John Wooden, Who Built Incomparable Dynasty at U.C.L.A., Dies at 99
John Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010), a staid Midwesterner who migrated to U.C.L.A. and became college basketball’s most successful coach, earning the nickname the Wizard of Westwood and an enduring place in sports history, died Friday at Ronald Reagan U.C.L.A. Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized since May 26. He was 99.
He was a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and as a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period while at U.C.L.A. are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.