Morgan Wootten
Encyclopedia
Morgan Bayard Wootten is an American
former high school basketball coach.
From 1956 to 2002, he coached at DeMatha Catholic High School
in Hyattsville, Maryland
. He has the most wins as a head coach in the history of basketball on any level. A number of his players went on to play in the NBA
, including Adrian Dantley
and Danny Ferry
. Wootten gained legendary status in 1965, when his DeMatha team beat Lew Alcindor
's Power Memorial Academy
and ended their 71-game winning streak. His career coaching record stands at 1,274-192.
Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden
(1910–2010) described his admiration for Wootten when he said, "I know of no finer coach at any level - high school, college or pro. I stand in awe of him." In October 2000, Coach Wootten was elected and inducted into the Hall of Fame
, one of three high school
basketball coaches ever so honored.
Wootten attended the University of Maryland
. During his coaching career at DeMatha, located just two miles away from his alma mater, he received job offers from Georgetown and American
and interest from Duke
, Wake Forest
, and Virginia
. Wootten turned down the offers, according to Sports Illustrated
, because the Maryland job, which was not forthcoming, was the only college job he wanted.
Wootten authored five books (including A Coach for All Seasons, Coaching Basketball Successfully, and From Orphans to Champions). His youngest son, Joe Wootten, follows his lead and is a successful basketball coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. Both of them lead one of the largest camps in the US, Coach Wootten's Basketball Camp, held in Frostburg, Maryland
at Frostburg State University
and at Bishop O'Connell High School.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former high school basketball coach.
From 1956 to 2002, he coached at DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School
DeMatha Catholic High School, named after Saint John of Matha, is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. DeMatha is known for academic achievement, music, arts, service and athletics...
in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
. He has the most wins as a head coach in the history of basketball on any level. A number of his players went on to play in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, including Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
and Danny Ferry
Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
. Wootten gained legendary status in 1965, when his DeMatha team beat Lew Alcindor
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
's Power Memorial Academy
Power Memorial Academy
Power Memorial Academy was an all-boys Catholic high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1931 through 1984. It was a basketball powerhouse, producing several NBA players including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Len Elmore, Mario Elie, Chris Mullin, NBA referee Dick Bavetta and a record...
and ended their 71-game winning streak. His career coaching record stands at 1,274-192.
Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
(1910–2010) described his admiration for Wootten when he said, "I know of no finer coach at any level - high school, college or pro. I stand in awe of him." In October 2000, Coach Wootten was elected and inducted into the Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
, one of three high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
basketball coaches ever so honored.
Wootten attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. During his coaching career at DeMatha, located just two miles away from his alma mater, he received job offers from Georgetown and American
American Eagles men's basketball
The American Eagles men's basketball team represents American University in Washington, D.C. in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Patriot League and play their home games in Bender Arena.-2008 season:...
and interest from Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
, Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and their homecourt is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Their only Final Four appearance was in 1962 and through the years they have produced several NBA players. The Demon Deacons have...
, and Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
. Wootten turned down the offers, according to Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, because the Maryland job, which was not forthcoming, was the only college job he wanted.
Season-By-Season Records Under Wootten
Later life
In 1996, Wootten nearly died because of a malfunctioning liver and was quickly rushed to the hospital for a liver transplant. Several years later, aged 75, one of his kidneys failed, and he received a transplant; the donor was his son, Joe Wootten.Wootten authored five books (including A Coach for All Seasons, Coaching Basketball Successfully, and From Orphans to Champions). His youngest son, Joe Wootten, follows his lead and is a successful basketball coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. Both of them lead one of the largest camps in the US, Coach Wootten's Basketball Camp, held in Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
at Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
and at Bishop O'Connell High School.
Notable Players Coached by Wootten
- John AustinJohn Austin (basketball)John W. "Johnny" Austin is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the Boston College.He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 4th round of the 1966 NBA Draft....
- Keith BogansKeith BogansKeith Ramon Bogans is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls.-High school and college:...
