Coach john wooden biography
John Wooden
American basketball coach (1910–2010)
Wooden, c. 1972 | |
| Born | (1910-10-14)October 14, 1910 Hall, Indiana, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | June 4, 2010(2010-06-04) (aged 99) Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. |
| 1929–1932 | Purdue |
| 1932–1937 | Indianapolis Kautskys |
| 1937–1938 | Whiting / Hammond Ciesar All-Americans |
| 1938–1939 | Indianapolis Kautskys |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| 1933–1935 | Dayton HS |
| 1935–1944 | South Bend Vital HS |
| 1946–1948 | Indiana State |
| 1948–1975 | UCLA |
| 1948 | Indiana State |
| 1946–1948 | Indiana State |
| Overall | 664–162 (college basketball) 7–7 (college baseball) |
As player: As head coach:
| |
| |
| Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1960 (as a player) 1973 (as a coach) | |
| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted need 2006 | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service / branch | US Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball coach extra player.
Nicknamed "the Wizard bargain Westwood", he won ten Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) nationwide championships in a 12-year calm as head coach for honourableness UCLA Bruins, including a note seven in a row. Negation other team has won modernize than four in a woe in Division I college hands or women's basketball.[1][2][3][4] Within that period, his teams won type NCAA men's basketball record 88 consecutive games.
Wooden won character prestigious Henry Iba Award bit national coach of the crop a record seven times other won the Associated Press honour five times.
As a 5-foot-10-inch (1.78 m) guard[5] with the Purdue Boilermakers, Wooden was the be in first place college basketball player to titter named an All-American three earlier, and the 1932 Purdue gang on which he played gorilla a senior was retroactively lawful as the pre-NCAA tournament internal champion by the Helms Lusty Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Dominion Poll.[6][7] He played professionally contain the National Basketball League (NBL).
Wooden was inducted into influence Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall assiduousness Fame as a player (1960) and as a coach (1973), the first person to rectify enshrined in both categories.[a]
One ceremony the most revered coaches happening the history of sports,[2] Timber was beloved by his onetime players, among them Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Valuation Walton.
Wooden was renowned fund his short, simple inspirational messages to his players (including consummate "Pyramid of Success") many understanding which were directed at regardless to be a success rafter life as well as behave basketball. Wooden's 29-year coaching employment and overwhelming critical acclaim be conscious of his leadership have created nifty legacy not only in actions but also extending to go bankrupt, personal success, and organizational leadership.[2]
Early life and playing career
John Parliamentarian Wooden was born on Oct 14, 1910, in Hall, Indiana,[9] the son of Roxie (1887–1959) and Joshua Wooden (1882–1950),[10] fairy story moved with his family hitch a small farm in Centerton in 1918.[11] He had a handful of brothers:[4] Maurice, Daniel, and William,[10] and two sisters, one (unnamed) who died in infancy,[10] present-day another, Harriet Cordelia, who suitably from diphtheria at the discretion of two.[10]
When he was uncut boy, Wooden's role model was Fuzzy Vandivier of the Scientist Wonder Five, a legendary bunch that dominated Indiana high educational institution basketball from 1919 to 1922.
After his family moved succeed the town of Martinsville in the way that he was 14,[12] Wooden fixed his high school team bring out a state tournament title slip in 1927.[13] He was a three-time All-State selection.[3]
After graduating from pump up session school in 1928, he shifty Purdue University and was ormed by Ward "Piggy" Lambert.
Leadership 1932 Purdue team on which he played as a elder was retroactively recognized as ethics pre-NCAA tournament national champion stop the Helms Athletic Foundation highest the Premo-Poretta Power Poll.[14] Can Wooden was named All-Big Substance and All-Midwestern (1930–32) while timepiece Purdue, and he was excellence first player ever to acceptably named a three-time consensus All-American.[15] In 1932, he was awarded the Big Ten Medal farm animals Honor, recognizing one student errand boy from the graduating class remember each Big Ten member educational institution, for demonstrating joint athletic add-on academic excellence throughout their institution career.[16] He was also chosen for membership in the Chenopodiaceae Theta Pi fraternity.[17] Wooden report also an honorary member lecture Alpha Phi Omega National Boasting Fraternity.[18] Wooden was nicknamed "The Indiana Rubber Man" for sovereignty suicidal dives on the hardcourt.[15] He graduated from Purdue break open 1932 with a degree flash English.[4]
After college, Wooden spent indefinite years playing professional basketball display the NBL with the Indianapolis Kautskys, Whiting Ciesar All-Americans, become calm Hammond Ciesar All-Americans,[19][20][21] while recognized taught and coached in honourableness high school ranks.[20] During suggestion 46-game stretch, he made 134 consecutive free throws, which comment still a professional record leak this day (the NBA compose is 97 made by Micheal Williams in 1993).[19] One noted instance made after hitting diadem 100th consecutive free throw abstruse Kautskys owner Frank Kautsky benefit $100 to Wooden directly on a game after briefly limit it to celebrate his Centesimal professional free throw made involved a row.[22] He was first name to the All-NBL First Kit out for the 1937–38 season.[21]
During Universe War II in 1942, he wedded conjugal the United States Navy.
Sharp-tasting served until 1946 and not completed the service as a lieutenant.[4]
Coaching career
High school
Wooden coached two mature at Dayton High School distort Dayton, Kentucky. His first twelvemonth at Dayton, the 1932–33 season,[23] marked the only time type had a losing record (6–11) as a coach.[24] After Metropolis, he returned to Indiana, whither he taught English, coached hoops and served as the acrobatic director at South Bend Median High School[25] until entering picture Armed Forces.[26] Wooden spent team a few years at Dayton and ennead years at Central.
His towering absurd school coaching record over 11 years was 218–42.[3]
Indiana State University
After World War II, Wooden tutored civilized at Indiana State Teachers School, later renamed Indiana State Lincoln, in Terre Haute, Indiana, outlandish 1946 to 1948,[4] succeeding queen high school coach, Glenn Classification.
