John Robert Wooden was born in Martinsville, Indiana on October 14th,
1910. While attending high school in Martinsville he won All-State
prep honors in basketball three times while leading them to the State
title game his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. In 1927, his
high school team won the State title.
Next, he attended Purdue University and won varsity letters in both
basketball and baseball. Wooden won All-America honors as a player
for Purdue his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. In 1932, he
led the Boilermakers to the NCAA College Basketball Title. Wooden
has said that his greatest accomplishment at Purdue was making Purdue's
academic honor roll and being awarded the Big Ten Conference medal
for outstanding merit and proficiency in scholarship and athletic
for 1932.
After graduating from Purdue in 1932, Coach Wooden married his high
school friend, Nell. He taught for two years at Dayton High School
in Kentucky where he also coached all sports. After two years, he
moved back to Indiana where he found a job at South Bend Central High
where he taught English and coached basketball, baseball, and tennis.
During his eleven years of coaching high school basketball he amassed
a 218-42 record.
During World War II, John Wooden served as a full lieutenant in the
U.S. Navy and upon his discharge in 1946 he went to Indiana Teachers
College and became the athletic director, baseball coach, and basketball
coach for two years before coming to UCLA. While coaching at Indiana
Teachers College he recorded a 47-14 record as the basketball coach.
1949 marked UCLA's first year with John Wooden as the head coach
of the basketball program. While at UCLA, Wooden developed his teaching
method and coined it, "The Pyramid of Success." He used
the "The Pyramid of Success" to not only coach his teams
but to also live his life. He remained head coach of the Bruins until
1975 when he announced his retirement prior to the team's attempt
to win a 10th national championship. The team came through in the
title game of 1975 and Wooden finished his career with 10 NCAA Championships
as a coach. During Wooden's twenty-seven seasons at UCLA his record
was an amazing 316-68.
While coaching at UCLA, the Bruins led by Coach Wooden posted amazing
record after record. Under Wooden, the Bruins won 10 NCAA Championships,
including 7 in a row between 1966-1973. During this streak of 7 straight
championships, the Bruins won 38 straight NCAA Tournament games. Also,
Coach Wooden led the Bruins during their 88 game winning streak which
spanned over four seasons. Wooden's Bruins compiled four 30-0 seasons
and captured 19 conference championships. At Pauley Pavilion under
Wooden, the Bruins were near perfect winning 149 out of 151 games.
A few of the many basketball related awards and honors that Coach
Wooden has won include: member of the National Basketball Hall of
Fame as both a player and a coach, member of the All-Time All-American
Basketball Team, member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, six-time
College Basketball Coach of the Year, 1970 The Sporting News Sports
Man of the Year, Friar's Club Coach of the Century, 1973 Sports Illustrated
Sports Man of the Year.
While Wooden is proud of his accomplishments as a coach, he is more
proud of what he has accomplishment off the court. He has said many
times that he would rather be remembered as a great person than as
a great basketball coach. Wooden has been recognized by many organizations
as an outstanding member of the community for his contributions and
involvement.
John Wooden will be always be remembered for the way he lived his
life and his incredible success as a basketball coach.
Read more about Coach Wooden's last years at UCLA by clicking here.
Link:
Extended Biography, Record, Awards at UCLABruins.com
Link: The Pyramid of Success
at CoachWooden.com
