Jack Kraft

Jack Kraft
Kraft from the 1975 Renaissance Yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1921-02-10)February 10, 1921
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 2014(2014-08-28) (aged 93)
Cape May Court House, New Jersey, U.S.
Playing career
1939–1942Saint Joseph's
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1948–1960Bishop Neumann HS
1960–1961Malvern Prep
1961–1973Villanova
1973–1980Rhode Island

John Jack Kraft (February 10, 1921 – August 28, 2014) was an American basketball coach who coached Villanova for 12 years, from 1961 through 1973.[1] He compiled a 238–95 record (.715). Kraft led Villanova to the NCAA Tournament six times, and five times to the NIT. Only once did Kraft's teams fail to earn a post-season bid, in his final season of 1973. The 1971 team, led by Howard Porter, reached the NCAA Championship game, and lost to UCLA at the height of the UCLA dynasty. However, that appearance was subsequently erased from the books after Porter was retroactively declared ineligible for signing a professional contract midway through his senior year.

Notable players who played for Jack Kraft at Villanova include Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Howard Porter, Hank Simeontkowski, Jim Washington, and Hubie White.

Kraft died on August 28, 2014, at the age of 93 in Cape May County, New Jersey.[2][3] In honor of his memory, the Villanova basketball players wore a JK decal on their uniforms for the 2014–15 season.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Villanova Wildcats (Independent) (1961–1973)
1961–62 Villanova 21–7 NCAA Elite 8
1962–63 Villanova 19–10 NIT Semifinal/NIT 4th Place
1963–64 Villanova 24–4 NCAA Sweet 16
1964–65 Villanova 23–5 NIT Runner Up
1965–66 Villanova 18–11 NIT Semifinal/NIT 3rd Place
1966–67 Villanova 17–9 NIT 1st Round
1967–68 Villanova 19–9 NIT Quarterfinals
1968–69 Villanova 21–5 NCAA 1st Round
1969–70 Villanova 22–7 NCAA Elite 8
1970–71 Villanova 27–7* NCAA Runner Up*
1971–72 Villanova 20–8 NCAA 2nd Round
1972–73 Villanova 11–14
Villanova: 242–96
Rhode Island Rams (Yankee) (1973–1976)
1973–74 Rhode Island 11–14 6–5 4th
1974–75 Rhode Island 5–20 3–7 5th
1975–76 Rhode Island 14–12 7–5 T-2nd
Rhode Island: 30–46 23–37
Rhode Island Rams (independent) (1976–1979)
1976–77 Rhode Island 13–13
1977–78 Rhode Island 24–7 NCAA 1st Round
1978–79 Rhode Island 20–9 NIT 1st Round
Rhode Island: 57–29
Rhode Island Rams (ECAC North) (1979–1980)
1979–80 Rhode Island 15–13 14–12 T-4th
1980–81 Rhode Island 1–0 Retire Due To Ill Health
Rhode Island: 16–13 15–12
Rhode Island: 103–88 38–49
Total: 345–184

      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

* NCAA Tournament appearance and standing as tournament runner-up vacated after Howard Porter was ruled ineligible. Official record for 1970–71 is 23–6. & Record at Villanova is 238–95, and overall record is 341–183, without vacated games.

See also

References

  1. ^ ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia. 277.
  2. ^ Kern, Mike (August 29, 2014). "Jack Kraft, former coach at Villanova, dies at 93". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Goldstein, Richard (30 August 2014). "Jack Kraft, Villanova Basketball Coach, Dies at 93". The New York Times.


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