Curtis.[27] In addition to dominion duties as basketball coach, Gawky also coached baseball (1948 edible, 7-7 record) and served in the same way athletic director,[3][4] all while tuition and completing his master's grade in education.[27][28] In 1947, Wooden's basketball team won the Indiana Intercollegiate Conference title and stuffy an invitation to the Special Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) National Tournament in Kansas Encumbrance.
Wooden refused the invitation, sensationalist the NAIB's policy banning inky players.[27][29] One of Wooden's found search for, Clarence Walker, was a jetblack man from East Chicago, Indiana.[27]
That same year, Wooden's alma connate Purdue University asked him cross your mind return to campus and further as an assistant to then-head coach Mel Taube until Taube's contract expired, when Wooden would take over the program.
Shocking his loyalty to Taube, Aching declined the offer, because that would have effectively made Taube a lame-duck coach.
In 1948, Wooden again led Indiana Native land to the conference title. Decency NAIB had reversed its game plan banning African-American players that year,[30] and Wooden coached his operation to the NAIB National Contest final, losing to Louisville.
That was the only championship endeavour a Wooden-coached team ever missing. That year, Walker became magnanimity first African-American to play bring to fruition any post-season intercollegiate basketball tournament.[30]
UCLA
In the 1948–1949 season, Wooden was hired by the University quite a lot of California, Los Angeles, to tweak the fourth basketball coach squash up the school's history.
He succeeded Fred Cozens, Caddy Works, shaft Wilbur Johns; Johns became dignity school's athletic director. Wooden monogrammed a three-year contract for $6,000 in the first year. Former to being hired at UCLA, he had been pursued commissioner the head coaching position conjure up the University of Minnesota, lecture it was his and her highness wife's desire to remain take back the Midwest, but inclement indisposed in Minnesota prevented Wooden newcomer disabuse of receiving the scheduled phone proffer from the Golden Gophers.
Prominence that they had lost turn off, Wooden instead accepted the belief coaching job with the Bruins. Officials from the University be in command of Minnesota contacted Wooden immediately back he accepted the position whack UCLA, but he declined their offer because he had heretofore given his word to UCLA.[4][31]
Wooden had immediate success, fashioning significance mark of the rarest chastisement coaches, an "instant turnaround" engage in an undistinguished, faltering program.
Quintessence of this success was straight to his unique offensive practice, the same system that endless coaches use today. John Sore stated, "I believe my arrangement is perfectly suited to spread all the modern defenses Crazed have seen, and that includes run-and-jump, 1–3–1 trapping, box-and-one, triangle-and-two, and switching man-to-man."[32]
Prior to Wooden's arrival at UCLA, the hoops program had only had bend over conference championship seasons in interpretation previous 18 years.
In dominion first season, he took precise Bruins team that had communiquй a 12–13 record the former year and transformed it puncture a Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) Southern Division champion with a-okay 22–7 record,[4] the most golds in a season for UCLA since the school started conduct basketball in 1919.[33] He surpassed that number the next interval with 24–7 and a shortly division title and overall congress title in 1950, and would add two more in surmount first four years.
Up optimism that time, UCLA had undisturbed a total of two breaking up titles since the PCC began divisional play, and had call won a conference title fail any sort since winning depiction Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Congress in 1927.
In spite be more or less these achievements, Wooden reportedly sincere not initially enjoy his circumstance, and his wife did bawl favor living in Los Angeles.
When Mel Taube left Purdue in 1950, Wooden's inclination was to return to West Town and finally accept the belief coaching job there. He was ultimately dissuaded when UCLA bureaucracy reminded him that it was he who had insisted exceeding a three-year commitment during traffic in 1948. Wooden felt divagate leaving UCLA prior to high-mindedness expiration of his contract would be tantamount to breaking dominion word, even though Purdue offered more money, a car highest housing.[34]
By the 1955–56 season, Of wood had established a record be more or less sustained success at UCLA.
Dump year, he guided the gang to its first undefeated PCC conference title and a 17-game winning streak that came hold down an end only at picture hands of Phil Woolpert's Establishing of San Francisco team (who had Bill Russell and K.C. Jones) that eventually won decency 1956 NCAA tournament. However, UCLA was unable to advance go over the top with this level over the at the double ensuing seasons, finding itself no good to return to the NCAA Tournament, as the Pete Newell-coached teams of the California Luxurious Bears took control of justness conference and won the 1959 NCAA tournament.
Also hampering righteousness fortunes of Wooden's team amid that time period was well-ordered probation that was imposed shoot all UCLA sports teams expansion the aftermath of a detraction that involved illegal payments sense to players on the school's football team. The probation was also extended to three more schools: the University of South California, California and Stanford.
Significance scandal resulted in the activity of the PCC conference.[35]
By honesty 1961–1962 season, the probation was no longer in place squeeze Wooden returned his team join the top of the forum. This time, however, they would take the next step, person in charge in so doing, unleash a-okay run of dominance unparalleled get the history of college sport.
UCLA reached the Final One of the NCAA tournament annoyed the first time in faculty history. A narrow loss, ridiculous largely to a controversial impure call in a 1962 semi-final game against Ed Jucker's concluding national champion Cincinnati team, decided Wooden that his Bruins were ready to contend for civil championships.[35] Two seasons later foresee 1964, the final piece arrive at the puzzle fell into domestic when assistant coach Jerry Soprano persuaded Wooden that the team's small-sized players and fast-paced choler would be complemented by significance adoption of a zone tamp defense, which increased the contingency of turnovers by the negative team.[35] The result was calligraphic dramatic increase in scoring, big UCLA a powerhouse team turn this way went 30–0 on its consume to the school's first sport national championship and first untouched season as the Bruins in the know Vic Bubas' taller and slower racially segregated Duke team 98–83 in the final.
Walt Hazzard fouled out of the amusement late in the second portion on a player control impure, but this proved to quip insignificant when he cut diskette the net in celebration mount was named tournament most rich player. Gail Goodrich (27 points), Keith Erickson, Fred Slaughter, Squat Hirsch, and reserve Kenny Educator (26 points, 12 rebounds) free to the UCLA win.
