John Robert Wooden was born four years before World War I, in 1910. From an early age, Wooden developed a love of three things: faith, his wife Nellie (whom he met at age 16), and basketball.
Few men in this world are as synonymous with their chosen profession as John Wooden was with his. Basketball and Coach Wooden go together like kindergarteners and crayons, or better yet like peanut butter and jelly.
Although Wooden was an All-American at Purdue, and a well-regarded coach at what is now Indiana State, he didn’t exactly pack the gym at what was then a non-factor program at UCLA during his first decade.
Beginning in 1948, Wooden had a successful record of 285-125 during his first decade plus in Los Angeles, but he wasn’t able to break through and win more than a conference title during his first 15 seasons.
Most coaches wouldn’t last in today’s sporting landscape for 15 years, but in his sixteenth season, Wooden’s tree of wisdom and patience began to bear fruit. In 1963, Wooden led his Bruin squad to a NCAA championship and an undefeated record of 30-0.
The wily veteran had finally broken through, but it didn’t stop there. Over the next 11 seasons, Wooden was able to capture an unprecedented 9 titles. During that run Wooden was able to guide UCLA to 4 perfect seasons, including an NCAA record 88 game winning streak from 1971 to 1974.
A career that began with exactly zero championships and a .695 winning percentage ended with 6 more titles than the next closest coaches (Duke’s Coach K & Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp) and a winning percentage of .938 over the dozen seasons.
It’s important to note that Wooden knew when to step away, retiring at age 65 in 1975 fresh off of his tenth national championship.
The most important takeaway from Coach Wooden has nothing to do with basketball, and everything to do with life. Sure, it doesn’t hurt that the man won an astounding 10 national championships. but it wasn’t about winning at all cost. It was about doing things the right way. The right way meant with integrity, respect, and a humble nature that is missing in athletics today.
The pyramid shown above laid the foundation of success for UCLA basketball, Coach John Wooden himself, droves of student-athletes (Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, & Jamal Wilkes…the list is endless) that played under and learned how to behave as men under Wooden’s tutelage, and the millions worldwide that listened to him speak or read from his bestselling books.
Take the immediate connection to basketball out of your mind when looking at the pyramid.
Next, remove any intrinsic connection to John Wooden.
Now, tell me people are upset because a great basketball coach finally met his maker.
People are emotional because the world lost a great man. He just happened to be the greatest basketball coach that ever lived.
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