Jim Kerwin
Jim Kerwin (1941-2021)
Teams coached: Western Illinois Leathernecks
Western Illinois record: 134-175 (.434)
Overall record^: 134-175 (.434)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
Awards:
- Summit League Coach of the Year: 1 (1999)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1992-2003 | Western Illinois |
| 1990-1992 | Kansas State (asst) |
| 1984-1990 | Oklahoma (asst) |
| 1980-1984 | Seminole State CC |
| 1978-1980 | Northern Oklahoma CC |
Jim Kerwin Facts
- James Kerwin
- Born March 23, 1941
- Died August 13, 2021
- Hometown: Long Branch, New Jersey
- Alma Mater: Tulane University (BA, 1963)
- After graduating from Croydon Hall HS (NJ), Kerwin played for at Tulane for Hall of Fame coach Clifford Wells
- Was a three-year starter and was First-Team All-SEC in 1962; drafted by the Knicks in 1963 but never played in the NBA
- Played four seasons with the Phillips 66ers, an amateur (AAU) team based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
- First coaching jobs were in Oklahoma, working at Caney HS from 1968-70 and Stillwater HS from 1973-78
- Started his college coaching career at the JUCO level, spending two seasons at Northern Oklahoma CC and four at Seminole State CC (FL)
- Joined Billy Tubbs‘ staff at Oklahoma in 1984, working with the Sooners for the next six seasons
- Part of three Big Eight titles and six NCAA Tournaments, including OU’s 1988 NCAA Runner-up finish
- Left for Kansas State in 1990, spending two seasons as an assistant under new Wildcats’ head coach Dana Altman
- Hired in 1992 to be the head coach at Western Illinois, leading the Leathernecks for the eleven seasons
- Went 134-175 overall, highlighted by five-straight winning seasons from 1994-99; named Summit (MCC) COY in 1999
- Resigned in 2003 citing health concerns; has the fourth-most coaching wins in program history
- Moved back to Oklahoma in 2003 then later to Arkansas; passed away in August 2021 at the age of 81
- Survived by his wife (Gayle), daughter (Kari), son (Kyle), three grandchildren, two sisters, and younger brother
Jim Kerwin Coaching Tree
- Brad Underwood (Illinois, Oklahoma State, Stephen F. Austin)
^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only
