Putnam, Former Player and Coach at UCLA, Dies at 70 After Game

William C. (Bill) Putnam, an All-American guard for UCLA’s 1944-45 basketball team and assistant coach to John Wooden for 11 seasons, died Saturday of a heart attack. Putnam, who was 70, was on the way home from the San Diego-UCLA game at Pauley Pavilion.

Putnam was the starting guard on the 1943-44 team, coached by Wilbur Johns, and was co-captain with Bill Rankin on the 1944-45 team that won the Bruins’ first Pacific Coast Conference championship.

Putnam also lettered in football for the Bruins in 1944 and won the Jake Gimbel Award in 1945. He was an assistant coach under Johns for one season (1946-47), then became an assistant to Wooden from 1948 until 1962. He also served as assistant athletic director and junior varsity coach.

He is survived by his wife Betty Van Buskirk Putnam, three children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

There will be a private memorial service for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Nell Wooden Memorial Fund at UCLA, or a favorite charity.