SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Morgan Wootten, enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, has passed away at the age of 88.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the exceptional life of Morgan Wootten,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Morgan Wootten was a tremendously successful coach, but more importantly he was invested in the wellbeing of the young men he coached. The ripple effects of his efforts will continue in the basketball community for years to come. The Hall of Fame is proud to annually present an award bearing his name to the top coaches in high school basketball and we will continue to do so to honor his legacy.”
Morgan Wootten, served as the Head Coach of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsvile, Maryland for 46 years and is one of four high school coaches enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Wootten won more than 1,200 games and was the most successful high school coach in basketball history. Wootten led DeMatha to the mythical national championship in 1962, 1965, 1968, 1978, and 1984. The 1965 DeMatha team broke the 71-game winning streak of Lew Alcindor's Power Memorial team. Recording over 40 consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins, his teams won more than 30 conference championships. And to Wootten’s credit, DeMatha finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Washington, D.C. area more than 20 times. A dedicated educator, more than 150 of Wootten's former players went on to play college basketball, while a dozen played in the NBA. More than 20 of his former coaches or players coached at the high school, collegiate, or professional level.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.