Over 75 years of the AP Top 25, Wooden, Coach K and other coaches cemented their places in history
Over 75 years of the AP Top 25, Wooden, Coach K and other coaches cemented their places in history
FILE - UCLA legendary basketball coach John Wooden pauses for a photo Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000, at his Encino, Calif., home. John Wooden took UCLA to unprecedented heights that may never be reached again. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden talks with reporters in his office in Los Angeles, Ca., March 16, 1972. Wooden’s 10 national titles are twice as many as the next coach on the all-time list, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA basketball coach John Wooden wears a basketball net around his neck after his team won the NCAA basketball championship over Kentucky, 92-85, in San Diego, Calif., March 31, 1975. The win gave him his 10th NCAA championship. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden, right, and members of the team celebrate with the NCAA college basketball championship trophy after defeating Duke in Kansas City, Mo., March 22, 1964. Players in front row are, from left: Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard and Jack Hirsch. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who won 10 national titles in 27 years as head coach, walks with his wife, Nell, as they pass between former UCLA players in a birthday salute to the retiring coach at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Oct. 14, 1975. (AP Photo)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and guard Lance Thomas embrace after Duke’s 61-59 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA college basketball Final Four championship game in Indianapolis, April 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the net at the ACC men’s NCAA college basketball tournament final Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Charlotte, N.C. Duke defeated North Carolina State 91-61. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski gets airborne near the end of the NCAA college basketball Southeast Regional championship game against Purdue in Knoxville, Tenn., March 26, 1994. Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils defeated Purdue 69-60 to advance to the Final Four. (AP photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp talks to players, from left, Cliff Hagan, Lou Tsioropoulos and Frank Ramsey (30) in Lexington, Ky., Jan. 16, 1954. (AP Photo/John Wyatt, File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. The Baron of the Bluegrass won four national titles at Kentucky, including three in four years between 1947-51. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp gestures from the bench in Lexington, Ky., in January 1954. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Kansas coach Roy Williams raises his arms in victory after cutting a piece of the net after the NCAA Midwest Regional final in St. Louis, March 27, 1993. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
FILE - North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, center, celebrates with his team after their 89-72 victory over Michigan State in the championship game at the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in Detroit. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. He cemented his place in history — and the Hall of Fame — by winning three national championships at North Carolina.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - North Carolina head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun acknowledges the crowd after cutting down the net at the NCAA Phoenix Regional Finals, Saturday, March 27, 2004. Connecticut beat Alabama, 87-71, to advance to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun reacting to a call in the second half against Colgate in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional in Indianapolis, March 14, 1996. (AP Photo/Phil Myers, File)
FILE - Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun holds the championship trophy after his team won the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game against Butler, 53-41, Monday, April 4, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, left, and players Scott May, center, and Quinn Buckner, right, hold the trophy after the team’s win in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Philadelphia on March 29, 1976. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Texas Tech coach Bob Knight yells from the sideline during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Houston on Dec. 14, 2001, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)
FILE - UCLA legendary basketball coach John Wooden pauses for a photo Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000, at his Encino, Calif., home. John Wooden took UCLA to unprecedented heights that may never be reached again. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - UCLA legendary basketball coach John Wooden pauses for a photo Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000, at his Encino, Calif., home. John Wooden took UCLA to unprecedented heights that may never be reached again. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden talks with reporters in his office in Los Angeles, Ca., March 16, 1972. Wooden’s 10 national titles are twice as many as the next coach on the all-time list, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden talks with reporters in his office in Los Angeles, Ca., March 16, 1972. Wooden’s 10 national titles are twice as many as the next coach on the all-time list, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA basketball coach John Wooden wears a basketball net around his neck after his team won the NCAA basketball championship over Kentucky, 92-85, in San Diego, Calif., March 31, 1975. The win gave him his 10th NCAA championship. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA basketball coach John Wooden wears a basketball net around his neck after his team won the NCAA basketball championship over Kentucky, 92-85, in San Diego, Calif., March 31, 1975. The win gave him his 10th NCAA championship. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden, right, and members of the team celebrate with the NCAA college basketball championship trophy after defeating Duke in Kansas City, Mo., March 22, 1964. Players in front row are, from left: Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard and Jack Hirsch. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - UCLA coach John Wooden, right, and members of the team celebrate with the NCAA college basketball championship trophy after defeating Duke in Kansas City, Mo., March 22, 1964. Players in front row are, from left: Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard and Jack Hirsch. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who won 10 national titles in 27 years as head coach, walks with his wife, Nell, as they pass between former UCLA players in a birthday salute to the retiring coach at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Oct. 14, 1975. (AP Photo)
