Kansas State University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Hartman, Jack
Jack Hartman
- Title:
- Head Coach
Shrewd, calculating and intense all describe the winningest coach in Kansas State history.
Jack Hartman endeared himself to K-Staters for a number of reasons, but none more memorable than his ability to take seemingly less talented teams and consistently come out on the winning side of the ledger.
Hartman led K-State to 295 wins, three Big Eight titles, two Big Eight Tournament championships and nine postseason appearances during his 16 seasons as head coach. He saw the Wildcats register 20 or more wins seven times, including 24 wins in both 1976-77 and 1980-81. He also guided the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament seven times (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982), including four trips (1972, 1973, 1975, 1981) to the Elite Eight. His teams finished the season ranked among the Top 20 five times, including the No. 7 (UPI) and No. 9 (AP) rankings in 1972-73.
Hartman was honored as National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) after the 1980-81 season. Led by AllAmerican Rolando Blackman, the eightseeded Wildcats charged into the NCAA West Regional Finals on the strength of upset wins over San Francisco, No. 2 Oregon State and No. 19 Illinois. The Wildcats were denied their first Final Four in 17 years by No. 6 North Carolina in the finals. He was also named Big Eight Coach of the Year following the 1974-75 and 1976-77 seasons.
In 23 years of coaching at the Division I level (the other seven coming at Southern Illinois from 1962-70), Hartman compiled a 439-233 (.653) record. He also enjoyed success in the community college ranks, posting a 150-46 (.765) mark in seven seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College from 1955-62. During his stint at Coffeyville, he was one of the few coaches to take a junior college team through a season undefeated, including the national title, as his 1962 squad went 32-0. In addition, he was the head coach for the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games, and led the Americans to the gold medal.
Hartman coached a number of future pros. While at Southern IIlinois, he tutored Walt Frazier, and at Kansas State, he produced players like legends Rolando Blackman, Mike Evans, Lon Kruger, Ed Nealy and Chuckie Williams. In all, he coached 10 All-Americans, five Big Eight Players of the year and 16 first team All-Big Eight selections.
Prior to his stint at K-State, Hartman led Southern Illinois to a 144-64 (.692) record from 1962-70, guiding the Salukis to the 1967 NIT title with a 24-2 record. The championship helped Hartman gain The Sporting News Coach of the Year honors at end of the season.
A native of Dewey, Oklahoma and a two-sport star at Oklahoma State, Hartman played professionally on the gridiron. After garnering All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as the Cowboys’ quarterback, he played for the CFL’s Saskatchewan. He was also an outstanding basketball player for OSU, and played for the legendary Henry Iba.
After retiring from coaching in 1986, Hartman served as a color analyst for the Wildcat Television Network as well as the Big Eight television package. He served as interim coach of the women’s basketball team during the 1995-96 season, guiding the squad to a 3-4 record. He remained active in K-State Athletics until his death at the age of 73 on November 6, 1998.
Jack Hartman endeared himself to K-Staters for a number of reasons, but none more memorable than his ability to take seemingly less talented teams and consistently come out on the winning side of the ledger.
Hartman led K-State to 295 wins, three Big Eight titles, two Big Eight Tournament championships and nine postseason appearances during his 16 seasons as head coach. He saw the Wildcats register 20 or more wins seven times, including 24 wins in both 1976-77 and 1980-81. He also guided the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament seven times (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982), including four trips (1972, 1973, 1975, 1981) to the Elite Eight. His teams finished the season ranked among the Top 20 five times, including the No. 7 (UPI) and No. 9 (AP) rankings in 1972-73.
Hartman was honored as National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) after the 1980-81 season. Led by AllAmerican Rolando Blackman, the eightseeded Wildcats charged into the NCAA West Regional Finals on the strength of upset wins over San Francisco, No. 2 Oregon State and No. 19 Illinois. The Wildcats were denied their first Final Four in 17 years by No. 6 North Carolina in the finals. He was also named Big Eight Coach of the Year following the 1974-75 and 1976-77 seasons.
In 23 years of coaching at the Division I level (the other seven coming at Southern Illinois from 1962-70), Hartman compiled a 439-233 (.653) record. He also enjoyed success in the community college ranks, posting a 150-46 (.765) mark in seven seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College from 1955-62. During his stint at Coffeyville, he was one of the few coaches to take a junior college team through a season undefeated, including the national title, as his 1962 squad went 32-0. In addition, he was the head coach for the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games, and led the Americans to the gold medal.
Hartman coached a number of future pros. While at Southern IIlinois, he tutored Walt Frazier, and at Kansas State, he produced players like legends Rolando Blackman, Mike Evans, Lon Kruger, Ed Nealy and Chuckie Williams. In all, he coached 10 All-Americans, five Big Eight Players of the year and 16 first team All-Big Eight selections.
Prior to his stint at K-State, Hartman led Southern Illinois to a 144-64 (.692) record from 1962-70, guiding the Salukis to the 1967 NIT title with a 24-2 record. The championship helped Hartman gain The Sporting News Coach of the Year honors at end of the season.
A native of Dewey, Oklahoma and a two-sport star at Oklahoma State, Hartman played professionally on the gridiron. After garnering All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as the Cowboys’ quarterback, he played for the CFL’s Saskatchewan. He was also an outstanding basketball player for OSU, and played for the legendary Henry Iba.
After retiring from coaching in 1986, Hartman served as a color analyst for the Wildcat Television Network as well as the Big Eight television package. He served as interim coach of the women’s basketball team during the 1995-96 season, guiding the squad to a 3-4 record. He remained active in K-State Athletics until his death at the age of 73 on November 6, 1998.
K-State MBB | Tang Talkin' Transfers - Abdi Bashir Jr
Wednesday, September 10
K-State MBB | Hang With Tang On The Go (Season 4, Episode 1)
Friday, September 05
K-State MBB | Coach Driscoll Mic'd Up
Friday, August 08
K-State MBB | Vet Week 2025
Monday, August 04
