Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Athletic Director, Basketball Administration
Jim Christian was the head coach at Boston College from April 2014 to 2021.
In 2017-18, Christian helped guide BC to a 19-win season - the most victories since the 2010-11 season - and a return to the postseason. The Eagles’ season was highlighted by a win over top-ranked Duke in December, a trip to the quarterfinals of the 2018 ACC Championship, and a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.
Under Christian’s tutelage, Jerome Robinson became Boston College’s fifth All-American and first-ever NBA Lottery Pick. Runner-up for 2017-18 ACC Player of the Year, Robinson was selected 13th overall in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Prior to his time with Boston College, Christian spent two seasons as head coach at Ohio, leading the Bobcats to a 49-22 record in that time. He is the Mid-American Conference's all-time leader in winning percentage (187-80, .700) and reached 20 wins in eight seasons as a head coach in the conference. His .731 winning percentage in league games (101-37) is second-best in MAC history.
Christian began his head coaching career at Kent State where he compiled a record of 138-58 (.704). He led the Golden Flashes to five postseason appearances in his six seasons at the helm. He earned MAC Coach of the Year accolades in 2006 and 2008, both times leading Kent State to the conference title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Flashes earned NIT berths in each of his first three seasons.
Kent State won at least 20 games every year with Christian at the helm. He guided the Golden Flashes to the program's first-ever top 25 ranking in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Kent was No. 23 on the Associated Press poll and 24 on the USA Today/Coaches poll, released on Feb. 25, 2008.
The 2007-08 season was one of the best in Kent State history. The Golden Flashes finished 28-7, including a school-record 25 regular season wins. Kent won both the MAC regular season and tournament championships and earned a program-best no. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
While in Kent, Christian mentored two All-Americans (Antonio Gates, DeAndre Haynes), two MAC Players of the Year (DeAndre Haynes, Al Fisher), three MAC Defensive Players of the Year (Demetric Shaw, John Edwards, Haminn Quaintance), one MAC Sixth Man of the Year (Kevin Warzynski) and a total of 19 All-MAC selections, including six first teamers. Gates signed with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League and has put forth one of the finest careers as a tight end in pro football history.
Christian served as an assistant coach at Kent State in 2001-02, when the program advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. Prior to Kent, Christian was an assistant at four different programs.
While at Pittsburgh from 1996-99, Christian guided the development of Vonteego Cummings, a two-time All-Big East player who went on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors. During the 1995-96 season, Christian was part of the Miami (Ohio) program that posted a 21-8 overall record - including a 12-6 mark in MAC play - en route to a trip to the NIT.
He served two stints as an assistant at Western Kentucky, including the highly-successful 1994-95 season in which the Hilltoppers went 27-4, including a 17-1 record in the Sun Belt Conference, en route to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The 27 wins were the fourth-most in program history.
Christian's first full-time assistant coaching position came at St. Francis (Pa.). from 1992-94.
From 1999-2001, Christian was a college basketball talent evaluator at Octagon Sports Marketing and Management.
A native of Bethpage, N.Y., Christian was an all-state guard at St. Dominic High School while playing under Ralph Willard. Christian was recruited by Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino to Boston University where he played two seasons. Christian played his final two campaigns under Tom Penders at Rhode Island where he helped the Rams reach the Sweet Sixteen in the 1988 NCAA Tournament.
The standout guard led the Rams to victories over Missouri and Syracuse before losing a 73-72 game to Duke for the right to advance to the Elite Eight. After graduation, Christian spent one season playing professionally in Australia for the Sydney City Comets.
Christian earned his bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs from the University of Rhode Island in 1988. He and his wife, Patty, have three children, MacKenzie, Zach and Jay.
