Central High School

Central High School served as a high school until 1970 and a junior high school until 1976. It was an athletic powerhouse and the city's most racially integrated high school.

Many of South Bend’s African American leaders graduated from this school. In addition to being one of the best academically, it was also known for its basketball team led by John Wooden. After guiding Central from 1934 to 1943, he became famous as a coach for UCLA.

Central is also famous for being in the movie “Hoosiers.” If you have watched the movie, you know that they play a game against a team that—spoiler alert—ends up winning.

In the evenings, Central welcomed students as the first home for Indiana University South Bend.

Civil Rights Heritage Center. African American Landmark Tour. 2013. . https://www.iusb.edu/civil-rights/african-american-landmark-tour/Central%20High%20School.php.