Jim Fenwick (American football) explained

Jim Fenwick
Birth Place:Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Player Years1:1970–1971
Player Team1:Pierce
Player Years2:1972–1973
Player Team2:Wichita State
Player Positions:Tailback
Coach Years1:1974–1975
Coach Team1:Pierce (OC)
Coach Years2:1976–1980
Coach Team2:Pierce (DC)
Coach Years3:1981–1985
Coach Team3:Pierce
Coach Years4:1986
Coach Team4:Cal State Northridge (ST/RB)
Coach Years5:1987
Coach Team5:Los Angeles Valley (OC)
Coach Years6:1988
Coach Team6:Miami (OH) (RB)
Coach Years7:1989
Coach Team7:Miami (OH) (co-OL)
Coach Years8:1990
Coach Team8:Pacific (CA) (RB)
Coach Years9:1991–1996
Coach Team9:Los Angeles Valley
Coach Years10:1997
Coach Team10:Cal State Northridge
Coach Years11:1998–1999
Coach Team11:New Mexico (OC)
Coach Years12:2000–2001
Coach Team12:Eastern Oregon (OC)
Coach Years13:2002–2003
Coach Team13:Eastern Oregon
Coach Years14:2005
Coach Team14:Eastern Oregon
Coach Years15:2006–2008
Coach Team15:Occidental (OC)
Coach Years16:2009–2012
Coach Team16:Los Angeles Valley
Admin Years1:2012–2020
Admin Team1:Los Angeles Valley
Overall Record:15–26 (college)
99–57–1 (junior college)
Bowl Record:5–2 (junior college)
Championships:3 Southern California Conference (1983–1985)
2 WSC Southern Division (1995–1996)

James Fenwick (– February 17, 2022) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Pierce College from 1981 to 1985, Los Angeles Valley College from 1991 to 1996 and 2009 and 2012, California State University, Northridge, in 1997, and Eastern Oregon University from 2002 to 2003 and in 2005.

Playing career

Fenwick played college football for Pierce and Wichita State as a tailback.[1] [2]

Coaching career

In 1974, Fenwick began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Pierce.[3] After two seasons he transitioned to the role of defensive coordinator.[4] In 1981, he was promoted to head football coach for the Brahmas.[5] [6] After a 2–8 season in 1982, Fenwick briefly accepted a coaching job at El Camino College but decided to remain at Pierce. He led the Brahmas to three consecutive Southern California Conference championships from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, he left Pierce, after compiling a record of 35–18 in five seasons, to become the special teams coordinator for Cal State Northridge.[7] After one season, he returned to junior college to become the offensive coordinator for Los Angeles Valley. In 1988, he was hired as the running backs coach for NCAA Division I-A Miami (OH) under head coach Tim Rose.[8] In 1989, he served as the co-offensive line coach for the RedHawks.[9] In 1990, he joined Pacific as the running backs coach.[10]

In 1991, Fenwick was hired as the head football coach for Los Angeles Valley.[11] In six seasons as head coach he led the team to a 48–15–1 record; including three ten-win seasons.[12] In 1997, he rejoined Cal State Northridge, this time as the head football coach.[13] In his one season at the helm, he led the team to a 6–6 record, but had to forfeit two wins, and is now credited for a 4–8 record.[14] [15] After one season, he was hired as the offensive coordinator for New Mexico.[16] [17] During his tenure he introduced the Lobos to a West Coast offense. He served in the position for two years before taking the same position at Eastern Oregon.[18] In 2002, he was promoted to head coach. Before the 2004 season, Fenwick was diagnosed with leukemia and had to miss the season.[19] He returned to coach in 2005. In three total seasons as head coach, he led the team to an 11–18 record including a winning 6–3 record in his final season and first in the transitionary period into the NAIA's Frontier Conference.[20] He was fired four days after the conclusion of the 2005 season.[21] [22] In 2006, Fenwick was hired as the offensive coordinator for Occidental.[23] In 2009, he returned for his second stint as the head football coach for Los Angeles Valley. He retired from coaching following the 2012 season.

