John Wooden, the most successful basketball coach in NCAA history, died of natural causes, Friday, June 4, 2010, at the age of 99.John Wooden won 10 national championships at UCLA in the 60's and 70's. Coach Wooden led the Bruins to an unmatched streak of seven NCAA championships in a row from 1967 through 1973. His coaching greatness will never be matched. Over 27 years, Mr. Wooden won 620 games, including 88 straight during one historic stretch.
I wish I could have met him. But I watched and admired him during his years at UCLA. Aside from being a great coach, he seemed to me to be a very kind man. This has been echoed by many of his former players who went on to the professional ranks and also achieved greatness for themselves there. From everything I have ever read about the "Wizard of Westwood" he was held in high esteem by his players and the many coaches he knew and coached against.
One of the players who helped Coach Wooden and the Bruins achieve some of their greatness was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabaar said in a statement released through UCLA, "he set quite an example. He was more like a parent than a coach. He really was a very selfless and giving human being, but he was a disciplinarian. We learned all about those aspects of life that most kids want to skip over. He would not let us do that."
John Wooden - in my mind you will be forever remembered. You will always be missed by anyone who was able to witness your greatness and the teams you assembled and coached. Rest in peace.
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