NCAA basketball: Ranking the 25 best college basketball coaches ever

No. 2: John Wooden

Wooden is best said, and most accurately said, to be the coach whom all other coaches will be compared to, and are found wanting to topple as the best college basketball coach of all time.

Only one coach has done that, according to our list, and even then, it’s more of a tie than anything.

Wooden’s UCLA Bruins won a record 88 consecutive games during an unbeaten span that reached almost three years long and only was ended thanks to an injury to Bill Walton (who still played well) and a feisty Notre Dame squad playing at home. Who knows how much longer Wooden’s streak would’ve continued.

After his coaching journey from high school head coach, to college staffer, to coming to a head and a move to the Bruins, Wooden built the UCLA dynasty from the ground up and turned it into what was a perennial title contender, grabbing seven straight NCAA Titles and 10 titles over the span of just 12 seasons. Sure, the days of basketball were a bit different then but there’s no doubt that what Coach Wooden did will never be repeated.

One of the most meticulous coaches to ever live, most famously having every detail of practice down to the second, his execution was nearly flawless during his tenure with the Bruins.