“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 the game, John Wooden has always been regarded as a man of the highest integrity and a family man. He lives by the belief that his word is his bond and he is only as good as that word. He’s a family man, and as many of his players have said on his behalf, he treated them like family. He knew when to crack the whip, but he also knew how to nurture and encourage and help each person discover and bring out the best qualities in themselves as players and people.
Coach Wooden was one of the few in his era to refuse to subscribe to a program that would not allow student athletes of color to play basketball or any team sports when so many others were. He turned down jobs he desperately wanted because he gave his word to another school and was bound to honor it. He even turned down the Lakers who would have paid him ten times what he made at UCLA because he would not break his contract with the school.
Saying they just don’t make men like John wooden anymore is hardly sufficient. Even 25 years after his wife Nellie passed away, Wooden remained devoted to her and visited her grave the 21st of every month. He leaves her a letter sealed in an envelope each time that rests upon the pillow she slept on.
“I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total of the life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is one that places faith in the hands of the Savior.” Coach John Wooden