Jack Gray
Encyclopedia
Jack Gray was an American college basketball player and coach.
Gray played for the Texas Longhorns men's basketball
team from 1933 to 1935. As a player he set a Southwest Conference record with 32 points in 1933 which stood for sixteen years. Gray was a First-Team All-American guard in 1935 and was All-SWC all three years of his varsity career. He was known for his one-handed "push" shot, a precursor of the jump shot
.
With one year of coaching experience took over the coaching job at age 25. In his first six years as coach beginning in 1937, he led the Longhorns to five winning seasons and led the Longhorns to their first Elite Eight in the first NCAA Tournament
in 1939. After returning from World War II
, Gray led the Longhorns to their first Final Four in the 1947 NCAA Tournament
. He coached Basketball Hall of Fame
r Slater Martin
from 1944 to 1949.
Gray got his team in the National Invitation Tournament
in 1948, their first AP Poll
ranking (#20 in 1949).
He ranks third all-time in Longhorns basketball history in wins with 194 victories to 97 losses, and also had a final Southwest Conference record of 89-55. He was head coach for 12 years, which as of 2011, ranked as the second-longest basketball coaching term at University of Texas.
Gray played for the Texas Longhorns men's basketball
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
team from 1933 to 1935. As a player he set a Southwest Conference record with 32 points in 1933 which stood for sixteen years. Gray was a First-Team All-American guard in 1935 and was All-SWC all three years of his varsity career. He was known for his one-handed "push" shot, a precursor of the jump shot
Jump shot
In basketball , a jump shot is an attempt to score a basket by jumping, usually straight up, and in mid-jump, propelling the ball in an arc into the basket. It is accomplished by the player bringing his or her elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, then sent towards the hoop in a high arc. It...
.
With one year of coaching experience took over the coaching job at age 25. In his first six years as coach beginning in 1937, he led the Longhorns to five winning seasons and led the Longhorns to their first Elite Eight in the first NCAA Tournament
1939 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
in 1939. After returning from 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...
, Gray led the Longhorns to their first Final Four in the 1947 NCAA Tournament
1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
. He coached Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
r Slater Martin
Slater Martin
Slater Nelson "Dugie" Martin Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player and coach who played the guard position for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association...
from 1944 to 1949.
Gray got his team in the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
in 1948, their first AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
ranking (#20 in 1949).
He ranks third all-time in Longhorns basketball history in wins with 194 victories to 97 losses, and also had a final Southwest Conference record of 89-55. He was head coach for 12 years, which as of 2011, ranked as the second-longest basketball coaching term at University of Texas.
| Season | | Coach | | Record | | Conference Championships | | Final AP / Coaches' Poll Rankings | | Postseason | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | |||||||
| 1936-37 | Jack Gray | 13-10 | 5-7 (t-5th) | — | — | — | ||
| 1937-38 | Jack Gray | 11-11 | 5-7 (5th) | — | — | — | ||
| 1938-39 | Jack Gray | 19-6 | 10-2 (1st) | SWC Champions | — | NCAA Elite Eight West Regional Fourth Place 1939 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament... |
||
| 1939-40 | Jack Gray | 18-5 | 8-4 (2nd) | — | — | — | ||
| 1940-41 | Jack Gray | 14-10 | 7-5 (3rd) | — | — | — | ||
| 1941-42 | Jack Gray | 14-9 | 5-7 (5th) | — | — | — | ||
| Jack Gray (1936–42, 1945–51) | ||||||||
| 1945-46 | Jack Gray | 16-7 | 7-5 (3rd) | — | — | — | ||
| 1946-47 | Jack Gray | 26-2 | 12-0 (1st) | SWC Champions | — | NCAA Final Four Third Place 1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.... |
||
| 1947-48 | Jack Gray | 20-5 | 9-3 (2nd) | — | — | NIT Quarterfinals 1948 National Invitation Tournament The 1948 National Invitation Tournament was the 1948 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 8 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket.... |
||
| 1948-49 | Jack Gray | 17-7 | 7-5 (4th) | — | — | — | ||
| 1949-50 | Jack Gray | 13-11 | 6-6 (t-4th) | — | — | — | ||
| 1950-51 | Jack Gray | 13-14 | 8-4 (t-1st) | SWC Co-Champions | — | — | ||
| Jack Gray: | 194-97 (.667) | 89-55 (.618) | ||||||