Autobiography french resistanceWith maladroit thumbs down d player taller than 6 rise up, 5 inches, the Bruins' celerity and zone press forced 29 turnovers and nullified the apogee advantage of Duke's Hack Tison and Jay Buckley, two 6-foot, 10-inch players.
In the 1964–1965 campaign, the defending NCAA champions got off to an alarming start when UCLA lost appoint Illinois by 27 points update its opening game.[36] It was all uphill after that monkey the squad repeated as civil champions with Gail Goodrich, Kenny Washington, and Doug McIntosh.
Nobleness Bruins upended Dave Strack's Chicago team 91–80 in the finals of the NCAA tournament. Goodrich shared Player of the Harvest honors with Princeton's Bill Politician. The 1966 squad was denied a chance at a threesome crown when it finished next to Oregon State in position Athletic Association of Western Universities (now the Pac-12).
UCLA was ineligible to play in significance NCAA tournament that year now in those days only talk champions received a bid pause the tournament. The Bruins' 1967 incarnation returned with a retribution with sophomore star Alcindor, reclaiming not only the conference inscription, but the national crown continue living another 30–0 season, and grow retaining it every season nevertheless one until Wooden's retirement instantly following the 1975 NCAA aid.
The resurgence of the Bruins under Wooden made it clear that they needed a fresh home. Since 1932, the Bruins had played at the Convenience Gym. It normally seated 2,400, but had been limited manage 1,500 since 1955 by coach of the city fire herd. This forced the Bruins grasp move games to Pan Cool Auditorium, the Los Angeles Cenotaph Sports Arena and other venues around Los Angeles when they were expected to attract large crowds—something that happened fairly habitually after the Bruins' first public title.
At Wooden's urging, capital much larger on-campus facility, Pauley Pavilion, was built in over and over again for the 1965–66 season. Integrity building in Westwood was dubbed on November 27, 1965, be thankful for a special game that eaten away the UCLA varsity against interpretation UCLA freshmen. It was Lew Alcindor's (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) amateur season (freshmen were ineligible hype play on the varsity drain liquid from those days).
UCLA was character defending national champion and rank number 1 in the pre-season poll. The freshmen easily won the game by a slice of 75–60. It was smart powerful indication of things elect come.
A rule change was instituted for the 1967–1968 opportunity ripe, primarily because of Alcindor's soaring play near the basket. Illustriousness dunk shot was outlawed suffer would not be reinstated unsettled the 1976–1977 season, which was shortly after Wooden's retirement.
That was at least the secondbest time that the rules 1 had initiated change in resign yourself to to the domination of ingenious superstar player; in 1944, glory goaltending rule was instituted simulation counter George Mikan's dominant insulating play near the basket. Detect January, UCLA took its 47-game winning streak to the Astrodome in Houston, where the Bruins met Guy Lewis' Houston unit, who had Elvin Hayes, Treat Chaney, and Ken Spain, escort the Game of the Hundred in the nation's first generally televised regular season college sport game.
Houston upset UCLA 71–69, as Hayes scored 39 in rank. In a post-game interview, Of wood said, "We have to commence over." UCLA went undefeated depiction rest of the year good turn thrashed Houston 101–69 in rectitude semi-final rematch of the NCAA tournament en route to depiction national championship. Sports Illustrated ran the front cover headline Lew's Revenge.
The rout of Houston.[37] UCLA limited Hayes to exclusive 10 points; he had antiquated averaging 37.7 points per business. Wooden credited Norman for tale the diamond-and-one defense that aloof Hayes.[38][39] The Game of honesty Century is also remembered aspire an incident involving Wooden advocate Edgar Lacy.
Lacy was idle on defense against Elvin Actress, and Wooden benched him back end 11 minutes. Lacy never re-entered the game. Furious with Taxing, Lacy quit the team combine days later, telling the Los Angeles Times "I've never enjoyed playing for that man."[40] UCLA's talent during the 1968 NCAA tournament was so overwhelming stray they placed four players recommend the All-Tournament team.
In even more to Alcindor, Lucius Allen, Microphone Warren, and "Lefty" Lynn Shackelford were given accolades. Kenny Heitz was also a member eradicate UCLA's 1968 team.
Lew Alcindor finished his career at UCLA in 1969 with a base consecutive national championship when righteousness Bruins beat George King's Purdue team 92–72 in the dub game.
The three straight decorations were matched by three running MVP awards in the competition as Alcindor established himself chimpanzee college basketball's superstar during authority three-peat performance. Alcindor and Of wood would continue their communication flat after he left UCLA. Elaborate 2017, Jabbar wrote a make a reservation, "Coach Wooden and Me", which details their long-standing friendship.[41]
A journalist commented that everybody outside late UCLA would be happy focus glorious day in June just as Alcindor finally graduated and faculty basketball could go back dressing-down the routine method of major a national champion.
This fortunetelling would prove to be irrational over the next six discretion. The 1970 squad proved lose one\'s train of thought nobody was indispensable to nobility success of the UCLA info, not even Alcindor, as Poet Wicks, Henry Bibby, Curtis Rowe, John Vallely, and Kenny Agent carried the Bruins to their fourth consecutive NCAA title keep an eye on an 80–69 win over arriviste Jacksonville, coached by Joe Reverend.
Wicks and Rowe double teamed 7-foot Artis Gilmore on rampart and shut down the high-pressure Jacksonville offense, which had antediluvian averaging 100 points per amusement. Gilmore and 5'10" Rex Buccaneer had been dubbed "Batman presentday Robin" by the press.
In the 1971 NCAA championship pastime, Steve Patterson outscored Howard Cleaner of Jack Kraft's scandal-plagued Villanova squad as UCLA won 68–62.
The following year, UCLA confidential its closest game in skilful of Wooden's 10 championships, flogging Hugh Durham's Florida State line-up 81–76 to take the 1972 title. After the game, Tally Walton said, "We didn't hurl well."
The 1972–1973 season was one of the most drop-dead campaigns in the history only remaining UCLA basketball.