FILE - Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who won 10 national titles in 27 years as head coach, walks with his wife, Nell, as they pass between former UCLA players in a birthday salute to the retiring coach at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Oct. 14, 1975. (AP Photo)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and guard Lance Thomas embrace after Duke’s 61-59 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA college basketball Final Four championship game in Indianapolis, April 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and guard Lance Thomas embrace after Duke’s 61-59 win over Butler in the men’s NCAA college basketball Final Four championship game in Indianapolis, April 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the net at the ACC men’s NCAA college basketball tournament final Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Charlotte, N.C. Duke defeated North Carolina State 91-61. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the net at the ACC men’s NCAA college basketball tournament final Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Charlotte, N.C. Duke defeated North Carolina State 91-61. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski gets airborne near the end of the NCAA college basketball Southeast Regional championship game against Purdue in Knoxville, Tenn., March 26, 1994. Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils defeated Purdue 69-60 to advance to the Final Four. (AP photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski gets airborne near the end of the NCAA college basketball Southeast Regional championship game against Purdue in Knoxville, Tenn., March 26, 1994. Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils defeated Purdue 69-60 to advance to the Final Four. (AP photo/Bob Jordan, File)
FILE - Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp talks to players, from left, Cliff Hagan, Lou Tsioropoulos and Frank Ramsey (30) in Lexington, Ky., Jan. 16, 1954. (AP Photo/John Wyatt, File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. The Baron of the Bluegrass won four national titles at Kentucky, including three in four years between 1947-51. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp looks over the jacket worn by Johnny Cox, December 1, 1958, at the Lexington, Ky. campus. The Baron of the Bluegrass won four national titles at Kentucky, including three in four years between 1947-51. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - University of Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp gestures from the bench in Lexington, Ky., in January 1954. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Kansas coach Roy Williams raises his arms in victory after cutting a piece of the net after the NCAA Midwest Regional final in St. Louis, March 27, 1993. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
FILE - Kansas coach Roy Williams raises his arms in victory after cutting a piece of the net after the NCAA Midwest Regional final in St. Louis, March 27, 1993. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)
FILE - North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, center, celebrates with his team after their 89-72 victory over Michigan State in the championship game at the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in Detroit. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. He cemented his place in history — and the Hall of Fame — by winning three national championships at North Carolina.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, center, celebrates with his team after their 89-72 victory over Michigan State in the championship game at the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 7, 2009, in Detroit. Williams first made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. He cemented his place in history — and the Hall of Fame — by winning three national championships at North Carolina.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
FILE - North Carolina head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
FILE - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun acknowledges the crowd after cutting down the net at the NCAA Phoenix Regional Finals, Saturday, March 27, 2004. Connecticut beat Alabama, 87-71, to advance to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun acknowledges the crowd after cutting down the net at the NCAA Phoenix Regional Finals, Saturday, March 27, 2004. Connecticut beat Alabama, 87-71, to advance to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun reacting to a call in the second half against Colgate in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional in Indianapolis, March 14, 1996. (AP Photo/Phil Myers, File)
FILE - Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun holds the championship trophy after his team won the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game against Butler, 53-41, Monday, April 4, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
FILE - Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun holds the championship trophy after his team won the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game against Butler, 53-41, Monday, April 4, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, left, and players Scott May, center, and Quinn Buckner, right, hold the trophy after the team’s win in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Philadelphia on March 29, 1976. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Indiana coach Bob Knight, left, and players Scott May, center, and Quinn Buckner, right, hold the trophy after the team’s win in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Philadelphia on March 29, 1976. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Texas Tech coach Bob Knight yells from the sideline during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Houston on Dec. 14, 2001, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

College basketball has coaches who have won multiple championships, gone on long winning streaks, consistently had their teams in the AP Top 25.
