Legendary Marion Giant Teacher

Coach

Athletic Director

Director of the local YMCA

Philanthropist

Jack Colescott had a long a distinguished career at Marion High School, serving as a teacher, basketball coach, baseball coach, and athletic director over a 32-year
period. In each of those positions, he provided students with individual leadership to help them reach their potential and was always willing to offer his help when needed.
He taught government, history, and physical education at MHS, and as a coach, it was clear he put education first. He expected his athletes to do well academically if they wanted to be a part of his team.
In Mr. Colescott’s six seasons as head coach of the Giants basketball team, he transformed the program and set the Giants on the path to the six state titles won after his tenure. His 1968 and 1969 teams both reached the state finals. The 1969 Giants were undefeated going into the finals, and that one-point loss to Indianapolis Washington is still considered one of the greatest state finals games ever played. One of his first moves, when he moved into the athletic director position, was to hire Washington’s coach, Bill Green, as his successor. Green would go on to win five titles with the Giants.
Mr. Colescott served as an Assistant Baseball Coach along with Varsity Baseball Coach, Mel Wysong as the Marion Giants Baseball Team won the State Championship in 1984.
He retired from MHS in 1996.
He married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie, and together they raised four children. Today he is the proud grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of 19. They were married for 60 years.
After Marge's death, the family set up the Jack and Marge Colescott Scholarship Fund, through the Community Foundation, which provides college scholarships to student-athletes from both Marion High School and from Mississinewa High School, (Gas City is the hometown for Jack and Marge). In addition, the annual Jack and Marge Athletic Scholarship Golf Tournament have awarded scholarships to deserving student-athletes at Indiana Wesleyan University for the past 29 years. Mr. Colescott was a 54-year member of the Marion Exchange Club, an active member of his Church, and a volunteer for the United Way. He was inducted into the University of Indianapolis Athletic Hall of Fame, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Grant County Sports Hall of Fame, and currently serves on the Executive Board of each.
Mr. Colescott was an outstanding athlete in high school in Gas City, and then at Indiana Central College in Indianapolis (now University of Indianapolis). He also earned a master’s degree from Ball State University.
Among his other honors is a Sagamore of the Wabash, presented by the Governor of Indiana, Exchangite of the Year, and the 1952 Walter Brenneman Sportsmanship Award at Indiana Central College.