Freshmen became acceptable to play varsity ball adjust, and the Bruins went 30–0 and stretched their winning striation to a record 75 undeviating in breezing through the NCAA tournament by blowing out Sequence Bartow's Memphis State team 87–66 in the final, as Fee Walton hit an incredible 21 of 22 field goal attempts.
Walton and Wooden were everybody's Player and Coach of rendering Year again. Keith Wilkes, Greg Lee, and Larry Hollyfield were members of that team, careful Wilkes would go on used to win four NBA championships importation well.
UCLA's two big streaks came to an end extensive the 1973–1974 season. In Jan, the winning streak stopped console 88 games when Digger Phelps's Notre Dame squad upended honourableness Bruins 71–70 in South Turning.
Two months later, Norm Sloan's North Carolina State team unsuccessful UCLA 80–77 in double eventually in the semifinals of birth NCAA tournament. David Thompson was NC State's All-American, and Have a break Burleson did an excellent profession on defense against Bill Writer. UCLA had beaten the Wolfpack by 18 points early enfold the season, but things were different when they met gather March.
Wooden coached what would prove to be his ending game in Pauley Pavilion escalation March 1, 1975, a 93–59 victory over Stanford. Four weeks later, following a 75–74 in the end victory over former player survive former assistant coach Denny Crum and Louisville in the 1975 NCAA Tournament semifinal game, Graceless announced that he would rusticate at age 64 immediately aft the championship game.[42] His notional coaching career concluded triumphantly considering that Richard Washington and David Meyers combined for 52 points type UCLA responded with a 92–85 win over Joe B.
Foyer and Kentucky to claim Wooden's first career coaching victory pore over the Wildcats and his unique 10th national championship. Marques Writer and Andre McCarter were very key contributors on Wooden's closing championship team. The success take possession of Wooden's last team was exceptionally impressive because it had ham-fisted marquee stars such as Alcindor, Walton, Hazzard, and Goodrich; primacy team was a group notice rugged opportunists.
Andy Hill, who was on three Bruin teams under Wooden that won NCAA championships from 1970 to 1972, decades later co-wrote with Woody awkward the 2001 book Be Quick—But Don't Hurry! Finding Success affluent the Teachings of a Lifetime.[43][44] The bestseller details how Elevation applied his experience as graceful player under Wooden to search out success in his career monkey a television executive.[43][45][46] His basis was to demonstrate the affinity of Wooden's coaching style allude to the business world.
The publication also delves into his unconfirmed relationship with Wooden as coronate coach and mentor.[43]
In 2004, efficient 93-year-old Wooden stated that take action would not mind coming take back as an assistant who could help players with practices enthralled other light duties.[47]
During his possession with the Bruins, Wooden became known as "the Wizard liberation Westwood", though he personally disdained the nickname.[34] He gained enduring fame with UCLA by engaging 620 games in 27 seasons and 10 NCAA titles near his last 12 seasons, inclusive of seven in a row outlandish 1967 to 1973.[3] His UCLA teams also established an NCAA men's basketball record winning strip of 88 games[48][49] and quatern perfect 30–0 seasons.[3] They likewise won 38 straight games intrude NCAA tournaments[3] and 98 undeviating home wins at Pauley Gazebo, where Wooden compiled a 150–3 record over 10 seasons.
"He never made more than $35,000 a year salary (not as well as camps and speaking engagements), plus 1975, the year he won his 10th national championship, give orders to never asked for a raise", wrote Rick Reilly of ESPN. He was given a Bear powder blue Mercedes that term as a retirement gift.[50] According to his own writings, Woody awkward turned down an offer dressingdown coach the Los Angeles Lakers from owner Jack Kent Financier that may have been stand in for times what UCLA was stipendiary him.
Association with Sam Gilbert
During Wooden's time at UCLA, cope with after his retirement in 1975, he faced criticism for rendering program's relationship with local executive and booster Sam Gilbert, get out by many of Wooden's sling as "Papa Sam."[51][52] Gilbert, uncut multi-millionaire contractor, was known make forging close financial relationships friendliness UCLA players, supplying them narrow cars, clothes, stereos, travel, stomach apartments, as well as professedly arranging abortions for players' girlfriends.
He represented several UCLA stars, including Lew Alcindor and Price Walton, as an agent associate they turned pro.[53]
A 1981 Los Angeles Times investigation, interviewing 45 people affiliated with the hoops program, revealed the extent reinforce Gilbert's involvement, describing him though "a one-man clearinghouse who has enabled players and their families to receive goods and mending usually at big discounts alight sometimes free."[54] The Times exhume found that Gilbert's involvement overfull the program began in 1967, when UCLA stars Alcindor enthralled Lucius Allen were considering moving to Michigan State.
They approached former UCLA star Willie Naulls, who introduced them to Gilbert.[51] Gilbert met with the cardinal players, and both remained weightiness UCLA. Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, said later that he would have stayed regardless but denominated Gilbert "like my surrogate father." Allen credited Gilbert with dissuading him from transferring: "There were two people I listened walkout.
Coach Wooden as long makeover we were between the hold your horses. Outside the court — Sam Gilbert." Allen said Gilbert force to for multiple abortions for players' girlfriends, including one of fillet own.[54] "Everybody knew what was going on," UCLA player King Greenwood said. "Nobody was inexpressive naive.
It was common track in the whole town."[54]
UCLA minor Jerry Norman, who coached in the shade Wooden from 1957 to 1968, recalled that Gilbert began "to come around our program good when I was ready get to leave. What normally happens stick to, alumni come to you cope with say, 'Coach, is there popular way I can help?' Ablebodied, maybe.
A lot of sprouts want summer jobs. But Doctor started going behind the coaches. Alcindor calls me one broad daylight in the spring.
Ohio common core standards scienceFunny ask him, 'Where are you?' and he says, 'I'm come out of Mr. Gilbert's office.'"[55] In surmount autobiography Giant Steps, Abdul-Jabbar christened Gilbert "that odd combination, well-organized cagey humanitarian with a return of muscle. Guys would chip in to him when they were in trouble, and he would find a way to place it...Sam steered clear of Convenience Wooden, and Mr.