Later career

From 2012 until his retirement in 2020, Fenwick served as the athletic director for Los Angeles Valley College.[24] [25]

Family, health, and death

Fenwick has two sons, one of which, Tyler, was the head football coach for Missouri University of Science and Technology, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and is currently the head football coach for Missouri Western State University. In 2004, Fenwick was diagnosed with leukemia and was forced to miss the entirety of the 2004 season. He went into remission in 2004 and returned to coaching the following year. In 2020, his cancer returned and underwent two bone marrow transplants.[26] He died on February 17, 2022.[27] [28] [29]

Head coaching record

Junior college

Notes and References

  1. News: Swagerty . John . September 28, 1972 . Fenwick Is One of 'Big Boys' at WSU . April 18, 2024 . The Wichita Eagle . 33.
  2. News: September 6, 1972 . Meet the Shockers . April 18, 2024 . The Wichita Beacon . 15.
  3. News: Cuomo . Bob . October 29, 1976 . Pierce QB Young Is West's Top Passer . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 59.
  4. News: November 20, 1980 . COC: Moorpark Beaten, No. 4 Spot Picked Up . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 243.
  5. News: Klein . Gary . July 6, 1988 . Miami (Ohio) Lures Fenwick From Valley . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 33.
  6. News: Healey . Brendan . March 14, 1991 . Fenwick Returns to Valley College; Goff to Retire as Athletic Director . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 719.
  7. News: Morgan . David . Fenwick Will Leave Pierce to Join CSUN Football Staff . . . February 7, 1986 . 16, part III . May 12, 2024 . .
  8. News: July 22, 1988 . Miami adds two coaches . April 18, 2024 . The Cincinnati Enquirer . 17.
  9. News: August 29, 1989 . Spisak quits Redskins' staff . April 18, 2024 . The Cincinnati Post . 21.
  10. News: April 3, 1990 . Pacific U. . April 18, 2024 . Times-Advocate . 33.
  11. News: Ortega . John . May 2, 1991 . Valley Names Ferrero to Post as AD . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 677.
  12. News: January 11, 1997 . Cal State Northridge hires football coach . April 18, 2024 . The Billings Gazette . 28.
  13. News: January 11, 1997 . Fenwick . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 54.
  14. News: Northridge to Forfeit Two Football Victories. The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California). Valley. May 22, 1998. C17. Newspapers.com. April 19, 2024.
  15. News: Dominguez . Fernando . January 6, 1998 . Fenwick Saying Adios to Matadors . April 18, 2024 . The Los Angeles Times . 83.
  16. News: Thompson . Edgar . August 27, 1998 . Take to the air . April 18, 2024 . The Albuquerque Tribune . 36.
  17. Web site: January 6, 1998 . Cs Northridge Loses Football Coach The Spokesman-Review . April 18, 2024 . The Spokesman-Review.
  18. News: November 30, 2001 . Eastern Oregon picks Fenwick as coach . April 18, 2024 . Statesman Journal . 17.
  19. News: Bighaus . Bill . October 23, 2004 . Eastern Oregon coach happy to be back with squad . April 18, 2024 . The Billings Gazette . 9.
  20. News: December 16, 2003 . Frontier accepts Eastern Oregon into conference . April 18, 2024 . The Billings Gazette . 28.
  21. News: February 22, 2006 . Union challenges firing at Eastern Oregon . April 18, 2024 . The Olympian . 26.
  22. Web site: Adame . Tony . November 19, 2005 . Successful football coach fired by Eastern Oregon . April 18, 2024 . The Bulletin.
  23. Web site: April 2, 2009 . Fenwick returning to Valley College sidelines, takes over as football coach . April 18, 2024 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  24. Web site: Sondheimer . Eric . November 30, 2020 . Legendary coach and administrator Jim Fenwick is ready to retire . Los Angeles Times.
  25. Web site: February 23, 2022 . Former coach and athletic administrator Jim Fenwick passes away at age 69 .
  26. Web site: Sondheimer . Eric . November 24, 2021 . Column: Former football coach Jim Fenwick battling through second bone-marrow transplant . April 18, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  27. Web site: Gamino . Felipe . March 2, 2022 . Former Pierce coach dies . April 18, 2024 . Pierce College Round Up.
  28. Web site: Royer . Benjamin . February 22, 2022 . Jim Fenwick, former Valley College athletic director and football coach, dies at 69 . April 18, 2024 . Mysite.
  29. Web site: Moreno . Michael . March 24, 2022 . His last touchdown . April 18, 2024 . Pierce College Round Up.