Jack Leaman

Jack Leaman (December 22, 1932 – March 6, 2004) was an American college basketball coach, best known as the head coach of the UMass Minutemen basketball team from 1966 to 1979. He would become the school's all-time winningest coach, compiling an overall record of 217–126.[1][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 UMass Minutewomen basketball team for the 1986–87 season. The basketball court at the Mullins Center is named in his honor.[4]

Jack Leaman
Jack Leaman (center) with Al Skinner (left) and Julius Erving (right) at the retirement ceremony for Skinner's UMass jersey number 30 on Feb 18, 2004.
Biographical details
Born(1932-12-22)December 22, 1932
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedMarch 6, 2004(2004-03-06) (aged 71)
Washington, D. C.
Playing career
1957–1959Boston University
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961–1966UMass (assistant)
1966–1979UMass
1986–1987UMass (women's)
Head coaching record
Overall217–126 (men's)
14–12 (women's)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
8x Yankee Conference (1968–1971, 1973–1976)
Awards
2× New England Coach of the Year

Born in Boston in 1932, Leaman graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin 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 degree 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] His number 10 was retired by Boston University in 2008.[6]

Leaman was appointed UMass assistant basketball coach in 1961 under head coach Matthew Zunic, who had coached him as a player at BU. Leaman continued as an assistant under Johnny Orr until he was promoted to head coach for the 1966-67 season.

Head coaching record

Men's basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UMass Minutemen (Yankee Conference) (1966–1976)
1966–67 UMass 11–147–33rd
1967–68 UMass 14–118–2T–1st
1968–69 UMass 17–79–11st
1969–70 UMass 18–78–2T–1stNIT 1st Round
1970–71 UMass 23–410–01stNIT 1st Round
1971–72 UMass 14–126–4T–2nd
1972–73 UMass 20–710–21stNIT 2nd Round
1973–74 UMass 21–511–11stNIT 1st Round
1974–75 UMass 18–810–21stNIT 1st Round
1975–76 UMass 21–611–11st
UMass Minutemen (Eastern Collegiate Basketball League / Eastern Athletic Association) (1976–1979)
1976–77 UMass 20–113–44th (East)NIT 2nd Round
1977–78 UMass 15–125–5T–3rd (East)
1978–79 UMass 5–220–108th
UMass: 217–12698–37
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
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UMass Minutewomen (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1986–1987)
1986–87 UMass 14–129–95th
UMass: 14–129–9
Total:14–12

References
  1. "One of the Great Ones". UMass Magazine Online. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  2. "Looking Back Jack Leaman: A Coach's Coach". UMass Amherst. Archived from the original (PHP) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  3. "In Memory: Jack Leaman, 1932-2004". UMass Atlhetics. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  4. "UMass Basketball Court named for Jack Leaman on Feb 25". UMass Atlhetics. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  5. "Hall of Fame: Jack Leaman". Boston University Atlhetics. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  6. https://goterriers.com/news/2008/10/27/Men_s_Basketball_to_Retire_No_10_Jersey_of_Jack_Leaman_59_.aspx
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