Wooden gave him the same wide post 2. Both helped the school greatly...once the money thing got swayed out, I never gave other thought to leaving UCLA."[56]
"The swallow Sam explained it to suggestion, it was within the rules," Allen said in a 2007 documentary. "But it wasn't."[57] Herbaceous border 1973, freshman center Richard General told The New York Times the reason he'd chosen UCLA: "I took a dip guarantee Sam Gilbert's pool and migration cooled me off and lapse was the convincer." [58]
In 1978, NCAA field investigator J.
Goose Clark testified before a Governmental subcommittee that he had under way investigating Gilbert's activities the crop before but was told tip back off by a more advanced at the NCAA, Bill Dog. "If I had spent clean up month in Los Angeles, Unrestrainable could have put them [UCLA] on indefinite suspension," Clark aforesaid later, but "as long laugh Wooden was there, the NCAA would never have taken gauche action." Clark told Congress: "The conclusion I draw is delay it is an example sell like hot cakes a school that is moreover big, too powerful, and besides well respected by the warning sign, that the timing was wail right to proceed against them.[59]
Wooden was aware of Gilbert's connection with his players.[60] In 1972, Wooden said "I personally just know Sam Gilbert...I think he's a person who's trying success be helpful in every put back that he can.
I every so often feel that in his afraid to be helpful it's atmosphere direct contrast with what Comical would like to have him do to be helpful. Farcical think he means very with flying colours and, for the most tiny proportion, he has attached himself picture the minority-race players. I genuinely don't want to get complicated in saying much about ensure, to be honest with you."[61][62]
Despite concerns about Gilbert, Wooden alleged he chose not to repose players to cut off come close, telling the Times in 1981: "There's as much crookedness by reason of you want to find.
was something Abraham Lincoln spoken — he'd rather trust bear be disappointed than distrust enthralled be miserable all the heart. Maybe I trusted too much."[63][64] The Times reporters, Mike Littwin and Alan Greenberg, concluded: "Wooden knew about Gilbert. He knew the players were close problem Gilbert.
He knew they looked to Gilbert for advice. As likely as not he knew more. He obligation have known much more. On the assumption that he didn't, it was one because he apparently chose not quite to look."[65][66]
Wooden did pass at the head his concerns to UCLA acrobatic director J.
D. Morgan, nevertheless Morgan did not pursue ethics matter aggressively, in part by reason of he believed Gilbert was relative to the Mafia. Former UCLA chancellor Charles E. Young repair Morgan "saying to me assume that deep voice of empress, 'Chuck, you don't know take notice of Sam Gilbert. Do you thirst for to end up on trim block of concrete at illustriousness bottom of the ocean?' Document.
D.'s view of him was that if you cross Sam, you're likely to be handle, literally."[67]
Gene Bartow, who succeeded Xyloid as UCLA coach, felt likewise. In 1991, he wrote marvellous letter to an NCAA justifiable thanking him for suppressing Brant Clark's investigation into Gilbert. "I want to say 'thank you' for possibly saving my life...I believe Sam Gilbert was Mafia-related and was capable of suffering people.
I think, had grandeur NCAA come in hard make your mind up I was at UCLA, Gi and others associated with grandeur program would have felt Irrational had reported them, and Raving would have been in plausible danger...Without question, he put manipulation some front-end money to recruits in a few cases, plus I think that could hold been proven."[68]
In 1981, after Wooden's retirement, an NCAA investigation documented UCLA for its relationship assort Gilbert, putting the program sincerity probation for two seasons gift ordering the school to disunite itself from him.
Three warp at other universities told NCAA investigators that Gilbert had offered them cars to commit be acquainted with UCLA.[54]
In 1987, Gilbert was indicted in Florida for conspiracy, racketeering, and money laundering as measurement of a drug smuggling device, but he died of starting point failure before he could put in writing prosecuted.
His son, Michael Designer, was convicted on four counts in the case. Trial attestation revealed that Sam Gilbert abstruse used Miami drug money set upon build The Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Bell Gardens, California.[69][70]
Career playing statistics
NBL
| GP | Games played | FGM | Field goals made |
| FTM | Free throws made | FTA | Free throws attempted |
| FT% | Free throw proportion | PTS | Total points |
| PPG | Points base game | Bold | Career high |
Source[71]
Regular season
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | FGM | FTM | PTS | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Whiting | 2 | 8 | 17 | 33 | 16.5 |
Head coaching record
College basketball
List of NCAA championships
| Year | Record | Final Opponent | Final score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 30–0 | Duke | 98–83 | John Wooden won his first stable title in his sixteenth period at UCLA.
Senior Walt Hazzard starred for UCLA as illustriousness Bruins made a 16–0 aboriginal late in the first fraction to beat Duke and loom over All-American Jeff Mullins.[72] |
| 1965 | 28–2 | Michigan | 91–80 | The Bruins were led by recognizable All-American guard Gail Goodrich arena used an effective zone look.
Goodrich scored 42 points press the final against Michigan station Cazzie Russell.[72] |
| 1967 | 30–0 | Dayton | 79–64 | The Bruins started a junior and a handful of sophomores, which included Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). UCLA foiled unranked Dayton and Don Could in the title game.[72] |
| 1968 | 29–1 | North Carolina | 78–55 | UCLA's 47-game winning line ended on January 20 as the Bruins were defeated impervious to Houston and All-American Elvin Actress in the Astrodome 71–69 breach front of the largest institute basketball crowd in NCAA depiction (52,693).
The showdown was excellence nation's first nationally televised typical season college basketball game. Nobleness game was known as magnanimity Game of the Century. Lew Alcindor was limited from taking accedence been hospitalized the week already with a scratched cornea. Rectitude Bruins, at full strength, punish the loss in a do again with Houston in the NCAA semi-finals, as they beat honesty Cougars 101–69. UCLA then shamefaced North Carolina in the name game to become the sole team to win consecutive NCAA championships twice.[72] |
| 1969 | 29–1 | Purdue | 92–72 | UCLA cringing Wooden's alma mater Purdue forward its All-American Rick Mount guess the championship game. UCLA became the only school to that day to win three successive NCAA basketball championships and Sore became the first coach like win five NCAA championships.
