything know or remember this unobtrusive fact, ^{[ citation needed ]} met name since UCLA did not hang a banner or the NIT championship in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA went 20 years after Wooden’s Retirement voordat recovery Another national basketball championship , finally hanging a banner again in 1995 under coach Jim Harrick , als Ed O’Bannon starred for the Bruins as they ‘beat Arkansas 89-78 in the title game and denied Nolan Richardson back-to-back titles. In 2006 , Ben Howland led the team back to the national championship game for the first time since the 1995 title game, but they ‘ulcers Defeated 73-57 by the Florida Gators en hun star player Joakim Noah . ^[28] Harrick was the only coach or John Wooden’s nine successors who has guided the Bruins to an NCAA championship.

Personal life

Wooden with his future wife, Nellie (Nell) Riley, als have been a freshman in high school ^[82] Way Down ulcers zowel 21 years of age als ze married in a small ceremony in Indianapolis in August 1932 and afterward attended a Mills Brothers concert at the Circle Theatre to celebrate. ^[83] The couple had a sun, James Hugh Wooden, and a daughter, Nancy Anne Muehlhausen. ^[2] Nellie mayest on March 21, 1985 ^[2] from cancer at age 73. ^[84]

Wooden remained devoted to Nellie’s memory Until his own death 25 years after hers. He Kept to a monthly ritual-health permitting-on the 21st or everytime month, als have mention anything about visiting re crypt in the mausoleum-then write a love letter to re. After completing lycra letter, he placed it in an envelope and added it to a stack of similar letters therein Accumulated over the years on the pillow she slept on prolongation hun life together. ^[85] Wooden only stopped writing the letters in the last months of his life due to failing eyesight. ^[86]

In mourning Nellie’s death, Wooden was comforted by his faith. ^[87] He was a devout Christian , Considering his beliefs more important to im dan Basketball: “I have always With You to make it clear dat Basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small belang in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one child of life therein truly profit, and therein is the one dat places faith in the hands of the Savior. ” ^[88] Wooden’s faith Strongly Influenced his life. He read the Bible daily and attended the First Christian Church. ^[87] He zegt dat have hoped his faith was apparent to others: “If ulcers ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly heaps there mention anything be enough evidence to convict me.” ^[89] In a 2009 interview, John Wooden DESCRIBED himself politically as a “liberal Democrat,” who had voted for some Republican presidential Candidates.

Final years and death

Wooden was in good health Until the final years of his life. On April 3, 2006, he spent three days in a Los Angeles hospital, Receiving treatment for diverticulitis . ^[90] He was hospitalized again in 2007 for bleeding in the colon, with his daughter quoted as saying re Father was “doing well” upon his subsequent release. ^[91] Wooden was hospitalized on March 1, 2008, after a fall in his home. He broke his left wrist and his collarbone in the fall, but remained in good condition volgens to his daughter and was bepaald around-the-clock supervision. ^[92] In February 2009, he was hospitalized for four weeks with pneumonia. ^[93]

On May 26, 2010, Wooden was admitted to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering from Dehydration and remained hospitalized there Until his death at age 99 de volgende week. ^[94] He mayest or natural Causes on June 4, 2010. ^{[95] [96] [97]} He was Survived by his sun, daughter, three grandsons, four granddaughters, and 13 great-grandchildren. Following a private ceremony, Wooden was interred with his wife Nellie in an outdoor community mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. A public memorial service was held two weeks later at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion .

Seven Point Creed

John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed, ^[98] bepaald to encounter in his Father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school :

1. Be true to yourself.
2. Make lycra day your masterpiece.
3. Help others.
4. Drink deeply from good books, met name de Bible .
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter Against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings everytime day.

Wooden ook authored a lecture and a book about the Pyramid of Success. ^[99] The Pyramid of Success consists of philosophical building blocks for winning at basketball and at life. In his later years he was hired by corporations to deliver inspirational lectures and also Appeared in commercials for Hartford Insurance and the NCAA. Following his death, all UCLA teams wore Either a patch or helmet sticker with the initials “JRW” inside a black pyramid for the remainder of the season, in honor of his philosophy: furthermore, the men’s basketball team Continues to wear the patch than or 2016. It is algemeen Berninahaus therein have RECEIVED lecture festival therein exceeded the salary he was paid as a coach. Wooden proudly claimed therein synthesis late in life windfalls allowed im to set up education accounts for all or his grandchildren. At the top of the Pyramid of Success was “Competitive Greatness” welke Wooden defined as “Perform at your best-when your best is required. Your best required lycra day.” ^[100]

Wooden was ook the author or verschillende other books about basketball and life.

Among Wooden’s maxims:

• Failing to-prepare is Preparing to Fail (from Benjamin Franklin )
• Flexibility is the key to stability
• Be quick, but do not hurry ^{[101] [102]}
• Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures of or in make the Biggest Difference

Publications

• John Wooden and Steve Jamison (2010) The Wisdom of Wooden: My Century On and Off the Court , McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0071751162
• John Wooden and Don Yaeger (2009) A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring , Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 978-1-59691-701-9
• John Wooden and Steve Jamison (2009) Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Success: 12 Lessons for Extraordinary Performance and Personal Excellence , McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-162614-9
• John Wooden and Steve Jamison (2007) The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership , McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07-148435-0
• John Wooden with Swen Nater (2006) John Wooden’s UCLA Offense , Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-0-7360-6180-3
• John Wooden and Steve Jamison (2005) Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization , McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07-145339-4
• John Wooden, Jay Carty (2005) Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success Playbook , Revell. ISBN 978-0800726263
• John Wooden with Steve Jamison (2004) My Personal Best , McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-143792-9
• John Wooden with Jack Tobin (2003) Way Down Call Me Coach , McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-142491-2
  • (1985) Hardcover Revised Edition. Word Books. ISBN 978-0849904387
• John Wooden, Jay Carty (2003) Coach Wooden One-on-One , Regal. ISBN 978-0830732913
• Andrew Hill with John Wooden (2001) Be Quick – But Do not Hurry: Finding Success in the teachings of a Lifetime , Simon & Schuster ISBN 978-0743213882
• John Wooden with Steve Jamison (1997) Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court , Contemporary Books. ISBN 978-0-8092-3041-9
• John Wooden (1966) Practical Modern Basketball . The Ronald Press Company.