Sport(s) Basketball 1953–1971 Utah 1928-32 USC Name Jack Gardner | 1939–1942 Kansas State Role Basketball Coach 1946–1953 Kansas State | |
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Born March 29, 1910
Texico, New Mexico ( 1910-03-29 ) Position(s) Captain, leading scorer Died April 9, 2000, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Education University of Southern California | ||
James H. "Jack" Gardner (March 29, 1910 – April 9, 2000) was an American college men's basketball coach.
Gardner, born in Texico, New Mexico and a graduate of the University of Southern California, is most well known for coaching Kansas State University from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 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). He had six All-Americans at Kansas State including Ernie Barrett.
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 (1961 & 1966). To date, he remains one of only three coaches to twice lead two different programs to the Final Four, along with Roy Williams and Rick Pitino. He finished his career winning seven conference titles. Between 1959 and 1962, his teams compiled a 72-14 record. He was often referred to as "The Fox" and he had 5 All-Americans Including Billy "The Hill" McGill.
Gardner is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as well as ten 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, the Redlands High School Hall of Fame and the College Basketball 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 1995. He is credited with discovering John Stockton from Gonzaga University while working for the Jazz.
Gardner died on April 9, 2000 in Salt Lake City, Utah.