Weighing in on John Wooden

He was not only the greatest coach in the history of any sport, but he was an exceptional individual that transcended the sporting world.

— Dan Guerrero

UCLA athletic director

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He was a disciplinarian. We learned all about those aspects of life that most kids want to skip over. He wouldn’t let us do that.

— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

UCLA player, 1966-69

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He is such a positive influence on everyone. He has taught me everything I know. Not so much about basketball, but about life.

— Bill Walton

UCLA player, 1971-74

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His lessons made sense then and they make sense now.

— Marques Johnson

UCLA player, 1973-77

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It wasn’t until years later, after college, after the NBA, when my life focus began to change on marriage, divorce, children, the business world, that I began to sense how special a man he was.

— Jamaal Wilkes

UCLA player, 1971-74

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He was a person who not only affected how you played the game but how you lived life. What he taught us will be part of me all my days.

— Rafer Johnson

decathlon champion, UCLA player, 1958-60

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It wasn’t until years later, after college, after the NBA, when my life focus began to change on marriage, divorce, children, the business world, that I began to sense how special a man he was.

— Jamaal Wilkes

UCLA player, 1971-74

What he did was produce leaders.… His “Pyramid of Success” hangs in my office to remind me every day of what it takes to be an effective leader.

— Gene Block

UCLA chancellor

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He’s a legend and national treasure who was a coach, but his life meant so much more than being a coach. Think of all the lives outside of sports who were touched by him. We’re

talking millions of people.

— Ben Howland

UCLA coach