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