Jack Leaman

Jack Leaman
Sport(s) Basketball
Biographical details
Born (1932-12-22)December 22, 1932
Boston, Massachusetts
Died March 6, 2004(2004-03-06) (aged 71)
Washington, D. C.
Playing career
1957–1959 Boston University
Position(s) Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961–1966 UMass (asst,)
1966–1979 UMass
1986–1987 UMass (women's)
Head coaching record
Overall
217–126 (Men's)
14–12 (Women's)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
2× New England Coach of the Year

Jack Leaman (December 22, 1932 – March 6, 2004) was best known as the head coach of the University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 UMass men's basketball for 10 seasons 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 master's degrees from Boston University. He led the BU 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.

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         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament 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         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. "Looking Back Jack Leaman: A Coach's Coach" (PHP). UMass Amherst. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  2. "One of the Great Ones". UMass Magazine Online. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  3. "In Memory: Jack Leaman, 1932-2004". UMass Atlhetics. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  4. "UMass Basketball Court named for Jack Leaman on Feb 25". UMass Atlhetics. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  5. "Hall of Fame: Jack Leaman". Boston University Atlhetics. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
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