Jim Baechtold

Teams coached: Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Eastern Kentucky record: 70-57 (.551)
Overall record: 70-57 (.551)

1962-1967	Eastern Kentucky
1957-1962	Eastern Kentucky (asst)

James Edward Baechtold
Born December 9, 1927
Died August 29, 2011
Hometown: Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Alma Mater: Eastern Kentucky University (BA, 1952) / Indiana University (MA)
After graduating from Moon HS (PA), where he played basketball, baseball and football, he joined the US Army (during WWII)
Upon his return from the war, Baechtold played basketball for Paul McBrayer at Eastern Kentucky (1948-52)
- Member of the Eastern Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame (founding 2006 class) and was named to the EKU All-Century Team
Was selected 2nd overall in the 1952 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets, playing with that team for one season
- Spent the last four years of his NBA career with the New York Knicks, scoring 3,123 points (9.7 ppg) in his career)
- Played for HOF coaches Clair Bee (BAL) and Joe Lapchick (NYK); played his final season for Vince Boryla (NYK)
- Knee injury and surgery forced Baechtold to retire from the NBA in 1957
Returned to EKU that same year, spending the next five seasons assisting his former coach McBrayer
Became the head coach of the Colonels midway through the 1961-62 season, leading the team until 1967
- Compiled a 70-57 record overall, highlighted by OVC title and NCAA Tournament bid in 1965
After his coaching career, Baechtold stayed at his alma mater and worked as a professor in the Recreation and Parks Department
Passed away in 2011 at the age of 83; survived by his wife, Shirley, and their two sons, Jim and Dan