No other coach is even close in the only stat that really counts -- NCAA Championships...not to mention his dominance in so many other categories

Best of all time and here's little known fact.  Was also All American player and Academic All American at Purdue.  He may have won with the big guys (Alcindor & Walton) but his first championship team had no starter taller than 6"6".

One finds it difficult to argue against the rather gaudy numbers coach Wooden has attached to his name; however, they must be qualified to a degree. First, the competition level in teams and recruiting was less out west during his tenure. Second, I understand that back in his day NCAA tournament games were often played on the higher seeds' home courts. Third, there were fewer tournament hurdles to win the championship. Anyone who claims that Wooden would even come close to his record today is not intellectually honest, as he simply would not. Nevertheless, John Wooden excelled within the circumstances he coached and deserves respect and a high ranking on this list.

Probably not as great as Dean Smith (if you evaluate the circumstances of both their careers, you'll understand), but definitely one of the greats.  Where was the personality though?  Even in his playing career he seemed wooden.

He is the greatest coach ever without taking into account any of his basketball victories. The Pyramid of Success should be posted & taught in every school today. His character is second to no human being, and thank God he was willing & capable to spread his great character into other people. Add the fact that he seemed to never lose, no coach in any sport or any era, is near his level. Our world is a much better place, due to this single man!

It is almost impossible to argue with a record of 677-161, 10 NCAA championships, and numerous awrds. Much more valuable than these, however, are the deep value of his moral manhood, and the influence it has had upon thousands.

he was the greatest coach of his time, but did he do a great job of graduating his players?

Probably the best college hoops coach ever. 10 championships. 10!!! To all you people who say it was all thanks to Alcindor and Walton, he won 5 championships without them, still beating 2nd place Coach (Co)Rupp(t) of Kentucky by 1 championship. Some people claim payoffs, but there has still not been one shred of evidence in that direction. Even if there was scandal, it takes more than the best players to win, as shown by Duke, the Yankees, and other teams who consistently don't live up to their billing. John Wooden was the ultimate teacher and coach, 'Nuff Said.

Simply the greatest of all time. No question about it. His numbers stack up above evryone else's.

Forget about the things his players or other coaches or the media have said. Forget about all other statistics. Just look at the national championships he won and his percentage in championship games. Some may say that he had better talent--and that was true most of the time. But recruiting is a big part of being a college coach. When people give Wooden a one-star rateing, it renders the whole rateitall thing pointless.

WOW his #'s speak for themselves

ha

Best the ever was. Took college bball to a whole nother level. With that said he could do the same thing in todays era. Even though he would be a bonified winner.

When all is said and done concerning college basketball coaches, one name will stand alone over all the others: John Wooden. The 'Wizard of Westwood' was the epitomy of coaching, embedding in his players the importance of teamwork and consistency on the hardwood. He also stressed the value of perfecting defensive and offensive fundamentals, as his teams seemed not to have any conceivable flaws. Not too keen on flamboyance, Coach Wooden was a modest man who did not seek the limelight; and at the same time, showed the utmost grace and decency to all UCLA's opponents- win or lose. As for his coaching record, neither an 80.6% winning percentage and winning ten NCAA championships define the man completely. Rather, it is the respect he still garners today from those who are in or simply follow college basketball, which define him best. Undoubtedly, John Wooden was the greatest coach ever in any sport, and is the measuring stick for which all other great coaches of all sports will be measured until the end of time.

Great coach.. But who's to say he didn't get lucky? Blah, whatever. None of us even know because he wasn't our own coach so you don't know how he affected your own game.

Simply the best of all time, any sport, any era.

The Greatest

A brilliant and gifted coaching mind.

Coached on west coast where he got a jump on recruiting blacks, Lew Alcindor started it all. Look at Wooden's record befor Alcindor !!! His players were probably paid a bundle!!!

Ten national titles and seven in a row. Even if the competition wasn't up to current day standards, think of all of the NCAA tournament games UCLA had to win without losing to achieve this record. Mr. Wooden is also a top flight person and educator.

He doesn't like dunking? It doesn't get anymore white, tightwad, Christian male than that.

The icon of icons in coaching, bar NONE. There is Coach Wooden, and everyone else.

Come on ....It's soooo obvious.

Seven straight National Championships. This achievement speaks for itself - we'll never see anything else like it again. To think about all of the strong basketball programs, and to imagine that NOBODY could beat Wooden's team when it mattered for seven years. Unbelievable.