Jack Bruen
Jack Bruen (1949-1997)
Teams coached: Catholic University Cardinals, Colgate Raiders
Catholic U record^: 110-72 (.604)
Colgate record: 109-127 (.462)
Overall record^: 219-199 (.524)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2 (1995, 1996)
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
- Patriot League Regular Season Champion: 3 (1994, 1995, 1996)
- Patriot League Tournament Champion: 2 (1995, 1996)
- ECAC Southern (Div III) Tournament Champion: 1 (1986)
Awards:
- Patriot League Coach of the Year: 2 (1992, 1996)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1989-1997 | Colgate |
| 1982-1989 | Catholic University |
Jack Bruen Facts
- John Francis Bruen
- Born March 25, 1949
- Died December 19, 1999
- Hometown: New York City, New York
- Alma Mater: The Catholic University of America (BA, 1972)
- The NYC-native played alongside Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) at Power Memorial Academy (NY)
- Spent four years at Catholic U in DC, playing for head coaches Bill Gardiner, Bob Reese and Dick Myer
- Became an assistant coach at DeMatha Catholic HS (MD) under legendary head coach Morgan Wootten
- Future NBA players from his tenure include Adrian Dantley, Sidney Lowe, Dereck Whittenburg & Adrian Branch
- After seven years there, Bruen became the head coach at Archbishop Carroll HS (DC)
- Went 62-28 over three seasons at the private school
- Hired to be the head coach at alma mater Catholic University in 1982, leading the Cardinals for seven years
- Compiled a 110-72 overall record during his tenure at CUA
- Left for Colgate in 1989 – his first Division I coaching role of any kind
- Was 109-127 in 8+ seasons with the Raiders and is best remembered for his 1993-96 teams
- Led by AP All-American Adonal Foyle, Bruen’s teams won three Patriot League titles in a row
- Foyle left in 1997 and went on to play for 13 seasons in the NBA
- Led by AP All-American Adonal Foyle, Bruen’s teams won three Patriot League titles in a row
- Was 109-127 in 8+ seasons with the Raiders and is best remembered for his 1993-96 teams
- Bruen was diagnosed with cancer prior to the start of the 1997-98 season and began chemotherapy treatment, but tragically passed away in December 1997 at just 48 years of age
- Survived by his wife, Joan, and their two children, Joan and Danny
Jack Bruen Coaching Tree
- Paul Aiello (Catholic U)
- John Becker (Vermont, Gallaudet)
- Mike Lonergan (George Washington, Vermont, Catholic U)
- Jimmy Patsos (Siena, Loyola MD)
^ overall record includes head coaching positions at both the NCAA Division I and Division III levels