Name Jack Wilson Role Basketball Player | Died June 6, 1986 | |
Jack Lawrence Wilson (August 27, 1936 – June 6, 1986), was an American college basketball player and two time state (Florida) championship high school basketball coach.
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College years
Jack played for the Anderson University (Indiana) "Ravens" from 1955-1958 where he set six school records that still stand today - more than any other Raven basketball player. During his college career Jack scored a total of 1992 points. He earned All-Conference three times (1956–1958) and was MPV in 1956 and again in 1957. He was only the third AU athlete to be inducted posthumously into its "Athletic Hall of Fame" in 2001.
Coaching career
Jack began his 27 year high school basketball coaching career in Florida at Zephyrhills High School (1958) where he won his first state title. He then moved on in 1962 to Madison Heights High School located in Anderson Indiana. In the fall of 1967 he returned to Florida to coach at Titusville High School. Two years later he accepted the head coaching position at Clearwater High School where he remained until his coaching retirement in 1985. Jack stayed on at Clearwater High School after his coaching retirement as a teacher until his death.
Jack amassed an incredible record over those 27 years of 585-179. That included two state championships - the first at Zephyrhills High School in 1962 and the second at Clearwater High School in 1981,. one runner up finish, six regional titles, 13 district titles and 17 conference titles. Jack was named Florida Coach of the Year twice and was inducted into the FHSAA Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jack received national attention when he was awarded the Southeastern District Coach of the Year and was one of eight finalists for national coach of the year honors on June 25, 1982 in Indianapolis.
The Jack L. Wilson Gymnasium was named in his honor at Clearwater High School. It is well known as the "House that Jack Built".
Death
Wilson suffered heart failure in the early morning hours of June 6, 1986 at his home in Clearwater. He was rushed to Clearwater Mease Hospital - Countryside where emergency resuscitation efforts failed and Jack was pronounced dead at 5:00 AM EST.