Jack Gardner (basketball)

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James H. "Jack" Gardner (b. March 29, 1910 in Texico, New Mexico, United States – d. April 9, 2000 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States) was a Hall of Fame college men's basketball coach.

Gardner, a native of New Mexico and a graduate of the University of Southern California, is most well-known for coaching Kansas State University from 1939-1942 and 1946–1953, compiling a 147-81 record with the Wildcats, and thereafter coaching the University of Utah from 1953-1971, compiling a 339-154 record. His complete collegiate record is 486-235.

In his second stint at Kansas State, Gardner's teams won three conference crowns and captured two Big Eight Holiday Tournament championships. His 1950-1951 team finished 25-4 and lost in the finals of the NCAA tournament to the University of Kentucky. That team was arguably the best in K-State history, and one of two that reached the Final Four during his tenure (the other was in 1948).

Gardner left Manhattan, Kansas in 1953 to take over the head coaching reins at the University of Utah, where he remained for 18 years. He led the Utes to six appearances in the NCAA Tournament and two Final Four appearances. He finished his career winning seven conference titles. Between 1959 and 1962, his teams compiled a 72-14 record.

Gardner is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as well as nine other Halls of Fame. He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and is also a member of the Southern Utah Hall of Fame, Utah All-Sports Hall of Fame, State of Utah Basketball Hall of Fame, Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, Kansas State University Hall of Fame, the Crimson Club (University of Utah), the Modesto Junior College Hall of Fame and the Redlands High School Hall of Fame. He was also the recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Golden Anniversary Award.

He worked as a consultant for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association from 1979 (when the team moved from New Orleans) until 1991. He is credited with discovering John Stockton at Gonzaga University while working for the Jazz.

[edit] External links

• Basketball Hall of Fame profile

Preceded by: Vadal Peterson

University of Utah Head Basketball Coaches 1953–1971

Succeeded by: Bill Foster

Kansas State Wildcats Head Basketball Coaches
Melick • Ahearn • Lowman • Merner • Clevenger • Knoth • Curtis • Corsaut • Root • Gardner (pre-war) • Cochrane • Rock • Knorr • Gardner (post-war) • Winter • Fitzsimmons • Hartman • Kruger • Altman • Asbury• Wooldridge • Huggins