Jim Fenwick (American football)

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Jim Fenwick
Biographical details
Bornc. 1952 (1952)
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 2022(2022-02-17) (aged 69–70)
Playing career
1970–1971Pierce
1972–1973Wichita State
Position(s)Tailback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1974–1975Pierce (OC)
1976–1980Pierce (DC)
1981–1985Pierce
1986Cal State Northridge (ST/RB)
1987Los Angeles Valley (OC)
1988Miami (OH) (RB)
1989Miami (OH) (co-OL)
1990Pacific (CA) (RB)
1991–1996Los Angeles Valley
1997Cal State Northridge
1998–1999New Mexico (OC)
2000–2001Eastern Oregon (OC)
2002–2003Eastern Oregon
2005Eastern Oregon
2006–2008Occidental (OC)
2009–2012Los Angeles Valley
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2012–2020Los Angeles Valley
Head coaching record
Overall15–26[n 1] (college)

James Fenwick (c. 1952 – 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[edit]

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

Coaching career[edit]

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] He led the team to three Southern California Conference championships.[6] In 1986, he left Pierce to become the special teams coordinator for Cal State Northridge.[6] After one season, he returned to junior college to become the offensive coordinator for Los Angeles Valley.[6] In 1988, he was hired as the running backs coach for NCAA Division I-A Miami (OH) under head coach Tim Rose.[7][5] In 1989, he served as the co-offensive line coach for the RedHawks.[8] In 1990, he joined Pacific as the running backs coach.[9]

In 1991, Fenwick was hired as the head football coach for Los Angeles Valley.[6][10] In six seasons as head coach he led the team to a 50–13 record; including three ten-win seasons.[11] In 1997, he rejoined Cal State Northridge, this time as the head football coach.[11][12] 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.[13][14] After one season, he was hired as the offensive coordinator for New Mexico.[15][16] During his tenure he introduced the Lobos to a West Coast offense.[15] He served in the position for two years before taking the same position at Eastern Oregon.[17] In 2002, he was promoted to head coach.[17] Before the 2004 season, Fenwick was diagnosed with leukemia and had to miss the season.[18] 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.[19] He was fired four days after the conclusion of the 2005 season.[20][21] In 2006, Fenwick was hired as the offensive coordinator for Occidental.[22] 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.[22]

Later career[edit]

From 2012 until his retirement in 2020, Fenwick served as the athletic director for Los Angeles Valley College.[23][24]

Family, health, and death[edit]

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.[17] In 2004, Fenwick was diagnosed with leukemia and was forced to miss the entirety of the 2004 season.[18] He went into remission in 2004 and returned to coaching the following year.[18] In 2020, his cancer returned and underwent two bone marrow transplants.[25] He died on February 17, 2022.[26][27][28]

Head coaching record[edit]

College[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Cal State Northridge Matadors (Big Sky Conference) (1997)
1997 Cal State Northridge 4–8[n 1] 4–4 T–4th
Cal State Northridge: 4–8[n 1] 4–4
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (NCAA Division III independent) (2002–2003)
2002 Eastern Oregon 1–9
2003 Eastern Oregon 4–6
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (Frontier Conference) (2005)
2005 Eastern Oregon 6–3 [a]
Eastern Oregon: 11–18
Total: 15–26[n 1]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Not eligible for conference standings as the team was under a probationary period while transitioning from the NCAA Division III to the NAIA's Frontier Conference.
  1. ^ a b c d Cal State Northridge originally finished the 1997 season 6–6 but had to forfeit their wins over Boise State and Azusa Pacific due to ineligible players. Cal State Northridge is now credited with a 4–8 record.

References[edit]

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