Walt hazzard biography
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Hazzard was a charter member of the UCLA
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Born Walter Raphael "Walt" Hazzard Jr., on April 15, , Walt Hazzard was an American college, Olympic and professional basketball player and college basketball coach, best known for his association with the men's basketball team at the University of California in Los Angeles. He attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he played basketball and became the city's player of the year in his senior year. He also attended UCLA, helping the UCLA Bruins make their first appearance in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
During Hazzard's time in the Bruins, the team won the NCAA Championship with Hazzard getting selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Sports Illustrated featured him in their cover photograph dribbling the basketball up court and the headline. Hazzard was also chosen as an All-American and as College Player of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). His number 42 jersey was retired by UCLA in
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Walt Hazzard dies at 69; former Bruins basketball star and coach
Walt Hazzard, a stellar point guard who helped John Wooden win his first national championship at UCLA and became the fifth coach to follow the college basketball legend, died Friday. He was
Hazzard, who suffered a stroke in , died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center following a long illness, the university announced. Hazzard had endured complications following heart surgery, his family said.
The backbone of UCLA’s undefeated championship team, Hazzard directed the Bruins’ offense to a victory over Duke in the NCAA final. But he was unable to bring another NCAA title banner to Pauley Pavilion as the Bruins’ coach from to He was a special consultant with the Lakers at the time of his death.
PHOTOS: Walt Hazzard |
“Walt was the catalyst for Coach John Wooden’s first championship team and played the game with a style that excited Bruin basketball fans everywhere,” Dan Guerrero, UCLA’s athletic director, said in