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Jim Wooldridge

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Jim Wooldridge was a standout basketball player at the high school & collegiate levels before a coaching career that led him all the way to the NBA.  Wooldridge helped lead the Pirates to an undefeated, State Title season in 1972.  He then went on to help lead Louisiana Tech to a Southland Conference title in 1976.  After his playing days, he was an assistant at Louisiana Tech, East Central & Central Missouri.  He then became head coach at Central Missouri, then Texas State, Louisiana Tech, Kansas State &, Finally, UC-Riverside.  During that run, he also served as an assistant for the Chicago Bulls.  He won a National Championship at Central Missouri in 1984 & was the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1994.

  • Faith 7 Selection (Senior)

  • Coaches’ All-State Selection (Senior)

  • Member of State Championship Team (Junior)

  • Inducted into the Putnam City Hall of Fame as a member of the 1972 PC Basketball Team (2023)

  • Honorable Mention Daily Oklahoman All-City (Senior)

  • Continued Career at Louisiana Tech University

  • 4x Letterwinner for the Bulldogs (1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77)

  • Member of Southland Conference Championship Team (1975-76)

  • Went on to have a long career as a Basketball Coach, Serving as Head Coach at the University of Central Missouri (1985-1991), Texas State University (1991-1994), Louisiana Tech (1994-1998), Kansas State (2000-2006) and UC-Riverside (2007-2013)

  • Coached Texas State to the Southland Conference Championship (1993-94)

  • Southland Conference Coach of the Year (1993-94)

  • Was also an Assistant Coach at Louisiana Tech (1977-1978), East Central (1978-1982), Central Missouri (1982-1985) and in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls (1998-2000)

  • Won an NCAA D2 National Championship as an assistant at Central Missouri (1983-84)

  • Coached Ron Artest, Toni Kukoc & Elton Brand

  • After coaching, became the Athletic Director at UC-Riverside from 2013-2015 and Riverside Community College from 2015-2020

  • Inducted into the Central Missouri Hall of Fame as a member of the 1983-84 Team

  • Inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1983-84 Central Missouri Basketball Team

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Chicago Bulls Coach (left)

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Coaching at East Central (back, far right)

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Coaching at Kansas State

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Louisiana Tech

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Coaching at Louisiana Tech

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Putnam City Basketball

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Coaching at Texas State

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Coaching at Central missouri

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Coaching at UC-Riverside (right, with Bill Walton)

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