Friday, January 17, 1997
LEGEND:
Former Bruin coach signs autographs to help open UCLA StoreBy
A.J. Harwin
Daily Bruin Contributor
Promoting the opening of the new UCLA Store on Thursday, store
officials brought in UCLA coaching legend John Wooden as part of
the grand-opening celebration.
Over 750 students, faculty and fans waited between 20 to 25
minutes to get an autograph and meet the former coach.
"I grew up watching basketball with this team and my dad, and
that’s why I ended up going here." said Gayle Rivera, a third-year
psychology student.
Wooden spent 40 seasons as a head coach, leading the Bruins to
10 NCAA championships in his 27 years as the Bruins’ head
coach.
Wooden is the only person to have been inducted into the
basketball hall of fame twice  as a player for Purdue in the
early 1930s and also as a coach.
Since retiring from UCLA after the 1974-75 season, Wooden has
stayed away from his former coaching responsibilities. While still
available for advice and opinions, he doesn’t have anything to do
with the current team.
"I’m working on a couple books, and spending as much time as
possible with my family," Wooden said of his retirement activities.
"I have seven grandchildren and 10 great-grand children. I still do
several motivational speeches."
Coach Wooden agreed to take part in this week’s opening events
by signing autographs of his book "They Call Me Coach," posters of
his "Pyramid of Success" and basketballs, while taking time to chat
with each person.
"John Wooden has been here several times," said Fred Klein,
director of apparel and accessories for the UCLA Store.
"We tried to get him here because he is such an integral part of
the basketball program at UCLA, and we think he really epitomizes
what a coach should do, and is really reflective of what we think
UCLA should stand for," he added.
Wooden had previously attracted long lines to his events, to the
point where Klein was physically harassed at the last signing two
years ago.
To accommodate those who could not get autographs last time,
Klein took down numbers and called them to come to see Wooden.
"Last time he was in the store, he was supposed to be here for
two hours and because the line was so long, he literally stayed for
five hours till the store closed," Klein said.
The wait to meet the coach took longer than most autograph
sessions because Wooden took the time to get to know everyone in
line, and refused to rush anyone.
"He asks them about themselves, he asks them what they want him
to write, and he literally wants to talk to you. There’s not an
ounce of facade about him," Klein said.
"He is just an incredible man to be with. The last time he was
in the store, he was all done  after five hours. He took out
all his pictures of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and
he’s just a personable, nice individual."
JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin
Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden shakes hands and signs
autographs for people in the UCLA Store on Thursday.