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James H. "Jack" Gardner (March 29, 1910 in Texico, New Mexico, United States – April 9, 2000 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States) was a Hall of Fame college men's basketball coach. Gardner, a native of New Mexico and a graduate of the University of Southern California, is most well known for coaching Kansas State University from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 1953, compiling a 147-81 record with the Wildcats, and thereafter coaching the University of Utah from 1953–1971, compiling a 339-154 record. His complete collegiate record is 486-235. In his second stint at Kansas State, Gardner's... MORE

James H. "Jack" Gardner (March 29, 1910 in Texico, New Mexico, United States – April 9, 2000 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States) was a Hall of Fame college men's basketball coach. Gardner, a native of New Mexico and a graduate of the University of Southern California, is most well known for coaching Kansas State University from 1939 to 1942 and 1946 to 1953, compiling a 147-81 record with the Wildcats, and thereafter coaching the University of Utah from 1953–1971, compiling a 339-154 record. His complete collegiate record is 486-235. In his second stint at Kansas State, Gardner's teams won three conference crowns and captured two Big Eight Holiday Tournament championships. His 1950/1951 team finished 25-4 and lost in the finals of the NCAA tournament to the University of Kentucky. That team was arguably the best in K-State history, and one of two that reached the Final Four during his tenure (the other was in 1948). Gardner left Manhattan, Kansas in 1953 to take over the head coaching reins at the University of Utah, where he remained for 18 years. He led the Utes to six appearances in the NCAA Tournament and two Final Four appearances. To date, he remains the only coach to LESS