He was nicknamed the Wizard of Westwood, but to his players he was Coach Wooden. He coached the UCLA Bruins to 10 championships in 12 years, including 7 in a row.Within this period, his teams won a men’s basketball-record 88 consecutive games. Wooden’s streak of seven consecutive NCAA Championships is even more remarkable and impressive because to this day no other coach or school has won the tournament more than two consecutive years.
Wooden was named national coach of the year six times.
One of the most revered coaches in the history of sports, Wooden was beloved by his former players, among them Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (originally Lew Alcindor) and Bill Walton. Wooden was renowned for his short, simple inspirational messages to his players, including his “Pyramid of Success”. These often were directed at how to be a success in life as well as in basketball. The list of players who played for John Wooden reads like a who’s who of basketball Gail Goodrich, Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, actor Mike Warren, Jamal Wilkes(Known then as Keith Wilkes) Walt Hazzard, Marques Johnson, Henry Bibby as well as Bill Walton and Kareem(Formerly known as Lew Alcindor).
Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday spotlights…the Wizard of Westwood …John Wooden
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
|---|---|
| 1946–1948 | Indiana State |
| 1948–1975 | UCLA |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 664–162 (.804) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Awards | |
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| Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1960 & 1973 |
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| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 |
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