Jack Tierney

John Joseph "Jack" Tierney


Born:
August 3, 1893
Chicago, IL

Died:
May 12, 1968
Bellwood, IL


Career
1913-14 Illinois A.C. (AAU)
1914-15 Illinois A.C. (AAU)
1922-23 Barry Council - Chicago (K of C)
1922-23 Loyola College - Chicago (College) Head coach
1923-24 Barry Council - Chicago (K of C)
1924-25 Chicago Bruins (Independent)
1924-25 Clover AA - Chicago (Independent)
1925-26 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1926-27 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1927-28 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1927-28 Chicago Nationals (ABL)
1929-30 Chicago Majestics (Independent) Head coach / player
1934-35 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1935-36 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1936-37 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1937-38 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1938-39 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1939-40 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1940-41 St. George Prep - Evanston, IL (High School) Head coach
1941-42 Chicago Bruins (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Chicago Bruins (ABL) Head coach
1944-45 Chicago American Gears (NBL) Head coach
1945-46 De La Salle High School - Chicago (High School) Head coach

(Some places say Tierney was born in 1900, but articles from when he signed with the Bruins state he is one of the oldest men in the ABL and has been playing basketball for 20 years, playing on two AAU champion teams in 1914 and 1915, so the 1900 birthdate is deemed to be incorrect. This started a new search, and the actual Tierney has been identified.)

He signed with the Bruins (an independent team at the time) in February of 1925. He was a decent baseball player, playing in the III League in 1925 with Bloomington (not found on baseball-reference.) He played semi-pro baseball around Chicago, with Black Sox third baseman Buck Weaver even being his teammate for a while.

After many years of playing, he moved into coaching, first at St George Prep before returning to he Bruins as their coach. He then returned to coaching high school, this time at De La Salle.

Jack married to Mary Ellen Fanning in 1918, and they had one son, John Jr (went by "Mickey").  "Mickey" played for Jack at St George in 1937 and 1938 before playing basketball at Purdue and later for the Chicago Studebakers. Mary Ellen's passing, Jack remarried to Elizabeth Telek.

Source:
Racine Times, December 20, 1926
The Times (Munster, IN) April 22, 1927
Obituary, Chicago Tribune, May 13, 1968

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Jack-Tierney/