Jim Christian

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Jim Christian
Jim Christian and Josh Pastner, March 2019 (cropped).jpg
Christian in 2019
Biographical details
Born (1965-02-06) February 6, 1965 (age 56)
Bethpage, New York
Playing career
1983–1985Boston University
1986–1988Rhode Island
1988–1989Sydney City Comets
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1990–1992Western Kentucky (assistant)
1992–1994Saint Francis (PA) (assistant)
1994–1995Western Kentucky (assistant)
1995–1996Miami (OH) (assistant)
1996–1999Pittsburgh (assistant)
2001–2002Kent State (assistant)
2002–2008Kent State
2008–2012TCU
2012–2014Ohio
2014–2021Boston College
Head coaching record
Overall320–286 (.528)
Tournaments0–2 (NCAA Division I)
0–5 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 MAC Tournament (2006, 2008)
5 MAC East Division (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013)
Awards
2× MAC Coach of the Year (2006, 2008)

James Patrick Christian[1] (born February 6, 1965) is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as the head coach of the Boston College men's basketball team. He previously held the same position at Kent State, TCU and Ohio.

On April 25, 2018, Christian signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Boston College through the 2021–22 season. He was relieved of his duties on February 15, 2021. [2]

Playing career[]

James Patrick Christian was born in Bethpage, New York. He was an all-state guard at St. Dominic High School in nearby Oyster Bay while playing under Ralph Willard, who later was the head coach at Western Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Holy Cross. Following his prep career, Christian was recruited by coach Rick Pitino at Boston University where he played two seasons before transferring to the University of Rhode Island. Both Willard and Pitino also attended St. Dominic High School.

Christian played his final two campaigns under Tom Penders at the University of Rhode Island, where he helped the Rams reach the Sweet Sixteen of the 1988 NCAA Tournament. The former standout guard guided the Rams to victories over Missouri and Syracuse before dropping a 73–72 decision to Duke in the Sweet 16 round.

After earning his bachelor's degree in consumer affairs from the University of Rhode Island in 1988, Christian spent one season playing professionally in the Australian Basketball Association for the Sydney City Comets.

Coaching career[]

After returning to the United States, Christian became the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers' assistant coach under head coach Ralph Willard from 1990 to 1992. From there, Christian went on to assist head coaches at Saint Francis University (1992–1994), Matt Kilcullen again at Western Kentucky University (1994–1995), Herb Sendek at Miami University (1995–1996), Ralph Willard at University of Pittsburgh (1996–1999), and Stan Heath at Kent State University (2001–2002).

Kent State[]

After assisting former head coach Stan Heath in the 2001–02 season, Christian became head coach at Kent State University from 2002 to 2008, where he led the Golden Flashes to six consecutive seasons of twenty or more wins, four MAC East division titles, two overall MAC titles, and two conference tournament championships. His teams also had five post-season appearances, three in the NIT and two in the NCAA Tournament. His record at Kent State was 137–59.[3]

TCU[]

At Texas Christian University, Christian took over the position vacated by Neil Dougherty in March 2008. In Christian's final year coaching the Horned Frogs, he helped the program break a seven-year losing streak and gave them a bid in the College Basketball Invitational Tournament. The squad posted an 18–15 overall record, four more wins than in any season since 2004–05, and ended with its best finish ever in the Mountain West Conference at fifth place.[4]

Ohio[]

On Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Christian was named the new head basketball coach at Ohio, becoming the program's 17th head coach, after former head coach John Groce left for Illinois.

In Christian's first year, the Ohio Bobcats shared the MAC regular season title with Akron with a conference record of 14–2, Ohio's first regular season title since 1994.[5] Ohio earned themselves a No. 2 seed in the MAC tournament, where they beat Western Michigan 74–63. The following evening, Ohio lost to Akron 65–46 in the MAC Championships, losing a bid to the NCAA tournament.[6] However, Ohio earned an at-large bid in the 2013 NIT tournament as a number 6 seed in the Alabama quadrant.[7]

On April 3, 2014, Christian resigned his position at Ohio to become the head coach at Boston College, replacing Steve Donahue.[8]

Personal life[]

Christian and his wife, Patty, were married in the summer of 2005, and have three children, MacKenzie, Zach, and Jay.

Head coaching record[]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Kent State Golden Flashes (Mid-American Conference) (2002–2008)
2002–03 Kent State 21–10 12–6 1st (East) NIT First Round
2003–04 Kent State 22–9 13–5 1st (East) NIT First Round
2004–05 Kent State 20–13 11–7 T–2nd (East) NIT First Round
2005–06 Kent State 25–9 15–3 1st (East) NCAA Division I First Round
2006–07 Kent State 21–11 12–4 2nd (East)
2007–08 Kent State 28–7 13–3 1st (East) NCAA Division I First Round
Kent State: 137–59 (.699) 76–28 (.731)
TCU Horned Frogs (Mountain West Conference) (2008–2012)
2008–09 TCU 14–17 5–11 7th
2009–10 TCU 13–19 5–11 7th
2010–11 TCU 11–22 1–15 9th
2011–12 TCU 18–15 7–7 5th CBI Quarterfinal
TCU: 56–73 (.434) 18–44 (.290)
Ohio Bobcats (Mid-American Conference) (2012–2014)
2012–13 Ohio 24–10 14–2 T–1st (East) NIT First Round
2013–14 Ohio 25–12 11–7 3rd (East) CIT Quarterfinal
Ohio: 49–22 (.690) 25–9 (.735)
Boston College (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2014–2021)
2014–15 Boston College 13–19 4–14 13th
2015–16 Boston College 7–25 0–18 15th
2016–17 Boston College 9–23 2–16 15th
2017–18 Boston College 19–16 7–11 12th NIT First Round
2018–19 Boston College 14–17 5–13 T–11th
2019–20 Boston College 13–19 7–13 T–10th Postseason not held
2020–21 Boston College 3–13 1–9
Boston College: 78–132 (.371) 26–94 (.217)
Total: 320–286 (.528)

      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[]

  1. ^ "Executive, administrative, and professional staff - staff appointments". Minutes of the Board of Regents, Western Kentucky University. December 12, 1990. p. 8. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  2. ^ Andy Backstrom (2018-04-25). "Christian Signs Two-Year Extension Through 2021-22 Season". The Heights. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  3. ^ Withers, Tom. "Sports Writer". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Jim Christian's Coaching Biography". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  5. ^ "Ohio Shares MAC Title With 58–54 Win Over Miami". ohiobobcats.com. Ohio University. March 9, 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  6. ^ Moylan, Connor (16 March 2013). "Akron wins 2013 MAC basketball tournament: Zips stifle Bobcats". SB Nation. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  7. ^ Arkley, Jason (17 March 2013). "Ohio lands NIT bid". The Athens Messenger. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  8. ^ Vega, Michael (3 April 2014). "BC hires Jim Christian as basketball coach". Boston Globe. Retrieved 5 April 2014.

External links[]

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