Jim Lynam
Encyclopedia
Jim Lynam is an American former college and professional basketball
coach. He coached at the college level for Fairfield University
from 1968–70, American University
from 1973–78, and St. Joseph's University from 1978–81. In the National Basketball Association
, Lynam coached the San Diego Clippers
/Los Angeles Clippers
from 1983–85, the Philadelphia 76ers
from 1987–92, and the Washington Bullets
from 1995–97. Lynam complied a 158-118 record at the college level, and 328–392 in the National Basketball Association
. He was also Philadelphia's general manager
from 1992–94.
Lynam is best remembered for coaching St. Joseph's to an upset victory over DePaul
by a score of 49-48 in the first round of the 1981 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Lynam has also served as an assistant coach for several teams, most notably the Sixers and the Portland Trail Blazers
, the latter for head coach Maurice Cheeks
. When Cheeks was hired as Philadelphia's coach for the 2005–06 season
, Lynam was named an assistant. During the preseason, however, he was forced to leave the team due to an undisclosed medical condition. In January 2006, Lynam retired from coaching. However, on September 29, 2006 it was announced that Lynam, along with NBA hall of famer Moses Malone
would be rejoining the 76ers as an assistant coach. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2606554
In July 2010, The Oregonian
reported that Lynam was among candidates for an assistant coaching job in Portland. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/07/trail_blazers_coaching_staff_t.html
On 24 January 2011, the Minnesota Timberwolves
announced that Lynam would be joining the club as a part-time basketball operations consultant, evaluating pro personnel on the Wolves roster and throughout the NBA. http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/114525359.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqPk4DyCc75DiUiacyKUbPi87EK_g:D_GD7EaDh_0c:aD:aUr
Lynam's daughter, Dei, is an anchor/reporter for Comcast SportsNet
in Philadelphia. She also serves as a sideline reporter for 76ers telecasts. He is also a grandfather to eight grandchildren.
| align="left" |SDC
| align="left" |
|82||30||52||.366|| align="center" |6th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |LAC
| align="left" |
|61||22||39||.361|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|39||16||23||.410|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||46||36||.561|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||3||0||3||.000
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||53||29||.646|| align="center" |1st in Atlantic||10||4||6||.400
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||44||38||.537|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||8||4||4||.500
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||35||47||.427|| align="center" |5th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
| align="left" |
|82||21||61||.256|| align="center" |7th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
| align="left" |
|82||39||43||.476|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
| align="left" |
|46||22||24||.478|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||720||328||392||.456|| ||21||8||13||.381
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He coached at the college level for Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
from 1968–70, American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
from 1973–78, and St. Joseph's University from 1978–81. In the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, Lynam coached the San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
/Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
from 1983–85, the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
from 1987–92, and the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
from 1995–97. Lynam complied a 158-118 record at the college level, and 328–392 in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He was also Philadelphia's general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
from 1992–94.
Lynam is best remembered for coaching St. Joseph's to an upset victory over DePaul
Depaul
Depaul, de Paul or DePaul may refer to:* DePaul University, is the largest Catholic university in North America located within and around Chicago, IL* Vincent de Paul* DePaul Catholic High School...
by a score of 49-48 in the first round of the 1981 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Lynam has also served as an assistant coach for several teams, most notably the Sixers and the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, the latter for head coach Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeks is a retired American professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association from May 23, 2005 to December 13, 2008...
. When Cheeks was hired as Philadelphia's coach for the 2005–06 season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
, Lynam was named an assistant. During the preseason, however, he was forced to leave the team due to an undisclosed medical condition. In January 2006, Lynam retired from coaching. However, on September 29, 2006 it was announced that Lynam, along with NBA hall of famer Moses Malone
Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
would be rejoining the 76ers as an assistant coach. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2606554
In July 2010, The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
reported that Lynam was among candidates for an assistant coaching job in Portland. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/07/trail_blazers_coaching_staff_t.html
On 24 January 2011, the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
announced that Lynam would be joining the club as a part-time basketball operations consultant, evaluating pro personnel on the Wolves roster and throughout the NBA. http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/114525359.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqPk4DyCc75DiUiacyKUbPi87EK_g:D_GD7EaDh_0c:aD:aUr
Lynam's daughter, Dei, is an anchor/reporter for Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
in Philadelphia. She also serves as a sideline reporter for 76ers telecasts. He is also a grandfather to eight grandchildren.
Coaching record
|-| align="left" |SDC
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| align="left" |
|82||30||52||.366|| align="center" |6th in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |LAC
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| align="left" |
|61||22||39||.361|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-
| align="left" |PHI
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
| align="left" |
|39||16||23||.410|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||46||36||.561|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||3||0||3||.000
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||53||29||.646|| align="center" |1st in Atlantic||10||4||6||.400
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||44||38||.537|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||8||4||4||.500
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Semifinals
1991 NBA Playoffs
The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship via a four-games-to-one victory over the Western Conference champion Los...
|-
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|82||35||47||.427|| align="center" |5th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
| align="left" |
|82||21||61||.256|| align="center" |7th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
| align="left" |
|82||39||43||.476|| align="center" |4th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |WSH
| align="left" |
|46||22||24||.478|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||720||328||392||.456|| ||21||8||13||.381