Jim Whitesell

Jim Whitesell (born December 27, 1959)

Current position: Assistant men’s basketball coach
Current team: Albany Great Danes (Head coach: Dwayne Killings)
Current conference: America East Conference
Teams coached: Elmhurst Bluejays, Lewis Flyers, Loyola Ramblers, Buffalo Bulls
Elmhurst record^: 64-68 (.485)
Lewis record^: 214-136 (.629)
Loyola (IL) record: 109-107 (.505)
Buffalo record: 70-49 (.588)
Overall record^: 457-370 (.553)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (2021)
  • GLVC (Div II) Regular Season Champion: (2004)
  • GLVC (Div II) Tournament Champion: (2002)
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances:  4  (1998, 1999, 2003, 2004)
  • NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances:  1  (1992)

Awards:

  • GLVC (Div II) Coach of the Year:  1  (2004)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2023-present Albany (asst)
2019-2023 Buffalo
2015-2019 Buffalo (assoc. HC)
2013-2015 St. John’s (asst)
2011-2013 Saint Louis (asst)
2004-2011 Loyola (IL)
1992-2004 Lewis
1987-1992 Elmhurst
1985-1987 Minnesota State (asst)
1984-1985 Wabash Valley (asst)
1983-1984 Ellsworth CC (asst)
1982-1983 North Dakota (grad. asst)

Jim Whitesell Facts

  • Jim Whitesell
  • Born December 27, 1959
  • Hometown: Iowa Falls, Iowa
  • Alma Mater: Luther College (BA, 1982)
  • First coaching roles were as a graduate assistant under Dave Gunther at North Dakota, then one season each assistant at Ellsworth CC (IA) and Wabash Valley CC (IA) and two seasons at D-II Minnesota State
  • Spent five years as head coach at D-III Elmhurst (IL), going 64-68 overall and reaching the D-III NCAA Tournament in his fifth and final season
  • Was then the head coach at Division II Lewis (IL) for 12 seasons
    • Won 214 games, one GLVC conference title, one GLVC Tournament and went to the D-II NCAA Tournament four times
  • Hired in 2004 to be the head coach at Loyola Chicago, leading the Ramblers for seven seasons
    • Went 109-107 durng his tenure at Loyola, but failed to reach the postseason
  • Continued coaching at the Division I level, spending two seasons each as an assistant at Saint Louis (under Rick Majerus and Jim Crews) and St. John’s (under Steve Lavin)
  • Joined Nate Oats‘ staff at Buffalo in 2015 as associate head coach
    • Was with the Bulls during their successful run under Oats, including three NCAA Tournament berths and top-25 AP rankings throughout the 2018-19 season
  • Elevated to head coach at Buffalo in April 2019, following Oats’ departure to Alabama
    • Whitesell went 70-49 over four years, with one NIT bid (2021) and just one losing season; was let go in March 2023
  • Hired in September 2023 to be an assistant coach on Dwayne Killings‘ staff at Albany

Jim Whitesell Coaching Tree

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III levels