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John “Jack” Snyder (1941-2009) is a former American coach, professor, and athletics director. He was the first ever athletics director for the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan where he was employed for 32 years, earning 33 conference, regional, and state championships for various sports. He retired from UW-Sheboygan in 2001 and died of a heart attack the day after Christmas in 2009. After his death, the Jack Snyder Memorial Fund was set up by the UW-Sheboygan Foundation to benefit the physical education program and gym facility at the university.

Snyder coached numerous different sports at UN-Sheboygan including men’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s basketball. He won multiple championships for all of these sports and won the Coach of the Year Award in the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference (WCC) 15 times. In addition to the WCC, he was affiliated with the Wisconsin Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (WJCAA), the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA), and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). He had a collegiate record of 308-205 and was inducted into the WBCA Hall of Fame in 2002.

Early life and education
Snyder was born on March 10, 1941 in Wonewoc, Wisconsin. He attended Wonewoc High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball, receiving all-conference honors in each. He also held the scoring record in basketball for 45 years.

Snyder attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he majored in English and also played basketball for coach John Barth. He was named to the “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges” as a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1963 and went on to the University of Washington where he earned his Master’s Degree in physical education in 1964. He also completed doctoral directed studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Northern Colorado.

Professional career
Synder spent his career at two different high schools and with the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan.

Early career
Snyder began his career at Badger High School and Waunakee High School where he held various teaching and coaching positions. He was hired as the head coach for Waunakee at the recommendation of John Barth, his former basketball coach at UW-Platteville.

University of Wisconsin – Sheboygan
Snyder coached the men’s cross country team from 1969 through 1994. As coach, he led the team to 8 WCC championships and 3 WJCAA championships. He also coached 27 NJCAA national championship individual qualifiers and had 2 NJCAA national championship team appearances in 1993 and 1994 where the team placed 5th and 8th respectively. He also coached tennis at UW-Sheboygan for both the men’s and women’s teams during various years while at the university. He coached 3 men’s WCC championships, 5 women’s championships, and WJCAA championships for both men’s and women’s.

Snyder’s career as the men’s head basketball coach for UN-Sheboygan ran from 1970 to 1994. He had an overall collegiate record of 308-205 and won 5 WCC championships. He had 19 consecutive winning seasons which included 7 WJCAA regional championships and final four appearances along with 2 WJCAA runner ups.

In 1976, Snyder coached the UN-Sheboygan men's basketball team to a victory over the UN-Richmond Roadrunners 47-44. This victory ended the 53 game WCC winning streak of the Roadrunners which had lasted several years. He also hit a milestone in 1977 when he achieved his 100th career coaching win in a victory over the University of Wisconsin - Baraboo 86-42.

In 1982, Snyder won his 4th Coach of the Year Award. This was at the conclusion of the 1981-1982 season when he coached the men's basketball team to a WCC championship with an 18-4 record. Three players from the team made the 10-man all conference squad and Snyder also won his 200th career game during the same season.

Men’s Cross Country

 * 8 WCC Championships
 * 3 WJCAA Championship (1991, 1993, & 1994)
 * 2 NJCAA National Championship Team Appearances (5th Place in 1993 & 8th Place in 1994)
 * 27 NJCAA National Championship Individual Qualifiers

Tennis

 * 3 Men’s WCC Championships (1992, 1996, & 1999)
 * 5 Women’s WCC Championships (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, & 2001)
 * 2 Men’s WJCAA Championships (1995 & 1996)
 * 3 Women’s WJCAA Championships (1997, 2000, & 2001)

Men’s Basketball

 * Collegiate Record 308-205 (Overall Record 356-235)
 * 5 WCC Championships (1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, & 1983)
 * 7 WJCAA Regional Championships & Final Four Appearances (1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, & 1989)
 * 2 WJCAA Runner Up (1978 & 1989)
 * 19 Consecutive Winning Seasons

Honors and recognitions
During his career, he was cited numerous times by the John Barth Foundation. He also received the Alumni Watch Award from the foundation in 1998. He was the recipient of the Coach of the Year Award in the WCC in 15 of his 25 years of coaching basketball.

Snyder was inducted to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

On November 2, 2011, the UW-Sheboygan honored Snyder by dedicating their men’s basketball court in his name. The event featured a reunion for all former alumni, former athletes, campus staff, faculty and retirees, and students. The university also put several pieces of Snyder memorabilia on display. The court was dedicated prior to the kickoff of the 2011-12 men’s basketball season and unveiled to reveal a large signature of Snyder displayed in the wood floor.

Legend
Snyder was known as being a teacher on the basketball court and for having the ability to have players respond to his coaching style. He has had numerous articles written about his coaching style which is said to have gone beyond the court, teaching discipline for the player's personal lives. He was also known as the man who molded the UW-Sheboygan men's basketball team into a fierce competitor in the WCC. He is credited with turning their program into one of the best in the state of Wisconsin during his time there. Snyder also received numerous offers to join the coaching staff for major teams such as Iowa; however, he was known as the coach who wanted to keep Wisconsin his home and remained at UW-Sheboygan until his retirement in 2001.

Philanthropy
Snyder was involved in numerous charities and organizations throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the American Cancer Society, Big Brother, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was also an avid supporter of the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan Foundation and participated in annual scholarship fundraisers. He also volunteered his time for other events that benefited the foundation including working side by side with former student athletes.

Jack Snyder Memorial Fund
After his death in 2009, the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan Foundation established the Jack Snyder Memorial Fund. The fund was set up to honor Snyder and received donations from numerous sources throughout the state of Wisconsin. Funds were initially used for the Jack Snyder court dedication in 2011. All donations since have been used to support UW-Sheboygan athletics.

Personal life
Snyder was married to Dianne Schneider on June 8, 1968.