10 NCAA mens basketball championships (including seven consecutively), 16 Final Four appearances, Eighty-eight consecutive victories and 38 straight tournaments. Those are records that may likely never be broken and all of those records belong to UCLA basketball teams led by John Wooden. If that's insufficient evidence to persuade you of Wooden's renowned status, then how about the fact that he's one of only 3 individuals to be elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. There's certainly no doubt that Wooden was ahead of the game. But what was it, exactly, that made him one among sports best stories of success?
In 1948, Wooden accepted the empty coaching position at the University of California, Los Angeles. At the time Wooden accepted the coaching job in California, UCLA hadn't had much previous success. In reality, they were thought of as among the the weakest teams within the Pacific Conference. Many felt the addition of Wooden would have not much impact on the team. However, they were quickly proved wrong. In Wooden's first year as coach, UCLA went 22-7. The next year, the Bruins compiled a 24-7 record and won the conference title.
They would proceed to get the title again in 1952, 1956, 1962 and 1963. However, it wasn't until 1964, nearly sixteen years after Wooden was appointed, that the Bruins would win their very first title. Not only did they win the title, but they accomplished it in perfect style, winning all the games they took part in that year. The Wooden-led Bruins would win the title again in 1965.
From 1967 to 1973, the Bruins accumulated 7 NCAA basketball championship banners for their stadium's rafters. No team before, or after, the UCLA Bruins from the late Sixties and early Seventies has been able to match this type of historic run of dominance. In reality, you would be hard-pressed to discover any team, from any sport, to match the success that the Bruins had during their run.
1974 was the 1st year in seven seasons that the Bruins did not win a title. Nonetheless, between the '73 and '74 season, UCLA established an NCAA record by winning Eighty-eight straight games.
In 1975, in Wooden's final year, the Bruins once again returned to the national spotlight and seized their final championship in the Wooden era. At the end of his career, John Wooden had amassed 885 wins and produced an .813 winning percentage.
Wooden never spoke with his teams about winning or losing. Instead, he only spoke on making the effort to win. He was not as focused on the end result of the games he coached, as he was with how his players managed themselves. All Wooden desired from his players, was that they give the team their best possible. With 10 titles over a 12-year time period, I'd have to say that that philosophy paid off pretty well.
To read about the life and principles of a man who was so humble but still found a whole lot of success was extremely motivating to me. Wooden had such a major influence on his players and on individuals around him. It's interesting, because, even though Ive never been in John Wooden's presence, you can feel what those who did encounter him must have felt, by reading some of his work. Whatever the compliment he gets from former players and rival coaches, it's made plainly clear in his writing that he was a man of remarkable sincerity. No matter who you are, there is a lot to be learned from the renowned coach.
In 1948, Wooden accepted the empty coaching position at the University of California, Los Angeles. At the time Wooden accepted the coaching job in California, UCLA hadn't had much previous success. In reality, they were thought of as among the the weakest teams within the Pacific Conference. Many felt the addition of Wooden would have not much impact on the team. However, they were quickly proved wrong. In Wooden's first year as coach, UCLA went 22-7. The next year, the Bruins compiled a 24-7 record and won the conference title.
They would proceed to get the title again in 1952, 1956, 1962 and 1963. However, it wasn't until 1964, nearly sixteen years after Wooden was appointed, that the Bruins would win their very first title. Not only did they win the title, but they accomplished it in perfect style, winning all the games they took part in that year. The Wooden-led Bruins would win the title again in 1965.
From 1967 to 1973, the Bruins accumulated 7 NCAA basketball championship banners for their stadium's rafters. No team before, or after, the UCLA Bruins from the late Sixties and early Seventies has been able to match this type of historic run of dominance. In reality, you would be hard-pressed to discover any team, from any sport, to match the success that the Bruins had during their run.
1974 was the 1st year in seven seasons that the Bruins did not win a title. Nonetheless, between the '73 and '74 season, UCLA established an NCAA record by winning Eighty-eight straight games.
In 1975, in Wooden's final year, the Bruins once again returned to the national spotlight and seized their final championship in the Wooden era. At the end of his career, John Wooden had amassed 885 wins and produced an .813 winning percentage.
Wooden never spoke with his teams about winning or losing. Instead, he only spoke on making the effort to win. He was not as focused on the end result of the games he coached, as he was with how his players managed themselves. All Wooden desired from his players, was that they give the team their best possible. With 10 titles over a 12-year time period, I'd have to say that that philosophy paid off pretty well.
To read about the life and principles of a man who was so humble but still found a whole lot of success was extremely motivating to me. Wooden had such a major influence on his players and on individuals around him. It's interesting, because, even though Ive never been in John Wooden's presence, you can feel what those who did encounter him must have felt, by reading some of his work. Whatever the compliment he gets from former players and rival coaches, it's made plainly clear in his writing that he was a man of remarkable sincerity. No matter who you are, there is a lot to be learned from the renowned coach.
About the Author:
The legend of a coach, nicknamed "The Wizard of Westwood" was perhaps one of the greatest coaches in all of sports. His style of leadership is still being emulated today. For additional reading on John Wooden and his life, follow the link to continue reading on.. This article, John Wooden: One of the Greatest Coaches of All-Time is available for free reprint.
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