Coach John Wooden passed away on Friday evening (June 4) and in looking back at his legendary life we remember that once upon a time he coached at nearby Indiana State twice coaching in games against Eastern Illinois in Old Lantz Gym (now McAfee Gym).
Following several years in the military service in World War II, Wooden was hired as the athletic director, basketball coach and baseball coach at Indiana State succeeding his high school coach Glenn Curtis. His first season was 1946-47 when the Sycamores would then play a home-and-home series each season with the Panthers.
That same season Bill Healey began his successful run as head coach at Eastern Illinois. In the first meeting between the two coaches Indiana State won easily in Terre Haute on Dec. 17, 1946 winning by a 68-33 margin. In Wooden's first trip to Charleston, the Panthers were able to pick up one of the few victories over a Wooden squad as they won 51-42 on Jan. 7, 1947 in Lantz Gym.
EIU would go on to finish that season with a 17-8 record and earn a trip to the NAIB Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., where they would lose a first round game to Southeastern Oklahoma. Wooden's squad would also receive an invitation to play in the NAIB Tournament but refused the invitation because of a policy banning African-American players from participating. Wooden's Sycamore team featured Clarence Walker, an African-American athlete from East Chicago, Ind.
Indiana State would have the upper hand in both meetings the following year winning 58-55 on Dec. 18, 1947 in Charleston and 70-62 on Feb. 11, 1948 in Terre Haute, Ind. Following that season Wooden would move on to accept the head coaching position at UCLA where he legend as a coach would continue to grow. Wooden's two year record at Indiana State was 44-15.
Listed below are links to several stories on John Wooden featured by the schools where he played or coached during his extraordinary career.
Story from Purdue Athletics
Story from Indiana State Athletics
Story from UCLA Athletics
Story from ESPN.com
Story from Indianapolis Star
