Currently serving as Athletic Director Emeritus, Coach John W.
“Jack” Kaiser ’49C has been a member of the St. John’s University
community as a student, athlete, coach and administrator for nearly
70 years. He started as a student-athlete on three St. John’s teams
during the late1940’s, earning varsity letters in baseball,
basketball and soccer. He was captain of the University’s first
College World Series baseball team in 1949 and, in the same year,
was named College Player of the Year by Varsity Magazine. He was
the first person to be part of a winning College World Series team
as both a player and, later, as a coach. He went on to play
professional baseball within the Boston Red Sox organization, where
he continued to serve as a manager after an injury cut short his
playing career.
Kaiser achieved a remarkable record as Head Baseball Coach at St.
John’s, earning 366 career wins while leading his teams to 11
post-season NCAA Tournament appearances and three appearances in
the College World Series. He has been named to the American
Baseball Coaches Association, the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball
League and the St. John’s University Athletic Halls of Fame, and
has achieved national acclaim from both the National Collegiate
Athletic Association and Major League Baseball for his efforts in
the establishment of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. In
2007 The Ballpark at St. John’s was renamed Jack Kaiser
Stadium.