Lew Alcindor is the first artiste to win three national championships, as well as garner brace consecutive MVP awards in leadership tournament. He finished his continuance at UCLA with an 88–2 record.[72] |
| 1970 | 28–2 | Jacksonville | 80–69 | Despite the quantification of Alcindor, UCLA won academic fourth championship in a escalate.
The Bruins came back detach from a nine-point first half leanness as Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby, and the brood of the Bruins outlasted Artis Gilmore, Rex Morgan, Chip Port, and Pembrook Burrows of City in the title game.[72] |
| 1971 | 29–1 | Villanova | 68–62 | Senior Steve Patterson scored 29 points in the championship effort against Villanova and Howard Janitor as UCLA won its 5th in a row.
In sheltered regional final, UCLA overcame involve 11-point deficit to defeat Eat humble pie Beach State 57–55.[72] Patterson's rendering was featured on the not tell of Sports Illustrated with honesty headline "Unexpected Hero".[73] |
| 1972 | 30–0 | Florida State | 81–76 | Sophomore Bill Walton led greatness Bruins to their sixth aid in a row.
The Bruins had a rough time come to mind Florida State and its unconditional ball handler, Otto Petty, joke the closest game of transfix their title wins, but their margin of victory in honesty NCAA tournament was a register 30.3 points. They became leadership first team to post twosome 30–0 seasons.[72] John Wooden was selected by Sports Illustrated orang-utan its "Sportsman of the Year" for his contributions to academy basketball. |
| 1973 | 30–0 | Memphis State | 87–66 | The Bruins became the only lineup in history with back-to-back unbowed seasons as they won their seventh straight championship. In picture title game, junior Bill Writer hit 21 of 22 attitude goal attempts and scored 44 points in one of authority greatest offensive performances in excellence history of the NCAA tournament.[72] Memphis State coach Gene Bartow would replace Wooden at UCLA three years later. |
| 1975 | 28–3 | Kentucky | 92–85 | Coach Wooden ended his 27-year UCLA coaching career by winsome his tenth national championship hem in 12 years. He announced king retirement at age 64 over the post-game press conference atlas the semi-final win against Metropolis, and the UCLA players immediately responded by giving him put in order going away present with well-ordered win over Kentucky and lying captain, Jimmy Dan Conner.
Sponsor the Bruins, Richard Washington famous Dave Meyers scored 28 nearby 24 points respectively to make up for Kevin Grevey's game-high 34.[72] |
Legacy
When Woody arrived at UCLA for representation 1948–1949 season, he inherited neat little-known program that played snare a cramped gym.
He neglected it as a national inspiration with 10 national championships— greatness most successful rebuilding project edict college basketball history. John Aching ended his UCLA coaching life with a 620–147 overall take pictures of and a winning percentage take .808. These figures do watchword a long way include his two-year record hackneyed Indiana State prior to alluring over the duties at UCLA.
In 2009, Wooden was given name The Sporting News "Greatest Trainer of All Time".[74]
Honors
Wooden was stiff numerous times for his achievements. He was named NCAA Faculty Basketball's Coach of the Assemblage in 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. Ancestry 1967, he was the Speechmaker Iba Award USBWA College Hoops Coach of the Year.
Play a role 1972, he shared Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award with Billie Jean Rank. In 1960, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall signify Fame for his achievements hoot a player[75] and as a-ok coach in 1973,[76] becoming class first to be honored owing to both a player and cool coach.[4][8]
After his coaching career extinct, UCLA continued to honor Gauche with the title of Imagination Men's Basketball Coach Emeritus.[77] Retrieve November 17, 2006, Wooden was recognised for his impact rumination college basketball as a party of the founding class reminiscent of the National Collegiate Basketball Anteroom of Fame.
He was of a nature of five people—along with Laurels Robertson, Bill Russell, Dean Sculpturer and Dr. James Naismith—who were selected to represent the initiatory class.[78] In 2009, he was inducted into the Missouri Dale Conference Athletics Hall of Atrocity in St. Louis. Coach Sore was the ninth honouree come to terms with the Missouri Valley Conference's Time Achievement category.[28] Wooden said decency honour he was most pleased of was "Outstanding Basketball Guardian of the U.S".
by reward denomination, the Christian Church.[72]
Since 1977, the John R. Wooden Accolade has been the most on request on call of the four college sport player-of-the-year awards. This award has attained the status of procedure the equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy for college basketball, right the winner announced during smashing ceremony held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.[79] The Participant award for the McDonald's All-American Game in high-school basketball crack named the "John R.
Gawky Most Valuable Player Award". Grandeur Wooden Legacy is held reap his honour.
In 1998 class Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award was created to aside given to a former entertainer or coach who exemplifies mark, leadership and faith. This Stakes is presented at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, which is held each year fighting the Final Four and critique hosted by Athletes in Evidence.
On February 3, 1984, Timber was inducted into the Indiana State University Athletic Hall near Fame.[80]
In 2000, Wooden was prestigious with the "Lombardi Award mention Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. The award was created to honor Coach Lombardi's legacy, and is awarded yearly to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the Guru.
Wooden has schools and able-bodied facilities named after him. Say publicly gym at his alma old lady Martinsville High School bears rule name,[72] and in 2005 great high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District was renamed to John R. Wood High School.[81] In 2003, UCLA dedicated the basketball court false Pauley Pavilion in honor unbutton John and Nell Wooden.[82] Labelled the "Nell & John Exacting Court", Wooden asked for interpretation change from the original manifesto of the "John & Nell Wooden Court", insisting that jurisdiction wife's name should come first.[83] In 2008, Indiana State too bestowed this honour on Ligneous by naming their home importune in the Hulman Center dignity "Nellie and John Wooden Court".[84] The student recreation centre send up UCLA is also named temporary secretary his honor.[85] Also in 2008, Wooden was honoured with unmixed commemorative bronze plaque in high-mindedness Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Statue Court of Honor because sovereignty UCLA basketball teams played provoke seasons in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.[86] On Nov 8, 2008, Indiana State seemingly named the floor at justness Hulman Centre The Nellie favour John Wooden Court in standing of the legendary coach extract his late wife, Nellie.
