Current UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland remembers John Wooden’s greatness of character
By Daily Bruin Staff
June 6, 2010 8:56 p.m.
Ben Howland was sporting a black button-down shirt with a UCLA logo on the left breast as he greeted the media Friday night, hours after the news that the legendary John Wooden had died at 6:45 p.m. of natural causes.
The color of Howland’s shirt did indeed match the occasion, but the tone with which he spoke was anything but sorrowful. While Howland opened by stating that the UCLA community was “deeply saddened” by the loss of Wooden, he spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the countless lives Wooden touched and the innumerable accomplishments he achieved at the helm of the program Howland now leads.
“He is probably one of the greatest examples ever of how to live life,” Howland said. “So humble, always selfless, always giving.”
When Howland last saw Wooden in the hospital Wednesday night, he said Wooden still had his trademark sense of humor just days before his passing, cracking a joke to Howland about Bill Walton by comparing his own unshaven whiskers to his former center’s.
“I am always amazed at how witty and bright and mentally sharp he’s been for 99 years,” Howland said. “He never slowed down.”
Above all, it was clear that Howland remembered Wooden as a selfless person and a giver.
“The thing I love about Coach most, that’s been most impressive, is just how giving he’s been of his time to everyone else,” Howland said. “He’s always been a teacher first. He’s always returned every call, every letter, met with everyone who wanted to meet with him.”
Howland expressed genuine gratitude when referencing everything Wooden did for the growth of college basketball and the UCLA basketball program. For example, Wooden coached the Bruins in the first nationally televised regular-season college basketball game in prime time, against the Houston Cougars at the Astrodome. That game is still referred to as “The Game of the Century” in several college basketball circles. Howland also marveled at some of Wooden’s records, like the 88-game winning streak and his seven straight national titles.
“Those are just incredible feats that boggle the mind, for me as a coach,” Howland said,
For years after his retirement, Wooden could still be seen sitting in his familiar seat behind the Bruins’ bench at every home game, until recent years when health complications prevented him from attending.
“I go back and think about him sitting right over there for our games every night and sitting behind the bench,” Howland said, also referencing the numerous amount of autographs that he signed each game.
The current UCLA basketball team still pays respect to Coach Wooden each year, according to Howland. He requires that each of his players read “Wooden,” a compilation of Wooden’s greatest thoughts and observations.
Several sides of Wooden were also showcased through Howland’s recollection. He mentioned his love for Abraham Lincoln and his passion for baseball.
Howland has captained UCLA’s program for seven years now, and has repeated some of Coach Wooden’s feats, including being the only other UCLA coach to win three straight conference championships and appear in three straight Final Fours. Howland knows, however, that UCLA basketball will always be synonymous with Wooden’s name.
“There will never be another Coach Wooden,” Howland said. “I know how special it is to be a steward of his program. It’s always going to be John R. Wooden’s program.”
