Jack L. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Jack Lawrence Wilson was an American college basketball player and two time state (Florida
) championship high school basketball coach.
"Ravens" from 1955-1958 where he set six school records that still stand today - more than any other Raven basketball player. During his college career Jack scored a total of 1992 points. He earned All-Conference three times (1956–1958) and was MPV in 1956 and again in 1957. He was only the third AU athlete to be inducted posthumously into its "Athletic Hall of Fame" in 2001.
(1958) where he won his first state title. He then moved on in 1962 to Madison Heights High School located in Anderson Indiana. In the fall of 1967 he returned to Florida to coach at Titusville High School
. Two years later he accepted the head coaching position at Clearwater High School
where he remained until his coaching retirement in 1985. Jack stayed on at Clearwater High School
after his coaching retirement as a teacher until his death.
Jack amassed an incredible record over those 27 years of 585-179. That included two state championships - the first at Zephyrhills High School
in 1962 and the second at Clearwater High School
in 1981,. one runner up finish, six regional titles, 13 district titles and 17 conference titles. Jack was named Florida Coach of the Year twice and was inducted into the FHSAA Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jack received national attention when he was awarded the Southeastern District Coach of the Year and was one of eight finalists for national coach of the year honors on June 25, 1982 in Indianapolis
.
The Jack L. Wilson Gymnasium was named in his honor at Clearwater High School
. It is well known as the "House that Jack Built".
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...
) championship high school basketball coach.
College years
Jack played for the Anderson University (Indiana)Anderson University (Indiana)
Anderson University is an accredited private Christian liberal arts university in Anderson, Indiana. The college is affiliated with the Church of God . Anderson University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the society. In 2010, U.S...
"Ravens" from 1955-1958 where he set six school records that still stand today - more than any other Raven basketball player. During his college career Jack scored a total of 1992 points. He earned All-Conference three times (1956–1958) and was MPV in 1956 and again in 1957. He was only the third AU athlete to be inducted posthumously into its "Athletic Hall of Fame" in 2001.
Coaching career
Jack began his 27 year high school basketball coaching career in Florida at Zephyrhills High SchoolZephyrhills High School
Zephyrhills High School is a high school in Zephyrhills, Florida, United States. Its principal is Steve Van Gorden.-History:Zephyrhills High School was created from the consolidations of one-room schools in the Zephyrhills area and opened in September 1910 at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Sixth...
(1958) where he won his first state title. He then moved on in 1962 to Madison Heights High School located in Anderson Indiana. In the fall of 1967 he returned to Florida to coach at Titusville High School
Titusville High School
Titusville High School is part of the Brevard Public Schools System. It is located at 150 Terrier Trail South, Titusville, Florida.-History:...
. Two years later he accepted the head coaching position at Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. It is a member of the Pinellas County School System. The school's nickname is the Tornadoes. Their colors are Crimson and Gray which is also the name of their fight song. The school is known for great athletic teams in...
where he remained until his coaching retirement in 1985. Jack stayed on at Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. It is a member of the Pinellas County School System. The school's nickname is the Tornadoes. Their colors are Crimson and Gray which is also the name of their fight song. The school is known for great athletic teams in...
after his coaching retirement as a teacher until his death.
Jack amassed an incredible record over those 27 years of 585-179. That included two state championships - the first at Zephyrhills High School
Zephyrhills High School
Zephyrhills High School is a high school in Zephyrhills, Florida, United States. Its principal is Steve Van Gorden.-History:Zephyrhills High School was created from the consolidations of one-room schools in the Zephyrhills area and opened in September 1910 at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Sixth...
in 1962 and the second at Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. It is a member of the Pinellas County School System. The school's nickname is the Tornadoes. Their colors are Crimson and Gray which is also the name of their fight song. The school is known for great athletic teams in...
in 1981,. one runner up finish, six regional titles, 13 district titles and 17 conference titles. Jack was named Florida Coach of the Year twice and was inducted into the FHSAA Florida Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jack received national attention when he was awarded the Southeastern District Coach of the Year and was one of eight finalists for national coach of the year honors on June 25, 1982 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.
The Jack L. Wilson Gymnasium was named in his honor at Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School
Clearwater High School is a public high school located in Clearwater, Florida. It is a member of the Pinellas County School System. The school's nickname is the Tornadoes. Their colors are Crimson and Gray which is also the name of their fight song. The school is known for great athletic teams in...
. It is well known as the "House that Jack Built".
Death
Wilson suffered heart failure in the early morning hours of June 6, 1986 at his home in Clearwater. He was rushed to Clearwater Mease Hospital - Countryside where emergency resuscitation efforts failed and Jack was pronounced dead at 5:00 AM EST.External links
- http://www.fhsaa.org/programs/hof/alpha/wilson_jack.asp
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Anderson_University_(Indiana)_Athletic_Hall_of_Fame_members
- http://www.anderson.edu/athletics/hof/jwilson.html
- http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51326962.html?dids=51326962:51326962&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+10%2C+1988&author=PETE+REINWALD&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.1.1&desc=Coach+is+eulogized+as+role+model%2C+friend
- http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51325653.html?dids=51325653:51325653&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+7%2C+1988&author=PETE+REINWALD&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.1.1.1&desc=Friends+recall+ex-coach+%2F%2F+%60He+was+a+winner+-+a+first-class+act%27
- http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19880610&id=UOsMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nWYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2923,1446078
- http://news.google.com/newspapers/p/st_petersburg?id=fhsMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=61kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=608,7424&dq=Clearwater+High+School+Basketball+State+Champions See page 40, Section 24-C
- http://news.google.com/newspapers/p/st_petersburg?id=xvQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=320,7104&dq=Clearwater+High+School+Basketball+State+Champions See page 42, Front Section - Clearwater Times Edition