John Wooden: The Success Pyramid

John Wooden

High School & College

John Wooden was born in 1910 in Indiana. He starred in basketball in high school then played college basketball at Purdue University. Wooden became a three-time All-American at Purdue and won national player of the year in 1932. After college, Wooden briefly played pro basketball with the Indianapolis Kautskys. He then turned to coaching high school and college for 30 years. In 1948, UCLA hired Wooden as their head basketball coach.

Coaching

Wooden quickly transformed UCLA into a powerhouse, leading the Bruins to 10 national championships in 12 years, including a record seven straight from 1967-1973. His teams also won 88 consecutive games, an NCAA record.  Wooden emphasized calm and fundamentals. He also excelled at maximizing his players’ talent. Stars like Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton, and Gail Goodrich thrived under Wooden.

Wooden & Alcindor

As coach from 1965-1969, Wooden shared a special bond with Lew Alcindor. Together they won three national championships. Wooden respected Alcindor deeply. He saw great potential in Alcindor and helped develop him into an all-time great player.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Alcindor impressed Wooden with his intelligence, articulateness, and religious devotion. Wooden mentored Alcindor on and off the court, teaching work ethic, dedication, humility and character.  Alcindor, now Kareem Abdul Jabbar, felt extremely grateful for Wooden’s guidance and support. He credited Wooden for his Hall of Fame NBA career.

Legacy

In 1975 Wooden retired from coaching. He entered the Basketball Hall of Fame as both player and coach. Additionally, Wooden authored several books before passing in 2010 at age 99. He is considered one of basketball’s greatest coaches ever.

Wooden Milestones

John Wooden’s coaching career was marked by many notable achievements, including:

• 10 national championships in 12 years (1964, 1965, 1967–1973)
• 38 consecutive NCAA tournament wins (1967–1974)
• 88 consecutive wins overall (1971–1974)
• 620 wins and 147 losses in 29 seasons
• 40-year coaching record of 885 wins and 203 losses
• 12 conference championships
• 9 conference tournament championships
• 10 Helms Foundation National Championships
• 3 Associated Press National Championships
• 2 United Press International National Championships
• 2 Wooden Award winners (1970, 1971)
• 11 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees (Wooden, Alcindor, Walton, Goodrich, Wilkes, Scott, Lucas, Sanders, Swen Nater, Henry Bibby, and Jamaal Wilkes)
• 1993 Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 2009 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Coach of the Century

Pyramid of Success

In addition to his on-court success, Wooden was also known for his emphasis on character development and his “Pyramid of Success.” The Pyramid of Success is a 10-point philosophy that Wooden used to guide his players both on and off the court. The 10 points are:

• Industriousness
• Friendship
• Enthusiasm
• Loyalty
• Cooperation
• Self-Control
• Alertness
• Poise
• Initiative
• Skill

Wooden’s Pyramid of Success has been used by coaches and athletes for decades, and it continues to be a valuable resource for anyone who wants to achieve success in life.