Riverdale, NY – Former Manhattan College student-athlete, Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Jack Powers '58 will become the first Jasper to have his basketball uniform number retired. His number 34 will be raised to the rafters on ‘Jack Powers Night,’ at halftime of the Manhattan-Iona game at Draddy Gymnasium on Friday, February 26.

Powers’ name is about as synonymous with basketball as New York City. He most recently served as the Executive Director of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for over 20 years. Previous to that appointment, he was the Athletic Director at Manhattan for nine years, during which time the Athletic Department experienced tremendous growth in both the men and women's programs. 

“I am truly honored to have my number retired at a place I hold dear to my heart,” said Powers.“Manhattan has and always will be a second home to me.”

During his tenure, Powers was also a member of the Executive Councils of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America; and was president of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and the Tri-State Soccer League. Additionally, Powers was Manhattan's representative to the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA), the sponsoring body of the NIT. 

Powers began his career as a high school basketball coach, but returned to his alma mater as the head men's basketball coach in 1968. He led the team for 10 seasons, posting a record of 142-114 with four appearances in the NIT. 

“It is only fitting that Jack Powers’ number is the fist we retire in school history," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Masiello. "He has set the bar for what being a student-athlete at Manhattan College is all about.”

The recipient of numerous awards, Powers has been inducted into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame, Catholic High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Brooklyn's Old Timer Hall of Fame and the Mamaroneck High School Hall of Fame. 

Powers, who was honored with the ECAC Lifetime Award last December at Madison Square Garden, earned his bachelor's degree at Manhattan, where he was captain of the basketball team his senior year. During his three years on the court, he led the Jaspers to the NCAA tournament twice – including defeating nationally ranked West Virginia and Jerry West in the 1958 NCAA Tournament – and the NIT once while concluding his collegiate career with 1,139 points. He also earned his master's degree from Hunter College. 

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