Jim Williams (basketball coach)

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Jim Williams
Title Head Coach
College Colorado State
Sport Basketball
Born March 19, 1915(1915-03-19)
Place of birth Flag of the United States Malad City, Idaho
Died May 31, 2007 (aged 92)
Place of death Flag of the United States Fort Collins, Colorado
Career highlights
Overall 352-283
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946-1954
1955-1980
Snow Junior College
Colorado State

Jim Williams (March 3, 1919-May 31, 2007) was coach of the Colorado State 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 8 of the NCAA Tournament, beating arch-rival Colorado in the Sweet 16 before losing a tightly contested game to Drake.

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.

[edit] Coaching career