Chronology of Hazzard’s Coaching Career at UCLA

A chronology of the high and low points in Walt Hazzard’s four-year coaching career at UCLA:

--March 26, 1984, Hazzard, then coach at Chapman College, is named to replace Larry Farmer as coach at his alma mater, becoming the fifth coach of the Bruins since legendary John Wooden retired in 1975. Hazzard, an All-American guard on Wooden’s first National Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship team in 1964, promises to bring back some of the elements of Wooden’s teams.

--The Hazzard Era begins slowly when the Bruins get off to a 2-5 start, their worst since 1945, as UCLA is routed by St. John’s, 88-69, at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 22, 1984.

--On Jan. 15, 1985, Hazzard says that Louisiana State freshman John Williams, a former Crenshaw High School star who chose the Tigers over UCLA, was offered money by other schools who recruited him. The next day, Hazzard issues an apology to LSU, saying he wasn’t referring to LSU Coach Dale Brown.

--The Bruins continue to struggle, losing four straight Pacific 10 Conference games and falling to fifth place, among other problems. At his weekly media breakfast on Feb. 13, Hazzard responds to charges by Washington State Coach Marv Harshmann by saying, “We don’t take cheap shots. I don’t teach cheap shots. We just go out and play hard and tough.”

--UCLA fails to make the NCAA tournament, but accepts a spot in the National Invitation Tournament and wins it by beating Indiana, 65-62, in the championship game March 29, 1985. The Bruins finish the season by winning 8 straight games and 12 of their last 13 to give Hazzard a first-year record of 21-12.

--After North Carolina buries the Bruins, 107-70, the worst loss in UCLA history, on Nov. 24, 1985, Hazzard is incensed that Tar Heel Coach Dean Smith had his starters in the game in the final minutes. Hazzard says the UCLA-North Carolina series might be terminated, but a few days later he says the series will continue.

--When Notre Dame beats UCLA, 74-64, at South Bend, Ind., on Jan. 18, 1986, Hazzard is asked how he feels about the rivalry having been reduced a few years before from two games per season to one. “It may come to the point that we don’t play Notre Dame,” Hazzard said. “Because of our conference tournament, we will have to eliminate one of our nonconference games.” Questioned further by surprised reporters, Hazzard says: “I didn’t say it was going to happen. It’s something we will have to consider in the future.”

--On Feb. 19, 1986, it is learned that Hazzard has been given a one-year extension of his original three-year contract, extending it to March 31, 1988--today’s date.

--The Bruins finish Hazzard’s second season as coach with a 15-14 record, 9-9 in the Pac-10. UCLA again accepts an NIT bid, but is eliminated in the first round by UC Irvine, 80-74, at Pauley Pavilion.

--Hazzard enjoys his best season at UCLA in 1986-87, finishing with a 25-7 record, winning the Pac-10 title with a 14-4 record in addition to taking the conference tournament and is named the conference’s coach of the year. However, the Bruins are eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament by Wyoming, 78-66, at Salt Lake City. Afterward, Hazzard allegedly trashes a room next to the Bruins’ locker room, and the University of Utah sends UCLA a bill for repairs, even though Hazzard later says, “That’s not true. I wasn’t involved in that.”

--On Sept. 21, 1987, one week after the NCAA penalized the UCLA basketball program for recruiting violations, Hazzard is given a substantial raise when he signs to what amounts to a perpetual three-year contract that renews itself every March 31. “Walt has done a fine job of rebuilding the foundation of UCLA basketball,” Athletic Director Pete Dalis said.

--After routing Pennsylvania, 98-49, on Dec. 14, 1987, Hazzard is asked why the Bruins continued to press with a 50-point lead and continued to play star guard Pooh Richardson with a 57-point lead. “Amazing,” Hazzard says. “Now I’m the bad guy because we have a big lead?” Of the Richardson matter, Hazzard adds, “That’s what you call a ‘coach’ decision. C.D. I had my reasons.” Penn Coach Tom Schneider says he has no complaints.

--The Bruins, needing to win the Pac-10 tournament to make the NCAA tournament, lose to Washington State, 73-71, on March 11, 1988, in the first round and wind up with a 16-14 record. Afterward, Richardson says: “The coach usually takes the blame, but it’s our fault. We didn’t go out and do what he told us to do. The man can’t go out and play for us.”

--On March 30, 1988, Hazzard is relieved of his coaching duties.