- Adrian BranchAdrian BranchAdrian Francis Branch is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" guard/forward out of DeMatha high school, Branch starred at the University of Maryland from 1981 to 1985. He was an All-ACC second team selection twice. In 1984 Branch led the Terrapins to the ACC Championship...
- Mike BreyMike BreyMike Brey is an American college basketball coach. He has been the men's head coach at the University of Notre Dame since July 14, 2000.-Early life and education:...
- James Brown
- Kenny CarrKenny CarrKenneth Alan Carr is a retired American basketball player.A 6'7" forward from North Carolina State University, Carr won a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics...
- Sid CatlettSid Catlett (basketball)Sydny Leon "Sid" Catlett is a retired American basketball player.He played collegiately for the University of Notre Dame.He was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the 4th round of the 1971 NBA Draft....
- Perry Clark
- Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
- Ron EverhartRon EverhartRon Everhart is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Duquesne University. Previously, he held the same position at Northeastern University and McNeese State University....
- Danny FerryDanny FerryDaniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
- Joseph ForteJoseph ForteJoseph Xavier "Joe" Forte is an American professional basketball player.-Beginnings:Forte got his start at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. There, Forte played under the instruction of legendary high school prep coach Morgan Wootten. Forte's teammate at DeMatha, Keith Bogans,...
- John JonesJohnny Jones (basketball)John Jones is a retired American basketball player.A 6'7" forward from California State University, Los Angeles, Jones played one season in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Boston Celtics...
- Sidney LoweSidney LoweSidney Rochell Lowe is an American basketball coach and is currently an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz. He is a former NBA player and head coach, and has served as the head coach at North Carolina State University,.-Biography:Lowe began his career at DeMatha Catholic High School in...
- Brendan McCarthyBrendan McCarthy (American football)Brendan B. McCarthy was an American football running back in the National Football League and American Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 1968 Common Draft. In August of that year he was traded to the Detroit Lions for undisclosed future draft pick...
- Jerrod MustafJerrod MustafTerrah Jerrod Mustaf is a retired American professional basketball player.Mustaf played at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland...
- Heath SchroyerHeath SchroyerHeath Schroyer is an American college basketball coach, currently an assistant under Dave Rice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas...
- Pete StricklandPete StricklandPete Strickland is currently an assistant coach at George Washington University. He was formerly an assistant men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. He was not retained on the staff by Mark Gottfried when Sidney Lowe resigned at the end of the 2010-2011 season. He was...
- Brian WestbrookBrian WestbrookBrian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
- Charles "Hawkeye" WhitneyCharles WhitneyCharles "Hawkeye" Whitney is an American former professional basketball player and convicted criminal. After playing college basketball at North Carolina State, he was drafted by the Kansas City Kings in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft...
- Dereck WhittenburgDereck Whittenburg-Notes:...
- Bernie WilliamsBernie Williams (basketball)Bernie Williams is a retired American basketball player who played at LaSalle University for four years. In the 1969 NBA Draft, Williams was selected by the San Diego Rockets. He played with the Rockets until 1971; he then played three seasons with the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball...
Notable Assistant Coaches to Wootten
- Mike BreyMike BreyMike Brey is an American college basketball coach. He has been the men's head coach at the University of Notre Dame since July 14, 2000.-Early life and education:...
- Perry Clark
- Eddie FoglerEddie FoglerEddie Fogler was a college basketball player from the University of North Carolina from 1967-1970 where he played as a point guard on two NCAA Final Four teams. Fogler was an All-City guard from Flushing High School in Flushing, New York....
- Joe MihalichJoe MihalichJoe Mihalich is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Niagara University.Mihalich was named head coach in 1998. Niagara went to two NCAA tournaments in 2005 and 2007 and two National Invitational Tournaments in 2004 and 2009.-References:...
- Pete StricklandPete StricklandPete Strickland is currently an assistant coach at George Washington University. He was formerly an assistant men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. He was not retained on the staff by Mark Gottfried when Sidney Lowe resigned at the end of the 2010-2011 season. He was...