Jim Sweeney (2002) - Hall of Fame - Montana State University Athletics

Jim Sweeney

Induction:
2002
Class:
1967

Jim Sweeney Head Football Coach, 1963-67 Years as MSU Coach: Head Coach- 1963-67 Assistant- 1960-62 Honors Earned: Big Sky coach of the Year, 1964, ’66, ‘67 Hometown: Butte, Montana “Jim is a coaching legend. His legacy of success, both here and at other schools, is a very real part of our program’s tradition.” – MSU Head Coach Mike Kramer Jim Sweeney was a college football head coach for 32 years. In 11 of those seasons, Sweeney earned his conference’s coach of the year award, a staggering figure dwarfed only by that fact that Sweeney drew regional coach of the year honors at each of the three schools whose football program he led. Sweeney came to Montana State as an assistant coach to Herb Agocs in 1960 after building a football dynasty at Flathead High. He joined a strong program and MSU was 15-9-2 in his tree seasons as Bobcat assistant, tutoring such luminaries as Bill Cords, Bobo Cegelski and Joe Tiller. In 1963, Sweeney took over the Bobcat program and led Montana State to a 6-3 record. The next season MSU won its first Big Sky title, and repeated that feat in 1966 and 1967. He won Big sky Coach of the year honors three times in his five years at MSU and was the regional coach of the year in 1966. From MSU, Sweeney went to Washington State, where he was 26-59-1 in eight seasons but won 1972 Pac 8 and District Coach of the Year honors. In 1976, Sweeney moved on to Fresno State, where he built the Bulldog program into a dynasty. He was 143-75-3 in his 19 years there. His career numbers are nearly unbelievable: 200 wins, 12 conference titles, five bowl wins, 11 conference coach of the year awards, and four district coach of the year awards. He coached nine players or assistants that would rise to the ranks of Division 1 Head coach, and eight players who would play in the NFL.