Former Kansas Men's Basketball Player & Assistant Coach Jack Eskridge Dies

Feb. 14, 2013

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former Kansas men’s basketball player and assistant coach John W. “Jack” Eskridge died Feb. 11, in his hometown of Independence, Mo. He was 89 years old.

Following a stint in the marine corps during World War II, Eskridge played two seasons for Kansas head coach Phog Allen in 1946-47 and 1947-48. The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 4.0 points his junior season and 7.6 his senior campaign. Eskridge then played basketball professionally for two years with the Chicago Stags and Indianapolis Jets. From 1954-59 he was an assistant coach and equipment manager for KU under Allen and played a major role in the recruitment of KU legend Wilt Chamberlain.

Following Kansas, Eskridge worked for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys as the equipment manager from 1960-73 under head coach Tom Landry where he is known to have designed the star on the team’s famous football helmets. He then taught and coached in Richardson, Texas, for 10 years and later moved back to Independence, Mo., to teach at Englewood Christian Academy.

Funeral services for Eskridge will be Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Carson-Speaks Chapel in Independence, Mo. Burial will follow at the Mound Grove Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday, Feb. 15, from 6-8 p.m. at the Carson-Speaks Chapel.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.