It is with great sadness that Basketball Manitoba shares the news ofthe passing of former Manitoba Bison Head Coach Jack Lewis. Jack passed away Friday morning, January 22 after a battle with cancer.
He was the head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons from1968 to
1972. Jack obtained his bachelor and masters degrees at the University
of Washington in Seattle where he coached in high school and men’s
leagues and worked in promotions with the Harlem Stars touring team
before coming to Winnipeg. He was the person most responsible for getting the Bison basketball
program to national prominence in the late 60’s and early 70’s. He
coached the Bisons to the WCIAA (Western Canadian Intercollegiate
Athletic Association) championship in 1971 defeating UBC in the final
and the Bisons’ first CIAU (CIS) championship in where they lost to
Acadia in the national final at that time where it was only a six team
tournament and only one team came from Western Canada. He recruited the
core of the Bison teams that went to the National Championship in 1974
and 1975 and which won the Bisons first, and only, CIAU National
Championship in 1976.
He coached and helped develop four Canadian National Team members and four All-Canadians. His over-all record at the U. of M. was 109 – 32. He also taught in the Faculty of Physical Education and Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. In addition, he was instrumental in bringing professional basketball to Winnipeg in the early 1990’s with the Winnipeg Thunder. He was very well liked and respected by all those who played for him. He opened up many opportunities, both on and off the court, for his players and many students. Coach Lewis was able to attend an annual golf outing this past summer where many of his former players were able to spend some time reminiscing with him about the glory days.
He is survived by son, Cory, and wife, Ruth. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lewis Family.