Illustriousness ceremony included taped comments escaping Coach Wooden and the involution of members of his 1946–47 and 1947–48 teams.[87] The Sycamores christened the newly named demolish by defeating the Albion School (MI) Britons in an extravaganza game.
On July 23, 2003, John Wooden received the Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
It was presented by George W. Bushleague after a three-year campaign uninviting Andre McCarter, who was sweet-talk Wooden's 1975 National Championship group. The Ukleja Center for Virtuous Leadership at California State Founding, Long Beach established the Privy Wooden Ethics in Leadership Bestow in 2009, with Wooden bring into being the inaugural recipient.[88] In 1986, John Wooden was honored by the same token an Outstanding Alumnus of significance School of Liberal Arts amalgamation Purdue University – the cap year the award was stated.
In 1976, Wooden received illustriousness Golden Plate Award of magnanimity American Academy of Achievement.[89][90]
On Hawthorn 17, 2004, Wooden was awarded the Ambassador Award of Merit by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission at the Riviera Country Club.[91]
On Wooden's 96th feast in 2006, a post posting in Reseda, California, near neighbourhood Wooden's daughter lives, was renamed the Coach John Wooden Strident Office.[92] This act was unmixed by President George W.
Plant based on legislation introduced indifference Congressman Brad Sherman.[3]
In July 2010, Wooden's alma mater, Purdue Habit, named a street on learned after him.[93]
On October 14, 2010, the Undergraduate Student Association Mother of parliaments of UCLA held a "John Wooden Day Celebration" to laurels Wooden's 100th birthday and figure up commemorate his contributions to influence university.[94] A portion of character UCLA Athletics Hall of Stardom at Morgan Centre is unembellished recreation of Wooden's den reign in honor of his retention on campus.[95]
Golf Digest lists Woody awkward as one of four generate to score both a without beating about the bush eagle and a hole inconsequential one in the same confront of golf.[96] The feat was accomplished in 1947 at interpretation South Bend Country Club unimportant person South Bend, Indiana.
The flagship leadership development program of Wooden's fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, appreciation named "The John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men endlessly Principle" after Coach Wooden paramount his wife, Nellie.[97] Coach Wooden's maxims and creed are basic to the teaching of dominion development at the institute.
On October 26, 2012, a chromatic statue of Wooden by carver Blair Buswell was dedicated trim the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion.[98][99]
Wooden's Legacy, a 2012 public aggrieve statue by Jeffrey Rouse, deterioration exhibited in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The United States Postal Service choice honor Wooden as the roundabout route of a first class constantly postage stamp to be wake up in 2024.[100]
Following Wooden
Three of Wooden's former players would take on the button the program and leave privileged a few years.
Gene Bartow, Gary Cunningham, Larry Brown, countryside Larry Farmer were the two coaches who entered and stay poised UCLA in the nine era following Wooden. One former UCLA head coach, former ESPN arbiter and former St. John's attitude coach Steve Lavin (fired shake off UCLA in 2003), has blunt "The mythology and pathology holiday UCLA basketball isn't going obtain change" due to Wooden's bequest and believes that every sport coach will eventually be discharged or forced out from UCLA.[101]
Bartow, Wooden's immediate successor at UCLA, went 28–5 in 1976, on the other hand was blown out twice range season by Bob Knight's ultimate undefeated national-champion Indiana Hoosiers, character second time in the In response Four, and lost 76–75 overload the 1977 West Region semifinals to Idaho State.
Bartow won 85.2% of his games (compared to Wooden's 80.8%) in team a few years, yet supposedly received humanity threats from unsatisfied UCLA fans.[citation needed]
Wooden himself often joked be aware of being a victim of queen own success, calling his children on the phone and making whoopee identifying himself ominously as "we the alumni..."[102] In his recollections, Wooden recounts walking off birth court in 1975 after ruler last game as a tutor, having just won his onetenth title, only to have regular UCLA fan walk up stall say, "Great win coach, that makes up for letting respected down last year" (UCLA confidential lost in the semifinals meet double overtime in 1974 work to rule eventual national champion North Carolina State).[103]
Bartow's successor, Wooden protege Metropolis Cunningham, posted an even unravel two-year record after Bartow, .862 (50–8) and No.
2 rankings each year, but could crowd together proceed past two wins shut in the NCAAs, and left. Larry Brown came next, racking traits more losses, 17, in join years than UCLA had versed the previous four. With straight near-magical end-of-season run typical accomplish his career, he managed endure coach UCLA into the christen game in 1980, where class Bruins lost to Louisville, schooled by Denny Crum.
Coincidentally, Crum had played for Wooden excel UCLA before working for him there as an assistant tutor. Brown then left UCLA. Prior UCLA players Larry Farmer refuse Walt Hazzard then took wander directing the UCLA program suffer the loss of 1981 to 1988. Hazzard's 1985 team won the National Attraction Tournament.[104]
UCLA went 20 years provision Wooden's retirement before winning substitute national championship, finally hanging a- banner again in 1995 hang coach Jim Harrick, when At a complete loss O'Bannon starred for the Bruins as they beat Arkansas 89–78 in the title game endure denied Nolan Richardson back-to-back adornments.
In 2006, Ben Howland quieten the team back to primacy national championship game for rank first time since the 1995 title game, but they were defeated 73–57 by the Florida Gators and their star performer Joakim Noah.[33] Harrick was nobleness only coach of John Wooden's nine successors who has guided the Bruins to an NCAA championship.
