Helena Frye
UCLA Bruins men's basketball has set several NCAA records. The team has had a string of notable head coaches, including Fred Cozens, who became the first head coach of the UCLA basketball and football teams in 1919, and John Wooden, who served as UCLA's head coach from 1948 to 1975 and won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period. In this preview, we will delve into the rich history of the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team, exploring their record-breaking achievements, influential coaches, and standout players.
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What You'll Learn
UCLA's first head coach
UCLA's men's basketball team, the UCLA Bruins, was founded in 1919 and has had 13 head coaches throughout its history. The first head coach was Fred Cozens, who was succeeded by Caddy Works and then Wilbur Johns. Johns later became the school's athletic director. In the 1948–1949 season, John Robert "the Wizard of Westwood" Wooden became the fourth basketball coach in the school's history.
Wooden signed a three-year contract for $6,000 in the first year. Prior to being hired at UCLA, he had been pursued for the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota. However, due to inclement weather, Minnesota officials were unable to contact Wooden with their offer, and he accepted the position at UCLA. Wooden had immediate success, transforming the Bruins into a championship-winning team in his first season. He utilised a unique offensive system, which is still used by many coaches today.
In the 1950s, UCLA struggled to advance to the top of the conference, partly due to a probation imposed on all UCLA sports teams after a scandal involving illegal payments to players on the school's football team. However, by the 1961–1962 season, the team was back on top, and in 1964 they won their first basketball national championship. This victory was due in part to the adoption of a zone press defence, which increased the probability of turnovers by the opposing team.
During his time as head coach, Wooden won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period, including a record seven in a row. Within this period, his teams won an NCAA men's basketball record of 88 consecutive games. Wooden won the prestigious Henry Iba Award as national coach of the year a record seven times and the Associated Press award five times.
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John Wooden's record-breaking run
John Robert Wooden, nicknamed "the Wizard of Westwood", is considered the greatest basketball coach of all time. Wooden took over as basketball coach for UCLA in 1948. At the time, UCLA was a mediocre team playing in a run-down gym. However, Wooden quickly turned the team around, and by the 1955–56 season, he had established a record of sustained success. That year, he guided the team to its first undefeated PCC conference title and a 17-game winning streak.
Wooden led UCLA to a perfect 30-0 record and the school's first national basketball championship in 1963-64. He brought home a second championship the following season, defeating Michigan 91-80 in the final. Beginning in the 1966-67 season, the Bruins embarked on a historic run, winning the championship every season except for one until Wooden’s retirement. This included three straight National Championships in 1967, 1968, and 1969, with the pairing of Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Bill Walton.
In the 1971-72 season, the Bill Walton-era at UCLA began, and the team achieved a perfect 30-0 record, winning games by an average of 30+ points. They continued their dominance in the 1972-73 season, achieving a 30-0 record once again and extending their winning streak to 75 consecutive games. The streak ended the following season at an NCAA men’s basketball record-high 88 games. Wooden coached UCLA to a record 10 national championships in a 12-year period, with seven coming in a row—a feat that has never been matched in Division I college basketball.
Wooden ended his 29-year college head coaching career with a 664-162 combined record, resulting in an impressive .804 winning percentage. His impact extended beyond the court, as he inspired millions of people around the world through his books, stories, and speeches.
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Larry Farmer's near misses
Larry Farmer, born on January 31, 1951, is a former UCLA basketball player and coach. During his time as a player at UCLA, Farmer was a member of three national championship-winning teams for the UCLA Bruins under head coach John Wooden in the early 1970s. Farmer went on to become the head coach of the UCLA men's basketball team from 1981 to 1984, guiding them to a 61-23 record.
Farmer had several near misses during his coaching career, both at UCLA and at other universities. Here are some of the notable instances:
Near Misses at UCLA:
- 1982 Season: In his first season as head coach, Farmer led UCLA to a 21-7 record. While this was a strong season, they fell short of winning the Pac-10 title, which they would go on to win the following year.
- 1984 Season: Farmer's final season as head coach at UCLA ended with a 19-10 record. While they had a winning record, they did not win the conference championship or make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Near Misses at Other Universities:
- Loyola University Chicago (1998-2004): Farmer had a slow start at Loyola, with a 30-51 record over his first three seasons. However, he turned it around in the 2001 season, compiling a 17-13 record and taking the team to the brink of the NCAA Tournament. They ultimately lost to their rival, the University of Illinois Chicago, falling just short of a tournament berth.
- Weber State University (1985-1988): Although not specific near misses, Farmer's overall record at Weber State is worth noting. During his three years as head coach, he had a 47-42 record, indicating some close calls and near victories during his tenure.
These near misses showcase the competitive nature of college basketball and the challenges that coaches like Farmer face in pursuing conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths.
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NCAA tournament record
UCLA men's basketball has participated in the NCAA Tournament for 53 years, amassing a record of 116-46. The team has reached the Final Four on 19 occasions and won the NCAA Championship 11 times.
John Wooden, nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood," served as UCLA's head coach from 1948 to 1975. During his tenure, Wooden won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period, including an unprecedented seven consecutive titles. Before Wooden's arrival, UCLA had only claimed two conference championships in the previous 18 years. In his inaugural season, he transformed a team with a 12-13 record to a 22-7 record, achieving the most wins in a single season in program history at the time. The following year, Wooden led the Bruins to a 24-7 record, capturing both the division and conference championships.
UCLA's success continued under Wooden, winning the division title in each of the next two seasons and the conference title in the latter. This marked a significant improvement for the program, as they had only secured two division titles since the inception of divisional play in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC). UCLA's dominance extended beyond the PCC, as they had not won any conference championship since their triumph in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1927.
Under Wooden's guidance, the Bruins established a men's basketball record by winning 88 consecutive games. This extraordinary feat solidified UCLA men's basketball as a dominant force in the sport, setting records that still stand today.
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UCLA's championship wins
UCLA's men's basketball team has enjoyed a lot of success over the years, with numerous championship wins.
The team has won the NCAA Championship 11 times: 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1995. During this period, the team won a men's basketball-record 88 consecutive games. The team has also won the Conference Championship 32 times in the regular season and four times in the tournament.
The 1984–1985 UCLA Bruins basketball team won the NIT championship, and the 1986–1987 team won the Pac-10 regular season championship and the inaugural Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament.
In 1919, Fred Cozens became the first head coach of the UCLA basketball and football teams, finishing with a 21–4 record over two seasons. Caddy Works coached the team from 1921 to 1939, guiding them to a 173–159 record. Wilbur Johns was the head coach from 1939 to 1948, and his record was 93–120. John Wooden, nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", served as UCLA's head coach from 1948 to 1975, winning ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period, including seven in a row.
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Frequently asked questions
UCLA has won 11 NCAA championships, in 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1995.
John Wooden, nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", served as UCLA's head coach from 1948 to 1975. He won 10 NCAA national championships in a 12-year period, including seven in a row.
Under John Wooden, UCLA's men's basketball team won 88 consecutive games.
UCLA's men's basketball team was defeated by Gonzaga in the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
