John Wooden was the head coach of the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team from 1948 to 1975. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time, having led the Bruins to 10 NCAA championships, including a record seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. He also won 19 conference titles and had an overall record of 620–147 (.808) at UCLA. Some of his notable players include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard, and Sidney Wicks.

Wooden was known for his coaching philosophy, which emphasized character, teamwork, and fundamentals. He also developed the famous Pyramid of Success, which outlined his principles for achieving personal and professional excellence. He was nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood” for his remarkable achievements and influence on the game of basketball.

Wooden was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, the only person to do so. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 by President George W. Bush. He died in 2010 at the age of 99.