UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball History Update

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In this series of updates on the history of each Pac-12 men’s hops program, we provide a brief coaching summary, list the current coaches, along with postseason results, conference titles, award winners, and all-time coaching records.

Established in 1919, the UCLA men’s basketball is widely regarded as one of the most celebrated and successful programs in NCAA history.

UCLA’s greatness began in 1948 with the hiring of John Wooden, who won 16 conference titles and made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Known as the “Wizard of Westwood,” he led the Bruins to 10 national titles in 12 seasons, from 1964 to 1975, including seven straight from 1967 to 1973.

UCLA’s John Wooden on the eve of his 1,000th game | Getty Images

Wooden was a five-time winner of the AP Coach of the Year Award, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.

He finished with a career record 620-147—a remarkable winning percentage of .808—going undefeated a record four times, in 1964, 1967, 1972, and 1973.

Jim Harrick, who was hired in 1988, won three conference titles, making eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, and directing UCLA to another NCAA title in 1995.

The Bruins handed the reins to Steve Lavin in 1996. Lavin guided UCLA to six straight seasons of 20+ wins and six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Lavin’s winning percentage in the first two rounds of the Big Dance (.909) ranks second only to Dean Smith in Tournament history.

Former UCLA coach Ben Howland | Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Ben Howland, hired in 2003, led the Bruins to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006 to 2008.

Howland compiled a career record 233-107, ranking him second behind only Wooden on the all-time wins list. He also won four conference titles, making seven trips to the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA’s latest revival has been spearheaded by Mick Cronin, who recently signed a six-year extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in the Pac-12 at $4M per year.

Hired in 2019, Cronin has directed the Bruins to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Final Four in 2021 and the Sweet 16 in 2022.

Cronin currently has the most career wins of any Division I coach 50 years old or younger, at 432.

University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion

Current Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Mick Cronin (2019-present)
Associate Head Coach: Darren Savino (2019-present)
Assistant: Rod Palmer (2019-present)
Assistant: vacant
Director Basketball Administration: Doug Erickson (1995-present)
Director of Player Personnel: T.J. Wolf (2019-present)
Director of Player Development: Nate Georgeton (2019-present)

Postseason Results

National Championships: 11 (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995)
Final Four Appearances: 18 (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2021) **
Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 34 (1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022) **
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 50 (1950, 1952, 1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) **
NCAA Tournament Overall Record: 107-42 **
NIT Championships: 1 (1985)
NIT Appearances: 2 (1985, 1986)
NIT Overall Record: 5-1
Helms Foundation National Championships: 10 (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)

Conference Titles (PCC / Pac-12)

Pac-12 Regular Season Championships: 31 (1945, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013)
Pac-12 Tournament Championships: 4 (1987, 2006, 2008, 2014)

Annual Award Winners

Naismith Player of the Year: 5 (Lew Alcindor, 1969; Bill Walton, 1972, 1973 & 1974; Marques Johnson, 1977)
John R. Wooden Award: 2 (Marques Johnson, 1977; Ed O’Bannon, 1995)
Oscar Robertson Trophy: 9 (Walt Hazzard, 1964; Lew Alcindor, 1967 & 1968; Sidney Wicks, 1971; Bill Walton, 1972, 1973 & 1974; Marques Johnson, 1977; Ed O’Bannon, 1995)
AP Player of the Year: 5 (Lew Alcindor, 1967 & 1969; Bill Walton, 1972 & 1973; Marques Johnson, 1977)
NABC Player of the Year: 1 (Marques Johnson, 1977)
Sporting News Player of the Year: 7 (Lew Alcindor, 1967 & 1969; Sidney Wicks, 1971; Bill Walton, 1972, 1973 & 1974; Marques Johnson, 1977)
AP All-Americans: 35 (Lonzo Ball, 2017; Kyle Anderson, 2013; Kevin Love, 2008; Darren Collison, 2008; Arron Afflalo, 2006; Baron Davis, 1999; Ed O’Bannon, 1995; Don MacLean, 1992; Kenny Fields, 1983; Dave Greenwood, 1979; Roy Hamilton, 1979; Dave Greenwood, 1978; Marques Johnson, 1977; Dave Meyers, 1975; Bill Walton, 1974, 1973 & 1972; Jamaal Wilkes, 1974 & 1973; Henry Bibby, 1971; Sidney Wicks, 1971 & 1970; Curtis Rowe, 1971; John Vallely, 1970; Lew Alcindor, 1969, 1968 & 1967; Mike Warren, 1968; Lucius Allen, 1978; Gail Goodrich, 1965; Keith Erickson, 1965; Walt Hazzard, 1964 & 1963; Willie Naulls, 1956)
Pac-12 Player of the Year: 7 (Kevin Love, 2008; Arron Afflalo, 2007; Ed O’Bannon, 1995; Kenny Fields, 1983; David Greenwood, 1979 & 1978; Marques Johnson, 1977)

UCLA Head Coach Records

Coach	Tenure	Record	Conf Titles	NCAA Trips	NCAA Titles
Mick Cronin	2019-Pres	68-30	0	2	0
Murry Bartow (int)	2018-2019	10-10	0	0	0
Steve Alford	2013-2018	124-63	0	4	0
Ben Howland	2003-2013	233-107	4	7	0
Steve Lavin	1996-2003	145-78	1	6	0
Jim Harrick	1988-1996	192-62	3	8	1
Walt Hazzard	1984-1988	77-47	1	1	0
Larry Farmer	1981-1984	61-23	1	1	0
Larry Brown**	1979-1981	37-16	0	1	0
Gary Cunningham	1977-1979	50-8	2	2	0
Gene Bartow	1975-1977	52-9	2	2	0
John Wooden	1948-1975	620-147	16	16	10
Wilbur Jones	1939-1948	93-120	1	0	0
Caddy Works	1921-1939	174-159	—	—	—
Fred Cozens	1919-1921	20-4	—	—	—