Matt Painter Claims Prestigious Award Named After Legendary Boiler Alum—What It Means for Purdue Basketball’s Future

When you look back at the roots of Purdue basketball, the name John Wooden immediately jumps out—a player who made his mark on the 1932 squad that later snagged a retroactive national title. Fast forward, and Wooden’s legendary coaching career at UCLA, with 10 national championships under his belt, cemented his legacy so firmly that the prestigious Legends in Coaching Award proudly carries his name. Now, Matt Painter, Purdue’s own former player turned formidable coach, is stepping into those big shoes. With five Big Ten titles and a trip to the Final Four, plus five accolades as Big Ten Coach of the Year, Painter’s journey echoes the greatness of Wooden’s impact. This week, Painter’s recognition reached a new high when he was named the recipient of the 50th Legends of Coaching Award, joining Gene Keady as the only Purdue coaches honored. It’s an accolade that not only celebrates Painter’s achievements but also symbolizes Purdue’s continued influence on college basketball history. And with Purdue ranked preseason No. 1 and Painter’s point guard Braden Smith vying for player honors, the coming season promises electric energy and high stakes. Dive deeper into this unfolding story—LEARN MORE.

John Wooden starred at Purdue and played on the 1932 retroactively awarded a national championship.
Wooden went on to win 10 national championships at UCLA and is the namesake of the Legends in Coaching Award.
Purdue coach Matt Painter has led the Boilermakers to five Big Ten championships and one Final Four appearance and is a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Matt Painter followed John Wooden’s Purdue basketball example as a Boilermaker player turned respected and successful coach.

The 50th Legends of Coaching Award which bears Wooden’s name will go to Painter, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday. He is the second Purdue coach honored, following Gene Keady in 2007. Painter attended the ceremony for both years in which Zach Edey won the award.

Painter will be honored alongside the Wooden Award winners at the 50th Annual Wooden Award Weekend in April. Painter’s point guard, Braden Smith, is a candidate to be there for the award given to the nation’s top players.

Wooden won 10 national championships at UCLA, while Painter seeks his first with preseason No. 1 Purdue. He already is a five-time Big Ten coach of the year and has led the Boilermakers to five Big Ten regular-season championships and two tournament championships.

Other recent winners include Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Kentucky’s John Calipari and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.