Walt Hazzard Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Former UCLA basketball standout Walt Hazzard has been chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The Hall of Fame will also induct national championship coaches Jay Wright and Tubby Smith, longtime Kansas coach Ted Owens, former BYU standout Danny Ainge, and former Michigan scoring ace Glen Rice. The induction celebration will be held on October 22 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Hazzard, a national champion and Olympic gold medalist, played for UCLA as a point guard and later served as the head coach. He was a key player in UCLA's first-ever NCAA men's basketball title and undefeated season in 1963-64. Hazzard earned All-America honors twice and was named the Most Valuable Player at the NCAA Final Four. He passed away in November 2011 but left a lasting legacy at UCLA.
The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame will formally enshrine this year's class during the Induction Celebration on October 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City. Hazzard's induction follows that of Dave Meyers, another former UCLA standout, who was posthumously inducted in 2024. The Hall of Fame began in 2006 and has honored legendary figures in college basketball history.
Hazzard's contributions to UCLA basketball extended beyond his playing days. As head coach from 1984-85 to 1987-88, he led the team to success, including winning the program's first NIT championship in 1985. He was also instrumental in UCLA's Pac-10 regular-season and tournament titles in 1987. Hazzard's coaching achievements earned him a place in the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and the Pac-12 Hall of Honor.
In addition to his coaching career, Hazzard had a successful professional basketball career, playing in the NBA for ten years. He was part of the U.S. Olympic Team that won the gold medal in 1964 and was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Hazzard's impact on UCLA basketball is evident in the retirement of his jersey number at Pauley Pavilion.
Hazzard joins a prestigious group of former UCLA basketball players and coaches who have been inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. His legacy as a player, coach, and ambassador for the sport continues to be celebrated by the basketball community.