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A blog about sports in Montana, with an emphasis on Flathead Valley High Schools.
Former Flathead Coach Jim Sweeney Passes Away
Sweeney coached 19 seasons at Fresno State University and holds the school record for victories with 144
Jim Sweeney, a Butte native who coached Flathead High to back-to-back football championships before becoming an icon in the college ranks, passed away Feb. 8 in Fresno, Calif., at the age of 83.
Sweeney coached 19 seasons at Fresno State University and holds the school record for victories with 144. Following his retirement in 1996 the school renamed the field at Bulldog Stadium in his honor.
"He was a man of vision, toughness and character who led the Bulldogs to new heights and went on to become a national icon,” Fresno State Athletic Director Thomas Boeh said in a statement.
Sweeney began his head coaching career at Butte Central before taking over Flathead’s program in 1956. In four seasons under Sweeney, the Braves won two state championships, in 1958 and 1959. Sweeney left Flathead in 1959 to become an assistant coach at Montana State University. He was promoted to head coach in 1963 and guided the Bobcats to three consecutive Big Sky Conference championships. Sweeney went on to coach for Washington State University and two NFL franchises, Oakland and St. Louis, but spent the bulk of his career at Fresno. He retired with 201 total college wins in 32 seasons as a head coach. He coached 44 seasons overall.
Sweeney coached 19 seasons at Fresno State University and holds the school record for victories with 144. Following his retirement in 1996 the school renamed the field at Bulldog Stadium in his honor.
"He was a man of vision, toughness and character who led the Bulldogs to new heights and went on to become a national icon,” Fresno State Athletic Director Thomas Boeh said in a statement.
Sweeney began his head coaching career at Butte Central before taking over Flathead’s program in 1956. In four seasons under Sweeney, the Braves won two state championships, in 1958 and 1959. Sweeney left Flathead in 1959 to become an assistant coach at Montana State University. He was promoted to head coach in 1963 and guided the Bobcats to three consecutive Big Sky Conference championships. Sweeney went on to coach for Washington State University and two NFL franchises, Oakland and St. Louis, but spent the bulk of his career at Fresno. He retired with 201 total college wins in 32 seasons as a head coach. He coached 44 seasons overall.
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