Jim Fenwick (American football)

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)
99–57–1 (junior college)
Bowls5–2 (junior college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Southern California Conference (1983–1985)
2 WSC Southern Division (1995–1996)

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

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.[6] In 1988, he was hired as the running backs coach for NCAA Division I-A Miami (OH) under head coach Tim Rose.[8][5] 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.[6][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.[12][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.[16] 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.[18] 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.[23]

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.[18] In 2004, Fenwick was diagnosed with leukemia and was forced to miss the entirety of the 2004 season.[19] He went into remission in 2004 and returned to coaching the following year.[19] In 2020, his cancer returned and underwent two bone marrow transplants.[26] He died on February 17, 2022.[27][28][29]

Head coaching record

College

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 0–0 N/A[a]
Eastern Oregon: 11–18
Total: 15–26[n 1]

Junior college

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Pierce Brahmas (Metropolitan Conference) (1981–1982)
1981 Pierce 5–5 3–3 T–4th
1982 Pierce 2–8
Pierce Brahmas (Southern California Conference) (1981–1982)
1983 Pierce 9–2 5–1 1st W Mission
1984 Pierce 10–1 6–0 1st L Potato
1985 Pierce 9–2 5–0 1st W Brahma
Pierce: 35–18
Los Angeles Valley Monarchs (Western State Conference) (1991–1996)
1991 Los Angeles Valley 4–6 4–5 / 1–4 5th (Southern)
1992 Los Angeles Valley 5–4–1 5–4 / 2–3 T–3rd (Southern)
1993 Los Angeles Valley 9–2 7–2 / 3–2 2nd (Southern) W Orange County
1994 Los Angeles Valley 10–1 9–1 / 5–1 2nd (Southern) W Orange County
1995 Los Angeles Valley 10–1 6–0 1st (Southern) L Strawberry
1996 Los Angeles Valley 10–1 9–1 / 6–0 1st (Southern) W No Fear
Los Angeles Valley Monarchs (American Pacific Conference) (2009–2012)
2009 Los Angeles Valley 3–7 3–4 T–4th
2010 Los Angeles Valley 6–4 4–2 T–2nd
2011 Los Angeles Valley 5–5 3–3 T–3rd
2012 Los Angeles Valley 2–8 2–5 6th
Los Angeles Valley: 64–39–1 52–27
Total: 99–57–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Notes

  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

  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 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. ^ Morgan, David (February 7, 1986). "Fenwick Will Leave Pierce to Join CSUN Football Staff". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 16, part III. Retrieved May 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ "Miami adds two coaches". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 22, 1988. p. 17. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "Spisak quits Redskins' staff". The Cincinnati Post. August 29, 1989. p. 21. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "Pacific U." Times-Advocate. April 3, 1990. p. 33. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Ortega, John (May 2, 1991). "Valley Names Ferrero to Post as AD". The Los Angeles Times. p. 677. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Cal State Northridge hires football coach". The Billings Gazette. January 11, 1997. p. 28. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  13. ^ "Fenwick". The Los Angeles Times. January 11, 1997. p. 54. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  14. ^ "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
  15. ^ Dominguez, Fernando (January 6, 1998). "Fenwick Saying Adios to Matadors". The Los Angeles Times. p. 83. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Thompson, Edgar (August 27, 1998). "Take to the air". The Albuquerque Tribune. p. 36. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Cs Northridge Loses Football Coach | The Spokesman-Review". The Spokesman-Review. January 6, 1998. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Eastern Oregon picks Fenwick as coach". Statesman Journal. November 30, 2001. p. 17. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Frontier accepts Eastern Oregon into conference". The Billings Gazette. December 16, 2003. p. 28. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "Union challenges firing at Eastern Oregon". The Olympian. February 22, 2006. p. 26. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Adame, Tony (November 19, 2005). "Successful football coach fired by Eastern Oregon". The Bulletin. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Fenwick returning to Valley College sidelines, takes over as football coach". Los Angeles Daily News. April 2, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  24. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (November 30, 2020). "Legendary coach and administrator Jim Fenwick is ready to retire". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ^ "Former coach and athletic administrator Jim Fenwick passes away at age 69". February 23, 2022.
  26. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (November 24, 2021). "Column: Former football coach Jim Fenwick battling through second bone-marrow transplant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  27. ^ Gamino, Felipe (March 2, 2022). "Former Pierce coach dies". Pierce College Round Up. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  28. ^ Royer, Benjamin (February 22, 2022). "Jim Fenwick, former Valley College athletic director and football coach, dies at 69". Mysite. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  29. ^ Moreno, Michael (March 24, 2022). "His last touchdown". Pierce College Round Up. Retrieved April 18, 2024.