Leaman Named Coach of Varsity Hoop Team
From UMass Sports Information, via The Massachusetts Collegian, March 9, 1966

Leaman's publicity photo as appeared in The Collegian. (Printing error mark appeared on his right side forehead.)

The appointment of John A. "Jack" Leaman as head basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts was announced today by Director of Athletics Warren P. McGuirk. Leaman, who has served as assistant varsity basketball coach for the past five years, succeeds Johnny Orr, who resigned recently for a position in the insurance business.

In commenting on the appointment McGuirk said, “Jack Leaman has done an outstanding job with our basketball teams for the past five years. I feel he is very well qualified for his new responsibilities and I'm confident that he will do an outstanding job.”

A native of Boston, the 33 year old Leaman attended Cambridge High and Latin School and graduated from Boston University in 1959. He was a baseball and basketball standout while in high school and played three years of varsity basketball for the Terriers, captaining the 1959 team which went to the Eastern finals of the NCAA tournament before bowing to West Virginia 86-82.

He served in the U.S. Army from February 1953 to February 1955 and while in the European Theatre he was player coach on the 25th Infantry team at Hamburg, Germany, who were runners-up in the European all-army tournament and ended with a 44 win and 7 loss record.

He received his bachelor and masters degrees from BU and served as assistant varsity and freshman basketball coach at his alma mater while studying for the latter degree.

In 1960 he was head basketball and baseball coach as well as a teacher of history and physical education at Millis High School (MA). His quintet ended up with a 12-9 record and completed the first winning record at the school in 12 years.

The following year he was appointed assistant varsity basketball coach and freshman soccer coach at UMass. His Redmen frosh quintets have compiled 43 wins against 14 losses against New England's best opposition.

While serving as varsity assistant for the past five years, Jack has served as head scout and also worked extensively in the recruiting program. He is a member of the New England Basketball Coaches Association as well as the National Basketball Coaches Association.

He is married to the former Rita Vanelli of Quincy and the father of a three year old daughter, Laura.