Jim Chapman (American football)

Jimmy Dale Chapman (September 19, 1935 – September 26, 2019) was a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Case Western Reserve University from 1982 to 1986 and at Mercyhurst College—now known as Mercyhurst University—from 1990 to 1992, compiling a career college football coaching record of 47–23–2.

Jim Chapman
Biographical details
Born(1935-09-19)September 19, 1935
Marion, Ohio
DiedSeptember 26, 2019(2019-09-26) (aged 84)
Monroe, North Carolina
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960–1965Anderson HS (OH) (RB)
1966–1967Fairport HS (OH)
1968–1981Willoughby South HS (OH)
1982–1986Case Western Reserve
1987–1989West Geauga HS (OH)
1990–1992Mercyhurst
Head coaching record
Overall47–23–2 (college)
101–35–6 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAC (1984)
Awards
Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2010)

Early years

Chapman graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1953, earning six combined letters in football, basketball, and baseball, including earning first-team all-Buckeye League as defensive back his senior season.[1]

Chapman was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and graduated Ohio University in 1960 with his bachelor's degree and University of Cincinnati in 1965 with his master's degree.[2]

Coaching

Willoughby South High School

At the high school level, he coached Willoughby South to a 101–35–6 (.732) record from 1968 to 1981, earning five Greater Cleveland Conference championships (1970, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1980).[3]

Case Western Reserve University

According to Sports Illustrated, Chapman's 1983 Christmas card to the players read: "9-0 and Number 1 in the NCAC and NCAA."[4]

For the first time in 46 years, the Spartans went undefeated, winning the first ever North Coast Athletic Conference title during its inaugural season in 1984. Even though they defeated playoff team Washington and Jefferson 34–16 during the regular season,[5] they were not invited to the 8-team 1984 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Spartans were led by two-time All-American quarterback Fred DiSanto and defensively by three-time All-American Ron Stepanovic.

Chapman achieved a record of 36–7–1 (.830) over his five seasons.[6] He holds the highest winning percentage (.830) for any Spartans coach in school post-merger history, and is second all-time to only Coach Bill Edwards (.877), the College Football Hall of Fame coach from the Western Reserve Red Cats days.

Honors and death

In 2010, Chapman was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (OHSFCA).

Chapman died on September 26, 2019, in Monroe, North Carolina.[7]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Case Western Reserve Spartans (Presidents' Athletic Conference) (1982–1983)
1982 Case Western Reserve 5–35–22nd
1983 Case Western Reserve 8–16–12nd
Case Western Reserve Spartans (North Coast Athletic Conference) (1984–1986)
1984 Case Western Reserve 9–06–01st
1985 Case Western Reserve 7–25–12nd
1986 Case Western Reserve 7–1–15–12nd
Case Western Reserve: 36–7–127–5
Mercyhurst Lakers (NCAA Division III independent) (1990–1992)
1990 Mercyhurst 1–8
1991 Mercyhurst 5–4
1992 Mercyhurst 5–4–1
Mercyhurst: 11–16–1
Total:47–23–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. https://www.news-herald.com/sports/jim-chapman-left-indelible-mark-on-northeast-ohio-gridiron-opinion/article_80d15838-ff87-11e9-87de-4bcaae20f928.html
  2. Ohio University Alumni Association (October 1, 1968). "The Ohio Alumnus, October-November 1968". Ohio University Alumni Association – via Internet Archive.
  3. "South legend Chapman heads to Hall".
  4. "DIVISION III".
  5. "CWRU Football 1984/85". www.case.edu.
  6. "Jim Chapman". www.case.edu.
  7. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-herald/obituary.aspx?n=jim-chapman&pid=194074912&fhid=31885
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.