Jim Williams (basketball coach)
Encyclopedia
Jim Williams was coach
of the Colorado State University
Men's basketball program for 25 seasons (1955–1980). He succeeded Bill Stranigan following the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
During his tenure he amassed 352 wins, the most for any Division 1 college coach in Colorado history. His teams made a total of 4 NCAA Tournament and 2 NIT appearances. In 1969 he took the Rams to the Elite Eight
of the NCAA Tournament, beating arch-rival Colorado in the Sweet Sixteen
before losing a tightly contested game to Drake University
.
Williams also served as the school's athletic director during the construction of Moby Arena
and Hughes Stadium
and the school's entrance into the Western Athletic Conference.
Following his dismissal in 1980 Williams continued to attend CSU games where he was given his own special courtside seat. Williams was also among the first entrants in CSU Sports Hall of Fame.
On May 31, 2007, Williams died at the age of 92.
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
of the Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
Men's basketball program for 25 seasons (1955–1980). He succeeded Bill Stranigan following the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
During his tenure he amassed 352 wins, the most for any Division 1 college coach in Colorado history. His teams made a total of 4 NCAA Tournament and 2 NIT appearances. In 1969 he took the Rams to the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
of the NCAA Tournament, beating arch-rival Colorado in the Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
before losing a tightly contested game to Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
.
Williams also served as the school's athletic director during the construction of Moby Arena
Moby Arena
Moby Arena is a 8,745-seat basketball arena in Fort Collins, Colorado. The arena, originally named Moby Gymnasium, was opened on January 27, 1966 with a victory over New Mexico State...
and Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference....
and the school's entrance into the Western Athletic Conference.
Following his dismissal in 1980 Williams continued to attend CSU games where he was given his own special courtside seat. Williams was also among the first entrants in CSU Sports Hall of Fame.
On May 31, 2007, Williams died at the age of 92.
Coaching career
- Snow Junior College, Head Coach
- Colorado State UniversityColorado State UniversityColorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, Head Coach 1955-1980