LOS ANGELES - Matt Painter of Purdue University will receive the John R. Wooden Award “Legends of Coaching Award” presented by Principal in 2026, Coach Wooden’s grandson-in-law Craig Impelman announced today at the Los Angeles Athletic Club’s annual Wooden Award Tip-Off Luncheon. The event featured the head coaches of Division I men’s and women’s basketball programs in Southern California.
The “Legends of Coaching” honor recognizes coaches who exemplify Coach Wooden’s high standard of coaching success and personal integrity. The award, established by the Wooden Award Board in 1999, selects honorees based on character, success on the court, graduation rates of student-athletes in their basketball programs, coaching philosophy, and alignment with the goals of the John R. Wooden Award. Painter will receive the honor alongside the 2026 Wooden Award winners and All-Americans on April 10, 2026, as part of the 50th Anniversary Wooden Award Weekend, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Wooden Award Chairman Sam Lagana said, “The 2026 John R. Wooden Award marks the Golden Anniversary of the nation’s most prestigious college basketball honor. This milestone year is highlighted by the recognition of Matt Painter, Head Coach of Purdue University, as the recipient of the Legends of Coaching Award.”
This honor carries a special resonance in 2026: John Wooden was a proud alumnus of Purdue University, and the Boilermakers have produced two Wooden Award winners who, together, earned three trophies. Coach Painter’s selection for the award’s 50th anniversary brings the story full circle—honoring not only his exemplary leadership, but also the deep and historic bond between Purdue and Coach Wooden’s legacy. Painter attended the Wooden Award ceremony both times that center Zach Edey was honored.
Matt Painter has established himself as one of the premier coaches in college basketball. Since taking over the Purdue program in 2005, he has guided the Boilermakers to consistent national prominence. Under his leadership, Purdue has won five Big Ten Conference regular-season championships and two Big Ten tournament titles, as well as reached the Sweet 16 six times in the last eight seasons. His teams have made many deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, culminating in a Final Four appearance and a National Championship Game berth in 2024. Painter has been recognized as the Big Ten Coach of the Year five times and is the second-most winning coach in Purdue history, behind the 2007 Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient Gene Keady, for whom Painter played at Purdue from 1990–1993.
Painter has also been a developer of elite talent. He has coached numerous Wooden Award All-Americans, Big Ten Players of the Year, and consensus All-Americans, helping his players excel both on and off the court. In 2024, Purdue center Zach Edey became only the second player in history to win back-to-back John R. Wooden Awards, cementing Painter’s program as one of the most impactful in the Wooden Award era. Last year, Braden Smith was named a Wooden Award All-American. Painter has served as a coach representative on the NCAA D1 Basketball Oversight Committee and integrates community service as an integral part of his players’ experience at Purdue, including supporting local schools and the Special Olympics.
Beyond wins and accolades, Painter embodies the principles for which John Wooden stood: character, integrity, care for the student-athlete, and competitive greatness. His contributions to the game, his athletes, and the Purdue community make him a fitting and historic honoree for the 50th anniversary of the Wooden Award.