J. Wilder Tasker Explained

J. Wilder Tasker
Birth Date:25 June 1887
Birth Place:Richmond, Maine, U.S.
Death Place:Kilmarnock, Virginia, U.S.
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1907–1911
Player Team2:Syracuse
Player Years3:1912–1913
Player Team3:Union (NY)
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1921–1922
Coach Team2:Connecticut
Coach Years3:1924–1927
Coach Team3:William & Mary
Coach Years4:1931–1937
Coach Team4:Rutgers
Coach Sport5:Basketball
Coach Years6:1921–1923
Coach Team6:Connecticut
Coach Years7:1923–1928
Coach Team7:William & Mary
Coach Sport8:Baseball
Coach Years9:1922–1923
Coach Team9:Connecticut
Coach Years10:1924–1928
Coach Team10:William & Mary
Coach Years11:1932–1937
Coach Team11:Rutgers
Admin Years1:1923–1928
Admin Team1:William & Mary
Overall Record:67–52–11 (football)
66–49 (basketball)
88–108–4 (baseball)
Championships:Football
1 Virginia Conference (1927)
4 Middle Three (1932–1935)

Basketball
1 Virginia Conference (1928)

Joshua Wilder Tasker (June 25, 1887 – March 14, 1974) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Connecticut Agricultural College—now known as the University of Connecticut—from 1921 to 1922, the College of William & Mary from 1923 to 1927, and Rutgers University from 1931 to 1937, compiling a career college football record of 67–52–11. Wilder was also the head basketball coach at Connecticut from 1921 to 1923 and William & Mary from 1923 to 1928, tallying a career college basketball mark of 66–49. In addition he served as the head baseball coach at Connecticut (1922–1923), William & Mary (1924–1928), and Rutgers (1932–1937), amassing a career college baseball record of 88–108–4.

Coaching career

Tasker became athletic coach at Connecticut Agricultural College—now known as the University of Connecticut—in 1921.[1] He resigned as coach at Connecticut in January 1923.[2] Connecticut's athletic director, Roy J. Guyer, took over coaching of the Connecticut Aggies men's basketball team.[3]

In March 1923, Tasker was hired at athletic director and coach at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.[4]

Later life and death

After leaving from coaching, Tasker ran an insurance business in Orange, New Jersey. He retired in the 1960s and moved to Kilmarnock, Virginia, where he died at his home, on March 14, 1974.[5]

Head coaching record

Baseball

The following table depicts Tasker's record as head baseball coach at Connecticut.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: . New Coach At Connecticut Aggie Is Now In Charge . . . September 22, 1921 . 17 . August 20, 2022 . .
  2. News: . Tasker Quits as Athletic Coach at Storrs, "Spud" Drew Considered as Likely Successor . . . January 6, 1923 . 10 . August 20, 2022 . .
  3. News: . Tasker Resigns; Hunt Is after His Berth . . . January 14, 1923 . 6 . August 20, 2022 . .
  4. News: . Noted Syracuse Star Signs As Indian Athletic Director . . . March 29, 1923 . 10 . August 20, 2022 . .
  5. News: . J. Wilder Tasker, 88, Ex-Rutgers grid coach . . . March 15, 1974 . 38 . April 14, 2022 . .
  6. Book: 2018 Baseball Media Guide. uconnhuskies.com. April 1, 2018. 40, 59. April 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180402101226/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/conn/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2017-18/misc_non_event/2018bsbmediaguide.pdf. dead.