John Wooden was a legendary American basketball player and coach whose career spanned six decades. Born in Indiana, he played basketball at Purdue University, where he was a three-time All-American and led the team to two national championships. He then played professionally for a short time before beginning his coaching career at a high school in Indiana.

In 1948, Wooden was hired as the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) men's basketball team, where he would go on to achieve unprecedented success. Over the course of his 27-year career at UCLA, Wooden led his team to 10 NCAA championships, including seven in a row from 1967-1973, and four perfect seasons with a record of 30-0. He also coached some of the most iconic players in college basketball history, including Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Bill Walton.

Wooden's success on the court was matched by his reputation as a mentor and teacher to his players. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, discipline, and character, and encouraged his players to focus on personal growth as well as athletic achievement. He also wrote several books on leadership and success, including his best-known work, "Pyramid of Success," which outlines his philosophy on achieving excellence in all areas of life.

After retiring from coaching in 1975, Wooden remained active in the basketball community, serving as a commentator and consultant, and continued to be an inspiration to athletes and coaches across the world. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame twice, once as a player and once as a coach, and his legacy continues to be celebrated today.

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