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Oklahoma softball: Where does Patty Gasso rank on the all-time college sports coaching debate?

By Brandon Self

OU head coach Patty Gasso stands on the field during the second game of the Women's College World Series finals between Oklahoma (OU) and Florida State at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
OU head coach Patty Gasso stands on the field during the second game of the Women's College World Series finals between Oklahoma (OU) and Florida State at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 8, 2023. /
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John Wooden – UCLA Men’s Basketball

Unknown date & location, USA: FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins center Lew Alcindor (33) later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shakes head coach John Wooden hand as he comes off the court. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports
Unknown date & location, USA: FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins center Lew Alcindor (33) later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shakes head coach John Wooden hand as he comes off the court. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports /

“The GOAT” gets tossed around a bunch these days. That term was invented for Coach Wooden.

No sport has seen the level of success that Coach Wooden and his UCLA Bruins saw in the 60s and 70s. Coach Wooden built a program from the simplest of ideals. His brand has lasted in the college basketball world to this day. He is the equivalent of the Heisman in the college basketball world. The annual best player in men’s and women’s basketball is given the John R. Wooden Award.

Wooden’s overall record was 664-162. He went to 12 Final Fours. He won 10 National Titles. However, his most amazing feat was the fact that his UCLA Bruins won 88 consecutive games and 7 National titles in a row!

Individually, Wooden was presented with 5 AP Coach of the Year Awards, 7 Henry Iba Awards, 5 NABC Coach of the Year Awards, and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
I’ll hear a debate for other college coaches to be on this list, no doubt; however, nobody is close to touching John Wooden.

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