SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 02: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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While everyone was watching Michigan State get beat by Texas Tech, Michigan Basketball head coach John Beilein received the Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award

Coach John Robert Wooden might be known to many as a head coach at UCLA, but he was also a legendary player. As a guard for the Boiler Makers, Wooden was the first three-time all-American and he received many other awards during his playing tenure.

As a coach, Wooden led the Bruins to ten national championships including seven in a row from 1967-1973, and he took the team to twelve final four appearances.

Needless to say, the guy was a basketball great and the award that honors him only goes to the great coaches or players of today’s basketball.

According to thewoodeneffect.com, the Coach Wooden Keys to Life award “was created in 1998 by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action, and is given to a former player or coach with exceptional character and who has strong faith and leadership skills. The award is given out at the Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, hosted by Athletes in Action at the NCAA college basketball tournament each year.”

Coach Beilein Received the Keys to Life Award

Yesterday, Michigan Basketball head coach Beilein was honored with the Keys to Life award and was given a touching tribute by assistant coach DeAndre Haynes.

It was truly an honor watching @JohnBeilein receive the Coach Wooden Keys To Life Award at the #AIAlegendsbreakfast today pic.twitter.com/WLo6K9lNX0 — DeAndre Haynes (@CoachDreHaynes) April 7, 2019

Coach Beilein responded exactly how you thought he would.

Thanks guys for being there today. We do not win any games without you all as my assistants ! Appreciate everything you all have done for me and Michigan basketball #goblue https://t.co/SiWUzVdUE6 — John Beilein (@JohnBeilein) April 7, 2019

What made the award that much more memorable was the presenter.

Austin Hatch was the Michigan guard who survived two plane crashes – the same crashes which took the lives of five loved ones. Against all odds, Austin played for the team and graduated from Michigan last year with a degree in organizational studies.

No One More Deserving

Anyone who follows John Beilein knows he is very deserving of the award which list’s “exceptional character and who has strong faith and leadership skills” as requirements.

The Coach Wooden award is one of the many coach Beilein has acquired in his long career. In 2004 he was honored as the MAAC Coach of the Year and four years later he won the CAA Coach of the Year.

In 2014, John was given the Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award and the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Last year, after making it all the way to the championship, coach Beilein was honored as the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year.

John also holds the record for the winningest coach in UM schools history and has an 829-468 all-time record over his 41 years of coaching.

The past two seasons have been especially successful for Michigan Basketball and John as the team had back to back 30 win seasons and deep runs during March Madness.

Next years team could be equally as successful and lead to more awards for the future Hall of Fame coach.