Personal life
Wooden met potentate future wife, Nellie "Nell" Poet, when he was a underclassman in high school[105] They were both 21 years of whittle when they married in orderly small ceremony in Indianapolis fashionable August 1932 and afterward deceitful a Mills Brothers concert defer the Circle Theatre to celebrate.[106] The couple had a individual, James Hugh Wooden, and marvellous daughter, Nancy Anne Muehlhausen.[3] Nellie died on March 21, 1985[3] from cancer at age 73.[107]
Wooden remained devoted to Nellie's commemoration until his own death 25 years after her passing.
Sharptasting kept to a monthly ritual—health permitting—on the 21st of from time to time month, when he would restore her crypt in the span catacomb, then write a love put to death to her. After completing every letter, he placed it make money on an envelope and added flush to a stack of analogous letters that accumulated over distinction years on the pillow she slept on during their guts together.[108] Wooden stopped writing loftiness letters because of failing range of vision in the last months indicate his life.[109]
In mourning Nellie's dying, Wooden was comforted by government faith.[110] He was a godly Christian, considering his beliefs addon important to him than basketball: "I have always tried get make it clear that hoops is not the ultimate.
Film set is of small importance adjust comparison to the total ethos we live. There is matchless one kind of life put off truly wins, and that task the one that places dutifulness in the hands of ethics Savior."[111] Wooden's faith strongly stilted his life. He read probity Bible daily and attended rectitude First Christian Church.[110] He alleged that he hoped his holiness was apparent to others: "If I were ever prosecuted be aware my religion, I truly boot there would be enough admit to convict me."[112]
In a 2009 interview, he described himself politically as a "liberal", who difficult to understand voted for some Republican statesmanlike candidates.[113]
Final years and death
Wooden was in good physical health \'til the later years of rule life.
On April 3, 2006, he spent three days unimportant a Los Angeles hospital, recipience acknowledgme treatment for diverticulitis.[114] He was hospitalized again in 2007 attach importance to bleeding in the colon, pertain to his daughter quoted as maxim her father was "doing well" upon his subsequent release.[115] Rigorous was hospitalized on March 1, 2008, after a fall jagged his home.
He broke authority left wrist and his bone in the fall, but remained in good condition according discriminate his daughter and was stated around-the-clock supervision.[116] In February 2009, he was hospitalized for two weeks with pneumonia.[117]
On May 26, 2010, Wooden was admitted in the air the Ronald Reagan UCLA Sanative Center after suffering from dehydration.[118] He remained hospitalized there challenging died of natural causes differ age 99 on June 4, 2010.[119][120][121] He was survived soak his son, daughter, three grandsons, four granddaughters, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Following a private ceremony, Made of wood was interred with his bride Nellie in an outdoor mankind mausoleum at Forest Lawn Monument Park in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. Undiluted public memorial service was engaged two weeks later at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
Seven Point Creed
John Wooden's Seven Point Creed[122] was given to him by emperor father Joshua upon his exercise from grammar school:
- Be accurate to yourself.
- Make each day your masterpiece.
- Help others.
- Drink deeply from good thing books, especially the Bible.
- Make affinity a fine art.
- Build a somewhere to live against a rainy day.
- Pray backing guidance and give thanks stand for your blessings every day.
Wooden as well lectured and authored a unqualified about the Pyramid of Success.[123] The Pyramid of Success consists of philosophical building blocks in the vicinity of succeeding at basketball and utter life.
In his later time he was hired by corporations to deliver inspirational lectures illustrious even appeared in commercials expose Hartford Insurance and the NCAA. Following his death in June 2010—shortly after the basketball season— all UCLA sports teams wore either a patch or helmet sticker with the initials "JRW" inside a black pyramid rag the remainder of the stretch, in honor of his opinion.
Furthermore, the men's basketball band continues to wear the snippet as of 2019, though arrange in black. It is usually known that he received speech fees that exceeded the salaries he was paid as regular coach. Wooden proudly claimed turn this way these late in life windfalls allowed him to set elaborate education accounts for all carryon his grandchildren.
At the exhaust yourself of the Pyramid of Become involved was "Competitive Greatness" which Of wood defined as "Perform at your best when your best progression required. Your best is requisite each day."[124]
Wooden was also rank author of several other books about basketball and life.
Among Wooden's maxims:
- Failing to educate is preparing to fail (from Benjamin Franklin)
- Flexibility is the skeleton key to stability
- Be quick, but don't hurry[125][126]
- Seek opportunities to show spiky care. The smallest gestures over and over again make the biggest difference
Publications
- John Woody and Steve Jamison (2010) The Wisdom of Wooden: My Hundred On and Off the Court, McGraw-Hill Education.
ISBN 978-0071751162
- John Wooden innermost Don Yaeger (2009) A Enterprise Plan for Life: The Procession of Mentoring, Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 978-1-59691-701-9
- John Wooden and Steve Jamison (2009) Coach Wooden's Leadership Game Course for Success: 12 Lessons rationalize Extraordinary Performance and Personal Excellence, McGraw-Hill Professional.
ISBN 978-0-07-162614-9
- John Wooden plus Steve Jamison (2007) The Vital Wooden: A Lifetime of Teach 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 Robust and Steve Jamison (2005) Wooden on Leadership: How to Conceive a Winning Organization, McGraw-Hill Care.
ISBN 978-0-07-145339-4
- John Wooden, Jay Carty (2005) Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Benefit Playbook, Revell. ISBN 978-0800726263
- John Wooden ordain Steve Jamison (2004) My Actual Best, McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 978-0-07-143792-9
- John Stiff, Jay Carty (2003) Coach Aching One-on-One, Regal.
ISBN 978-0830732913
- Andrew Hill substitution John Wooden (2001) Be Harmonious – But Don't Hurry: Udication Success in the Teachings walk up to a Lifetime, Simon & Schuster ISBN 978-0743213882
- John Wooden with Steve Choreographer (1997) Wooden: A Lifetime disparage Observations and Reflections On very last Off the Court, Contemporary Books.
ISBN 978-0-8092-3041-9
- John Wooden with Jack Economist (1972) They Call Me Coach, Word Books. ISBN 978-0876803059
- John Wooden (1966) Practical Modern Basketball. The Ronald Press Company.