FanNation - The Republic of Sport

     The greatest coach in NCAA basketball history is 96 years old and still going strong. He will turn 97 in October and the jam-packed arenas and college bands are still fresh in the mind of a man who won more than any other on the collegiate ranks.

     The undeniably greatest coach that will ever diagram a play on a clipboard or give a pre-game speech is still remembered and revered everytime March Madness comes around.

     John Wooden, the former UCLA coach, won 10 NCAA championships in twelve years. That also includes a time where the Bruins won 7 straight and had an amazing 88 game win streak along the way. Tons of legendary players played for "The Wizard of Westwood." Most notable are Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor. Alcindor later became a muslim and known in the professional ranks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Walton would go to a terrific pro career as well with the Portland Trail Blazers and then later on with the Boston Celtics.

     Wooden absolutely dominated the college basketball landscape with four 30-0 perfect seasons during UCLA's 7 straight championships. Wooden won 665 games in 27 years with the Bruins and the 10 out of 12 run came in his last twelve years. Overall Wooden was 885-203 with a .812 winning percentage.  

     John Wooden was named head coach in 1948 after three successful seasons at Indiana State. However, the University of Minnesota also was seeking Wooden as their head coach. Wooden  agreed that whoever called him first would be his new school. In Minnesota on that night, there was a snowstorm that took out the phone lines and they could not get in contact with the coach. So, UCLA went down history road with Wooden and Minnesota still cant be a power in the Big Ten.

     Wooden's teams played as a team and none was better than the other. They shared the ball and the scoring and played a great pressure defense to dominate the Pac-8 (before Pac-10) year after year.

     Abdul-Jabbar was drafted out of UCLA and went to Milwaukee Bucks where he won and NBA Championship and NBA Rookie of the Year. Kareem won 3 MVP's with the Bucks and a few scoring titles along the way. Then, because of his cultural needs, the Bucks traded him to Los Angeles where he would win 5 more NBA Championships. Throughout his career and his great success John Wooden helped him out tremendously building a great man along with the player and although Kareem has natural athletic ability, Coach Wooden was there molding one of the greatest players in NBA and NCAA history.  Kareem won three titles as a collegiate player and three Tournament MVP's. This was at a time when freshman couldn't play on the Varsity squad.

     Walton was the backbone to UCLA's 2 30-0 seasons and was part of the UCLA 88 game win streak. Walton won Player of the Year in his three varsity years with the Bruins. But, as everyone knows, Walton was a hippie. And, that caused trouble between him and his coach. Wooden told Walton to stop protesting the War in Vietnam or Walton would be kicked off the team. Walton stopped and the Bruins kept going behind Walton and his championship performances.

     All and all, Wooden but in alot of work and dedication. In the end, it paid off as he is known as the greatest basketball coach of all-time. So, this comes for no other reason than just a salute, to the old coach who is still in great condition, and will always be remembered.

Steve Watson