By Justin Worsley
UCLA officials announced Friday night that former head coach of the men's basketball program John Wooden has died of natural causes on Friday night at the age of 99.
Wooden to this day is still a legend, the Wizard of Westwood won an unprecedented 10 NCAA National Championships between 1964 and 1975. Wooden also won six NCAA College Basketball Coach of the Year awards and coached UCLA to 12 Final Four appearances. He has compiled a 664-162 overall record during his 29 seasons as the coach of both UCLA and Indiana State.
Wooden has made both the College and Professional Basketball Hall of Fame, being enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961 and the College Hall of Fame in 2006, respectively.
Wooden, who coached the Bruins from 1948-75, set a standard for coaches on all levels in all sports. Not once in his career has Wooden touched or raised his voice to a player unless it was to congratulate an athlete.
No other men's basketball coach has come close to Wooden's 10 titles and four undefeated seasons. Former Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp and current Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski have won four titles apiece, the two are tied for the second most Nation Championships in NCAA history. No other head coach has had more than one undefeated season.
Wooden is also well-known for his faith in God. He has developed the "Seven Point Creed" as well as several maxims during his career, including what is now a famous quote "failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
Last year, The Sporting News named Wooden "The Greatest Coach of All Time." Wooden always has and always will be a ubiquitous character throughout all sports due to his ability to teach and inspire young adults both on and off the basketball court. To simply state what is writting in his Seven Point Creed "Make each day your masterpiece."
Wooden certainly did that.
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