Wooden to make Newport appearance

Former UCLA coach will hold a talk on leadership and to raise funds for sports museum.The Wizard of Westwood is expected to make an appearance in Newport Beach on Wednesday.

John Wooden, who coached the UCLA men’s basketball team to 10 national championships -- seven of which were consecutive -- is scheduled to visit the memorabilia-filled Newport Sports Museum on Wednesday.

Doug Stuckey, a member of the museum’s board of directors and a former kicker for Newport Harbor High School’s football team, said he expected Wooden to deliver an address on subjects related to leadership. Wooden is widely respected as both a coach and a proponent of ethical principles.

Wooden’s visit to Newport Beach means a Bruin icon will be making a trip to a bastion of USC alumni and fans. With both schools boasting undefeated football teams as of Friday, Stuckey said he would not be surprised if the retired basketball coach finds a way to mention the schools’ upcoming pigskin matchup into his remarks.

“I’m sure Coach Wooden will have a few words about the game,” Stuckey said.

Wooden’s visit is set to be a fundraiser for the museum, which recently was expanded to 9,000 square feet. The new area at the museum is filled with game-worn athletic jerseys and space for museum visitors to get their games on.

Thursday, the interactive space was set up with a basketball half court with a hoop. Museum program director Kellie Newcombe said the space can be set up for other sports as well.

“We can do hockey. We can do golf. We can do baseball,” she said.

Wooden is scheduled to appear at the museum at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Event tickets cost $300 and include an autographed copy of the book “Wooden on Leadership” and a ticket voucher to the John R. Wooden Classic on Dec. 10.

UCLA plays Nevada at the Arrowhead Pond.

For information: (949) 721-9333.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards@latimes.com.