American basketball player and coach
Jim Kerwin (March 23, 1941 – August 13, 2021) was an American retired basketball player and college coach.
Kerwin, a 6'3" shooting guard from Long Branch, New Jersey who attended Croydon Hall High School in Middletown, New Jersey ,[ 1] came to Tulane and was a three-year starter for the Green Wave and one of the Southeastern Conference 's top scorers.[ 2] Kerwin left Tulane as the school's all-time leading scorer (since eclipsed) with 1,462 points. After the season, he was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1963 NBA draft (sixth round, 45th pick), but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Following an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) career with the Phillips 66ers , Kerwin moved to coaching at the junior college level, coaching Northern Oklahoma College and Seminole State College , where he coached future NBA player Anthony Bowie .[ 3] Kerwin then moved to Oklahoma as an assistant to Billy Tubbs for six seasons, coaching Sooner players such as Mookie Blaylock , Stacey King , Harvey Grant , Brent Price, and Ricky Grace, then moved to Dana Altman 's staff at Kansas State for two seasons. He was then named head coach for the Western Illinois University , where he coached for eleven seasons, compiling a record of 135–174. He resigned in 2003, citing health concerns.[ 4] [ 5]
Kerwin's brother Tom played basketball at Centenary College of Louisiana and for the Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA).[ 6]
Kerwin died in Springdale, Arkansas at the age of 81.[ 7]
Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Western Illinois Leathernecks (Mid-Continent Conference ) (1992–2003)
1992–93
Western Illinois
7–20
4–12
8th
1993–94
Western Illinois
7–20
5–13
9th
1994–95
Western Illinois
20–8
14–4
2nd
1995–96
Western Illinois
17–12
12–6
2nd
1996–97
Western Illinois
19–10
11–5
T–2nd
1997–98
Western Illinois
16–11
11–5
T–3rd
1998–99
Western Illinois
16–12
9–5
T–3rd
1999–2000
Western Illinois
8–22
3–13
9th
2000–01
Western Illinois
5–23
5–11
T–7th
2001–02
Western Illinois
12–16
3–11
7th
2002–03
Western Illinois
7–21
3–11
7th
Western Illinois:
134–175 (.434)
80–96 (.455)
Total:
134–175 (.434)
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion
Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion
Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion
References
^ Edelson, Stephen (January 26, 2016). "Jersey Shore's greatest basketball players: the 1960s" . Asbury Park Press . Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ "Tulane sharpshooter Jim Kerwin getting the eye" . The Dispatch . December 7, 1961. Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ Hersom, Bob (April 4, 1984). "Kerwin likely to jump to OU if he's asked" . The Oklahoman . Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ "Kerwin named coach at Western Illinois" . Tulsa World . April 25, 1992. Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ "Jim Kerwin resigns at Western Illinois" . The Oklahoman . March 13, 2003. Retrieved August 10, 2016 .
^ "Gents face Phillips Oilers on Monday" . The Times . January 10, 1965. p. 41. Retrieved July 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "James Kerwin Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information" . westfieldchapel.frontrunnerpro.com . Retrieved 2021-10-10 .