Pauley Pavilion to receive new Wooden floor
By Daily Bruin Staff
Aug. 10, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Since its introduction to the university at the June 1965
Commencement exercises, the floor of Pauley Pavilion has been
without a name.
That will fittingly change Dec. 20 of this year, as the floor
will be named John and Nell Wooden Court after the legendary UCLA
basketball coach and his wife.
Wooden, UCLA’s head coach for 27 seasons and arguably the
most successful coach in the history of basketball, led the Bruins
to a record 10 NCAA Championships, including seven in a row from
1967-1973. This season will mark the 40th anniversary of
UCLA’s first NCAA Championship in 1964.
“Saturday, Dec. 20 will be remembered as one of the great
days in the history of the UCLA Athletic Department,” UCLA
Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. “It is
appropriate that the dedication of John and Nell Wooden Court in
Pauley Pavilion coincides with the 40th anniversary of coach
Wooden’s first NCAA Championship team. John and Nell are
synonymous with UCLA basketball and now they will forever be
enshrined in the arena that coach Wooden made famous.”
Under his tutelage, Wooden’s teams compiled an incredible
620-147 (80.8) record, including an NCAA record 88-game winning
streak and 38 consecutive NCAA Tournament victories. His coaching
record in Pauley Pavilion was an astounding 149-2.
“Although I deeply appreciate the sentiment of having the
basketball floor in Pauley Pavilion named after me and my dear
Nellie,” Wooden said in a statement, “I will always be
grateful to Edwin Pauley, who provided the impetus for making a
dream become a reality, and for the many young men who were under
my supervision before and after Pauley Pavilion. Thank you so much
to everyone involved.”
Regent Edwin Pauley was the principal donor to the building
fund, donating $1,000,000 to see the vision materialize.
Wooden and his wife, Nell, were married for 53 years. They wed
following Wooden’s graduation from Purdue and had two
children, a son and a daughter. The family has since grown to
include seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Nell Wooden
died in Los Angeles on March 21, 1985.
The floor dedication will take place before UCLA’s Dec. 20
game against Michigan State.
