Ed Jucker
Encyclopedia
Edwin Louis "Ed" Jucker was an American college basketball
player and coach. He was the former head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati
in the 1960s. Jucker also attended Cincinnati as an undergraduate student and played on the school's basketball teams during the 1938, 1939, and 1940 seasons. He was the captain of the 1940 team. Also, while an undergraduate Ed Jucker became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha
fraternity. He was born in Norwood, Ohio
.
Under Jucker's coaching direction in the early '60s, Cincinnati won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships
in 1961
and 1962
and almost won a then-unprecedented third consecutive title in 1963
until the Bearcats were upended 70-68 in overtime by Loyola
of Chicago
and All-American Jerry Harkness
. Jucker holds the record for the highest winning percentage (.917) in NCAA tournament play.
Ed Jucker was a professional baseball
prospect until he decided to start coaching instead of trying to make it into Major League Baseball
. His coaching career began at Batavia High
in Clermont County, Ohio
, east of Cincinnati. Following service in the Navy
during World War II
, he joined the college coaching ranks as assistant basketball coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy
in 1946. Two years later, he became head basketball coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
.
Jucker returned to Cincinnati in 1953 as assistant basketball coach and baseball mentor. He directed the UC freshman to a 67-21 record in six years as the freshmen team coach while his baseball teams were 87-39 over seven years.
In 1954, Jucker recruited and coached Sandy Koufax
at UC. After watching Koufax in his first practice, Jucker got him a work-study scholarship.
Jucker left UC after the 1965 season. In 1967, he became the head coach of the Cincinnati Royals
, a position he held for two seasons. Jucker then went to Rollins College
in Winter Park
, Florida
where he built the school's basketball program into a national contender in NCAA Division II.
Ed Jucker died on Callawassie Island, South Carolina
in 2002 at age 85.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player and coach. He was the former head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in the 1960s. Jucker also attended Cincinnati as an undergraduate student and played on the school's basketball teams during the 1938, 1939, and 1940 seasons. He was the captain of the 1940 team. Also, while an undergraduate Ed Jucker became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
fraternity. He was born in Norwood, Ohio
Norwood, Ohio
Norwood is the second most populous city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The city is an enclave of the larger city of Cincinnati. The population was 21,675 at the 2000 census. Originally settled as an early suburb of Cincinnati in the wooded countryside north of the city, the area is...
.
Under Jucker's coaching direction in the early '60s, Cincinnati won back-to-back NCAA basketball championships
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in 1961
1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1961 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 14, 1961, and ended with the championship game on March 25 in Kansas...
and 1962
1962 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Mideast region:-Midwest region:-West region:-Final Four:-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
and almost won a then-unprecedented third consecutive title in 1963
1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 9, 1963, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Louisville,...
until the Bearcats were upended 70-68 in overtime by Loyola
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and All-American Jerry Harkness
Jerry Harkness
Jerald B. "Jerry" Harkness is an American former basketball player.Before playing in the professional leagues, the 6'3" Harkness was a star at DeWitt Clinton High School and Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola, he served as captain on the team that upset the University of Cincinnati to win the...
. Jucker holds the record for the highest winning percentage (.917) in NCAA tournament play.
Ed Jucker was a professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
prospect until he decided to start coaching instead of trying to make it into Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. His coaching career began at Batavia High
Batavia High School (Batavia, Ohio)
Batavia High School is a public high school located in Batavia, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Batavia Local School District. It has recently started open enrollment....
in Clermont County, Ohio
Clermont County, Ohio
Clermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. As of 2010, the population was 197,363. Its county seat is Batavia...
, east of Cincinnati. Following service in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the college coaching ranks as assistant basketball coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
in 1946. Two years later, he became head basketball coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
.
Jucker returned to Cincinnati in 1953 as assistant basketball coach and baseball mentor. He directed the UC freshman to a 67-21 record in six years as the freshmen team coach while his baseball teams were 87-39 over seven years.
In 1954, Jucker recruited and coached Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
at UC. After watching Koufax in his first practice, Jucker got him a work-study scholarship.
Jucker left UC after the 1965 season. In 1967, he became the head coach of the Cincinnati Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, a position he held for two seasons. Jucker then went to Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
in Winter Park
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where he built the school's basketball program into a national contender in NCAA Division II.
Ed Jucker died on Callawassie Island, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in 2002 at age 85.