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 19461953, 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] Head Coaching Record at Utah

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Tournament Finish Rank#
Utah Utes (Skyline Conference) (1954-1962)
1953-54 Utah 12-14 7-7 4-T
1954-55 Utah 24-4 13-1 1 NCAA Second Round #7
1955-56 Utah 22-6 12-2 1 NCAA Elite Eight #11
1956-57 Utah 19-8 10-4 2 NIT First Round
1957-58 Utah 20-7 9-5 2-T NIT First Round
1958-59 Utah 21-7 13-1 1 NCAA Second Round #18
1959-60 Utah 26-3 13-1 1 NCAA Second Round #6
1960-61 Utah 23-8 12-2 1-T NCAA Final Four #11
1961-62 Utah 23-3 13-1 1
Utah Utes (Western Athletic Conference) (1962-1971)
1962-63 Utah 12-14 5-5 3
1963-64 Utah 19-9 4-6 4
1964-65 Utah 17-9 3-7 6
1965-66 Utah 23-8 7-3 1 NCAA Final Four
1966-67 Utah 15-11 5-5 3-T
1967-68 Utah 17-9 5-5 2-T
1968-69 Utah 13-13 5-5 2-T
1969-70 Utah 18-10 9-5 2 NIT Second Round
1970-71 Utah 15-11 9-5 2
At Utah 339-154
Career 486-235
     National Championship          Conference Regular Season Champions

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Vadal Peterson
University of Utah Head Basketball Coaches
1953–1971
Succeeded by
Bill Foster