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.

J. Wilder Tasker
Tasker pictured in The Colonial Echo 1924, William & Mary yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1887-06-25)June 25, 1887
Richmond, Maine, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 1974(1974-03-14) (aged 86)
Kilmarnock, Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1907–1911Syracuse
1912–1913Union (NY)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1921–1922Connecticut
1924–1927William & Mary
1931–1937Rutgers
Basketball
1921–1923Connecticut
1923–1928William & Mary
Baseball
1922–1923Connecticut
1924–1928William & Mary
1932–1937Rutgers
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1923–1928William & Mary
Head coaching record
Overall67–52–11 (football)
66–49 (basketball)
88–108–4 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 Virginia Conference (1927)
4 Middle Three (1932–1935)

Basketball
1 Virginia Conference (1928)

Coaching career

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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

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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

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Connecticut Aggies (Athletic League of New England State Colleges) (1921–1922)
1921 Connecticut 3–2–3 0–2
1922 Connecticut 2–6–1 0–3
Connecticut: 5–8–4 0–5
William & Mary Indians (Independent) (1923–1926)
1923 William & Mary 7–3
1924 William & Mary 5–2–1
1925 William & Mary 7–4
1926 William & Mary 7–3
William & Mary Indians (Virginia Conference) (1927)
1927 William & Mary 4–5–1 2–0–1 1st
William and Mary: 30–17–2 2–0–1
Rutgers Queensmen (Middle Three Conference) (1931–1937)
1931 Rutgers 4–3–1 1–1 2nd
1932 Rutgers 6–3–1 2–0 1st
1933 Rutgers 6–3–1 2–0 1st
1934 Rutgers 5–3–1 2–0 1st
1935 Rutgers 4–5 2–0 1st
1936 Rutgers 1–6–1 0–1 T–2nd
1937 Rutgers 5–4 1–1 2nd
Rutgers: 31–27–5 10–3
Total: 66–52–11
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Basketball

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Connecticut Aggies (Athletic League of New England State Colleges) (1921–1923)
1921–22 Connecticut 15–4 6–1
1922–23 Connecticut 0–1[n 1] 0–0[n 1] [n 1]
Connecticut: 15–5 6–1
William & Mary Indians (Virginia Conference) (1923–1928)
1923–24 William & Mary 8–16 3–8
1924–25 William & Mary 13–6 7–2
1925–26 William & Mary 8–9 3–3
1926–27 William & Mary 7–8 4–4
1927–28 William & Mary 15–5 9–0 1st
William & Mary: 51–44 26–17
Total: 66–49

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Baseball

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

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Connecticut Aggies (1922–1923)
1922 Connecticut 8–9
1923 Connecticut 4–9
Total: 12–18

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Tasker resigned in January 1923 after the first game of the season, before the start of conference play. Roy J. Guyer coached the remainder of the season. Connecticut finished 8–7 overall and 2–1 in conference play

References

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  1. ^ "New Coach At Connecticut Aggie Is Now In Charge". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. September 22, 1921. p. 17. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Tasker Quits as Athletic Coach at Storrs, "Spud" Drew Considered as Likely Successor". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. January 6, 1923. p. 10. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Tasker Resigns; Hunt Is after His Berth". The Bridgeport Telegram. Bridgeport, Connecticut. January 14, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "Noted Syracuse Star Signs As Indian Athletic Director". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. March 29, 1923. p. 10. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ "J. Wilder Tasker, 88, Ex-Rutgers grid coach". The Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. March 15, 1974. p. 38. Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ 2018 Baseball Media Guide (PDF). uconnhuskies.com. pp. 40, 59. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
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