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The John R. Wooden Award reportedly won't be given out by Wooden anymore.
The Los Angeles Times reported in Saturday's editions that the legendary coach is withdrawing his support for the award.
"I have decided to end my association with the Los Angeles Athletic Club and its presentation of the Wooden Award, which has been given annually since my retirement from coaching to college basketball's player of the year," Wooden said in a statement released to The Times.
"While I have great respect for [award chairman] Duke Llewellyn and am deeply appreciative of all his efforts and those of the club to promote the award over the years, I must withdraw my support for this award and will no longer have any personal involvement with it because of disagreements with the club over the use of my name," the statement said.
Wooden, who won 10 national championships at UCLA, said that he will not contest the LAAC's continuance of the awards. LAAC president Steve Hathaway told The Times that he was "shocked and saddened" by the decision.
"With the entrance of new agents representing the Wooden family, unfortunately, we have not found the same spirit of cooperation and mutual respect," Hathaway said in a statement. "The Club has made every effort to resolve their concerns ... and has suggested using an independent mediator to help resolve these issues."
The Times reported that the disagreement between Wooden and the LAAC stems from Wooden's decision to allow his name to be used for another award, which the LAAC felt diminished their ownership of the Wooden Award.
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