Jack Leaman

Jack Leaman
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born Missing required parameter 1=month! , 1932(1932-Missing required parameter 1=month!-00)
Place of birth Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Died March 6, 2004(2004-03-06) (aged 71)
Place of death Washington, D. C., USA
Playing career
1957–1959 Boston University
Position(s) Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)

Men's Basketball
1961-66 (Assistant)
1966-1979
Women's Basketball
1986-87
Massachusetts
Head coaching record
Overall
217–126 (Men's)
14-12 (Women's)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
New England Coach of the Year (2-time)

Jack Leaman was best known as the head coach of the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team from 1966.[1] to 1979 where his teams compiled an overall record of 217-126, the school's all-time winningest coach.[2]. His teams won 8 Yankee Conference titles and earned 6 trips to the National Invitational Tournament. A 2 time New England Coach of the Year, he was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977, the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988, and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Some of the players he coached during his tenure include Julius Erving, Rick Pitino, and Al Skinner. In all, he coached 22 All-Yankee Conference selections during his coaching career..[3] Leaman also served as a radio color commentator for the UMass men's basketball beginning in 1994, and served as head coach for the women's basketball team for the 1986-87 season. The basketball court floor at the Mullins Center is named in his honor.[4]

Born in Boston in 1932, he graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School in 1951. After 2 years in the United States Army, and after receiving an honorable discharge, Leaman earned both a bachelor's and masters degrees from Boston University. He led the basketball team in both scoring and assists during his 3 year playing career. As senior captain in 1959, he led the Terriers to an overall record of 20-7, culminating with a trip to the NCAA East Regional Final..[5]

He was appointed UMass assistant basketball coach in 1961 under head coach Matthew Zunic, and continued under Johnny Orr until he was chosen head coach for the 1966/67 season.

Contents

Head coaching record

Men's Basketball

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Massachusetts (Yankee Conference) (1966–1976)
1966-67 Massachusetts 11–14 7–3 3rd
1967–68 Massachusetts 14–11 8–2 T-1st
1968–69 Massachusetts 17-7 9-1 1st
1969–70 Massachusetts 18-7 8-2 T-1st NIT 1st Round
1970–71 Massachusetts 23-4 10-0 1st NIT 1st Round
1971–72 Massachusetts 14-12 6-4 T-2nd
1972–73 Massachusetts 20-7 10-2 1st NIT 2nd Round
1973–74 Massachusetts 21-5 11-1 1st NIT 1st Round
1974–75 Massachusetts 18-8 10-2 1st NIT 1st Round
1975–76 Massachusetts 21-6 11-1 1st
Massachusetts (Eastern Collegiate Basketball League) (1976–1977)
1976–77 Massachusetts 20-11 3-4 4th (East div.) NIT 2nd Round
Massachusetts (Eastern Athletic Association) (1977–1979)
1977–78 Massachusetts 15-12 5-5 T-3rd (East div.)
1978–79 Massachusetts 5-22 0-10 8th
Massachusetts: 217-126 98-37
Total: 217-126

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season & conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

Women's Basketball

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UMass Minutewomen basketball (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1986–1987)
1986-87 Massachusetts 14–12 9–9 5th
Massachusetts: 14-12 9-9
Total: 14-12

      National champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference tournament champion
      Conference regular season & conference tournament champion       Conference division champion

References