Jack Ramsay

John Travilla Ramsay Jr.


Born:
February 21, 1925
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
April 28, 2014
Naples, FL






Career
1940-41 Upper Darby High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1941-42 Upper Darby High School - Philadelphia (High School)
1942-43 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1944-45 Wilmington Bombers (ABL)
1945-46 San Diego Dons (AAU)
1946-47 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1947-48 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1948-49 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College)
1949-50 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)
1950-51 Harrisburg Caps (EPBL)
1951-52 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1952-53 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
St. James High School - Chester, PA (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Sunbury Mercuries (EPBL)
1953-54 Mount Pleasant High School - Wilmington, DE (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Sunbury Mercuries (EBL)
1955-56 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1956-57 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1957-58 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1958-59 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1959-60 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1960-61 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1961-62 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1962-63 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1963-64 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1964-65 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1965-66 St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia (College) Head coach
1968-69 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1969-70 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1970-71 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1971-72 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) Head coach
1972-73 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1973-74 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1974-75 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1975-76 Buffalo Braves (NBA) Head coach
1976-77 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1977-78 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1978-79 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1979-80 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1980-81 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1981-82 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1982-83 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1983-84 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1984-85 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1985-86 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Head coach
1986-87 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach
1987-88 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach
1988-89 Indiana Pacers (NBA) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1992

Born to John and Anne Ramsay, Jack excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer in high school. He would go to college at St. Joseph's, but entered the U.S. Army in 1943. After serving his country during World War 2 (and a little bit after the war), Ramsay was discharged and he returned to St. Joseph's, still pursing basketball and baseball. After graduating, he played basketball professionally for six years in the Eastern League while also teaching and coaching at the high school level. He returned to St. Joseph's as the head basketball coach in 1955, staying there 11 years. He left the St. Joseph's bench in 1966 with a 234-72 record after being diagnosed with an edema on his retina. He became the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, who would win the NBA title in his first year on the job. A couple years later, he became the head coach.

After four seasons with the 76ers, he became the coach of the Buffalo Braves, and also stayed their four years. He had turned the Braves from a woeful club into a playoff team, but the improved success did not improve the financial situation for the Buffalo club enough, and he left to go the Portland Trailblazers in 1976. In 1978, the Braves would move to San Diego to become the Clippers. Ramsay's first season is Portland was a great one as the Blazers won the NBA title. He would stay with Portland through the 1986-87 season, but never came close to a second title. In 1986, he took over the reigns of the Indiana Pacers. He coached the Pacers for two seasons and resigned seven games in the 1988-89 season. Done with coaching, he went into broadcasting as was a very popular color commentator for the 76ers and the Miami Heat. He was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1992.

Ramsay died of cancer in 2015 at 89 years of age.

Source:
Hoop Hall
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10853320/jack-ramsay-rise-hall-fame
Obituary, Miami Herald

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Fiddle-Morley/