by Lynette Alice

Created on: June 04, 2010   Last Updated: June 05, 2010

“Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.” - John Wooden

Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. “The Wizard of Westwood”,  died at the age of 99 years old on June 4, 2010. Born on October 14, 1910, Coach Wooden wass one of the most legendary figures in basketball history - a man that was a titan among giants. A man blessed with one of the keenest most analytical basketball minds on the planet. Above all of that. Am man that wass a true gentleman.

Wooden’s life had been the thing inspirational movies are made of - or should be at least. He grew up on a small farm in Canterton, Indiana, but spent his teen years in Martinsville where he led his school to 3 straight state championship finals, winning once. He was named to the all-state team all three years. He went on to attend Purdue University and helped secure a national championship there while becoming the first player to ever be named a consensus All-American three times.

He then began his professional career playing for the Indianapolis Kautskys while he coached and taight at the high school level. His pro career ended when he enlisted in the Navy in WWII, but his achievements were still so impressive he was named to the NBA Hall of Fame in 1960 as a player. He took his first big coaching job at Indiana University where he was also the athletic director.

Wooden became the head coach at UCLA after the ‘47-’48 season, and it was then his legend truly grew. He immediately took UCLA from a sub .500 team to a 22-7 record and Southern Division championship - and then went on to win 3 more in a row. What Wooden helped his teams achieve at UCLA may never be matched by any coach.

In 26 seasons, UCLA, under Wooden, won 10 NCAA championships, 620 games, seven NCAA championships in a row, an 88 game winning streak, four undefeated seasons (30-0), and 38 straight NCAA tournament game wins.  He was an 8 time NCAA Coach of the Year, a Henry Iba Award winner, the SI Sportsman of the Year in 1972 (Along with Billie Jean King), and he actually encouraged his players to finish their education. That is really saying something in comparison to the business of college basketball today.  In 102, he was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, making him the first and 1 of only 3 people to ever accomplish that feat.

Above the numerous accomplishments connected to

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