One rises above them all: UCLA’s John Wooden.
“He had a sense of greatness that he he tried to share with us, tried to show us the path to greatness,” said Hall of Famer Bill Walton, UCLA’s center under Wooden from 1971-74. “’I’m not sure that he knew how great a coach he truly was because he wasn’t interested in all the extraneous stuff and he wasn’t interested in people telling him he was great.”
Wooden, an Indiana farm boy who was a star guard at Purdue, took over at UCLA in 1948 and slowly built them into a power before taking the Bruins to unprecedented heights that may never be reached again.
Starting in 1962, UCLA won 10 national titles in 12 years, including a record seven straight from 1966-73. Wooden’s 10 national titles are twice as many as the next coach on the all-time list, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.
UCLA won 88 straight games from 1971-74 — 28 more than the next closest — and 38 straight NCAA Tournament games, both records. Wooden, who died in 2010 at the age of 99, was the first person to be elected into the Naismith Hall of Fame as a player and a coach, and was named AP national coach of the year five times.
UCLA went wire-to-wire at No. 1 in consecutive seasons as part of a record streak of 46 straight weeks on top of the AP Top 25 poll. The Bruins also were ranked 221 straight weeks, a record streak that encompassed the entire 1970s.
“We set records that still stand to this day,” Walton said. “He did not talk about winning and losing. He talked about effort and purpose, and we tried with everything we had to get to acknowledge that we were doing something right.”
Wooden’s lasting legacy goes beyond numbers.
His leadership style, focused on success in basketball and life, spread across sports, the business world and personal lives — and certainly stuck with anyone who came in contact with him.
“He created a culture where we were taught how to become champions,” Walton said. “How to live like champions, how to play like champions, how to be champions, how to expect to be champions.”
MIKE KRZYZEWSKI, Duke
A former Army guard and coach, Krzyzewski turned the Blue Devils into a national powerhouse.
The Hall of Fame coach won five national championships at Duke, led the Blue Devils to 13 Final Four appearances — including his last season in 2022 — and a record 15 ACC Tournament championships.
Entering this season, Krzyzewski held the all-time wins record with 1,202 and his teams spent a record 127 weeks ranked at No. 1 in the AP poll. He also won six gold medals as coach of the U.S. national team.
ADOLPH RUPP, Kentucky
Kentucky is second all-time with eight national championships and it started with Rupp.
The Baron of the Bluegrass won four national titles at Kentucky, including three in four years between 1947-51. Rupp’s teams won more than 82% of their games and his record of 876 wins stood until North Carolina’s Dean Smith surpassed it in 1997.
Anchored by Rupp’s 42 seasons in Lexington, Kentucky accumulated more points than any other team in the 75 years of the AP Top 25.
ROY WILLIAMS, North Carolina/Kansas
Williams made his mark at Kansas, leading the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times. He cemented his place in history — and the Hall of Fame — by winning three national championships at North Carolina.
Williams’ 903 wins are fifth all-time and he’s the only coach in Division I history to win 400 games at two schools.
JIM CALHOUN, Connecticut
Calhoun started his career at Northeastern, but made his mark at Connecticut. The Huskies won three national titles under Calhoun and his 920 wins are fourth all-time. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2005.
BOB KNIGHT, Indiana
The former coach of Krzyzewski at Army, Knight led Indiana to three national championships and the last undefeated season in Division I, in 1976. The Hall of Fame coach who died last year is sixth on the all-time wins list with 902.
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