Jack Kraft (1921-2014)
Teams coached: Villanova Wildcats, Rhode Island Rams
Villanova record: 238-95 (.715) **
Rhode Island record: 103-88 (.539)
Overall record: 341-183 (.651) **
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 6 (1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1978) **
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen: 4 (1962, 1964, 1970, 1972) **
- NCAA Tournament Final Four: 0 **
- NIT Championships: 0 (Runner-up in 1965)
- NIT Appearances: 6 (1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1979)
Awards:
- NABC Coach of the Year: 1 (1971)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1973-1981 | Rhode Island |
| 1961-1973 | Villanova |
Jack Kraft Facts
- John Jack Kraft
- Born February 10, 1921
- Died August 28, 2014
- Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Alma Mater: Saint Joseph’s University (BA, 1942)
- Played at St. Joe’s for head coach Bill Ferguson, then embarked on a long high school coaching career
- Moved up to the college ranks in 1961 as the head coach at Villanova, where he would stay for the next fifteen seasons
- Took the Wildcats to six NCAA Tournaments, including a runner-up finish in 1971, as well as five NITs as an independent program (pre-Big East)
- The 1971 Final Four run was later vacated by the NCAA when it was found that All-American Howard Porter had signed a pro contract during the season
- Spent the last seven-plus seasons of his coaching career at Rhode Island, leading the Rams to the NCAA Tournament in 1978 and NIT a year later
- Retired due to health one game into the 1980-81 season
- Passed away in 2014, at age 93; survived by his late wife, Ann, and three daughters
Jack Kraft Coaching Tree
- Claude English (Park MO, Rhode Island)
- Chris Ford (Brandeis, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics)
- Billy Hahn (La Salle, Ohio)
- Fran O’Hanlon (Lafayette)
- George Raveling (USC, Iowa, Washington State)
** Listed records and accomplishments for this coach do not include wins or appearances later vacated by the NCAA
