View source for Jim Christian

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (born 1965)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jim Christian
| image = Jim Christian and Josh Pastner, March 2019 (cropped).jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Christian in 2019
| current_title = Head coach 
| current_team = [[Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball|Canisius]]
| current_conference = [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]]
| current_record = {{Winning percentage|3|28|record=y}}
| contract = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|2|6}}
| birth_place = [[Bethpage, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1983–1985
| player_team1 = [[Boston University Terriers men's basketball|Boston University]]
| player_years2 = 1986–1988
| player_team2 = [[Rhode Island Rams men's basketball|Rhode Island]]
| player_years3 = 1988–1989
| player_team3 = Sydney City Comets
| player_positions = [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| coach_years1 = 1990–1992
| coach_team1 = [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Western Kentucky]] (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1992–1994
| coach_team2 = [[Saint Francis Red Flash men's basketball|Saint Francis (PA)]] (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 1994–1995
| coach_team3 = Western Kentucky (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 1995–1996
| coach_team4 = [[Miami RedHawks men's basketball|Miami (OH)]] (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 1996–1999
| coach_team5 = [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|Pittsburgh]] (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 2001–2002
| coach_team6 = [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|Kent State]] (assistant)
| coach_years7 = 2002–2008
| coach_team7 = Kent State
| coach_years8 = 2008–2012
| coach_team8 = [[TCU Horned Frogs basketball|TCU]]
| coach_years9 = 2012–2014
| coach_team9 = [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio]]
| coach_years10 = 2014–2021
| coach_team10 = [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]]
| coach_years11 = 2024–present
| coach_team11 = [[Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball|Canisius]]
| overall_record = {{winpct|323|314|record=y}}
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 0–2 ([[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I]])<br />0–5 ([[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]])<br />1–1 ([[College Basketball Invitational|CBI]])<br />2–1 ([[CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]])
| championships = 2 [[Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]] ([[2006 MAC men's basketball tournament|2006]], [[2008 MAC men's basketball tournament|2008]])<br />3 [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] regular season (2006, 2008, 2013)<br />5 [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] East Division (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013)
| awards = 2× [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]]  Coach of the Year (2006, 2008)
| coaching_records = 
}}

'''James Patrick Christian'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive, administrative, and professional staff - staff appointments|url=http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1714&context=bor|website=Minutes of the Board of Regents, Western Kentucky University|access-date=February 7, 2015|page=8|date=December 12, 1990}}</ref> (born February 6, 1965) is an American [[college basketball]] [[coach (sport)|coach]] who is the head coach of the [[Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball|Canisius Golden Griffins]]. He previously served as the head coach at [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]], [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|Kent State]], [[Texas Christian Horned Frogs men's basketball|TCU]] and [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio]].

==Playing career==

Christian was born in [[Bethpage, New York]]. He was an all-state guard at [[St. Dominic High School (Oyster Bay, New York)|St. Dominic High School]] in nearby [[Oyster Bay, New York|Oyster Bay]] while playing under [[Ralph Willard]], who later was the head coach at [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Western Kentucky]], [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|Pittsburgh]], and [[Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball|Holy Cross]]. Following his prep career, Christian was recruited by coach [[Rick Pitino]] at [[Boston University]] where he played two seasons before transferring to the [[University of Rhode Island]].  Both Willard and Pitino also attended St. Dominic High School.

Christian played his final two campaigns under [[Tom Penders]] at the University of Rhode Island, where he helped the Rams reach the Sweet Sixteen of the [[1988 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1988 NCAA  tournament]]. The former standout guard guided the [[Rhode Island Rams men's basketball|Rams]] to victories over [[Missouri Tigers men's basketball|Missouri]] and [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]] before dropping a 73–72 decision to [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] in the Sweet 16 round.

After earning his bachelor's degree in [[consumer affairs]] from the University of Rhode Island in 1988, Christian spent one season playing professionally in the [[Australian Basketball Association]] for the Sydney City Comets.

==Coaching career==
After returning to the United States, Christian became the [[Western Kentucky University]] [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball|Hilltoppers']] assistant coach under head coach [[Ralph Willard]] from 1990 to 1992. From there, Christian went on to assist head coaches [[Tom McConnell]] at [[Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania)|Saint Francis University]] (1992–1994), [[Matt Kilcullen]] again at [[Western Kentucky University]] (1994–1995), [[Herb Sendek]] at [[Miami University]] (1995–1996), [[Ralph Willard]] at [[University of Pittsburgh]] (1996–1999), and [[Stan Heath]] at [[Kent State University]] (2001–2002).

===Kent State===
After assisting former head coach [[Stan Heath]] in the 2001–02 season, Christian became head coach at [[Kent State University]] from 2002 to 2008, where he led the [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|Golden Flashes]] to six consecutive seasons of twenty or more wins, four [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] East division titles, two overall MAC titles, and two conference tournament championships.  His teams also had five post-season appearances, three in the [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] and two in the NCAA Tournament.  His record at Kent State was 137–59.<ref>{{cite web|last=Withers|first=Tom|title=Sports Writer|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncb&id=3319414|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=29 March 2008}}</ref>

===TCU===
At [[Texas Christian University]], Christian took over the position vacated by [[Neil Dougherty]] in March 2008. In Christian's final year coaching the [[TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball|Horned Frogs]], he helped the program break a seven-year losing streak and gave them a bid in the College Basketball Invitational Tournament. The squad posted an 18–15 overall record, four more wins than in any season since 2004–05, and ended with its best finish ever in the Mountain West Conference at fifth place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Christian's Coaching Biography|url=http://gofrogs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/christian_jim00.html|access-date=2012-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102132536/http://gofrogs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/christian_jim00.html|archive-date=2013-11-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Ohio===
On Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Christian was named the new head basketball coach at [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio]], becoming the program's 17th head coach, after former head coach [[John Groce]] left for [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]].

In Christian's first year, the Ohio Bobcats shared the MAC regular season title with Akron with a conference record of 14–2, Ohio's first regular season title since [[1993–94 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|1994]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ohio Shares MAC Title With 58–54 Win Over Miami|url=http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030913aaa.html|work=ohiobobcats.com|publisher=Ohio University|access-date=11 March 2013|date=March 9, 2013|archive-date=2 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802073842/http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030913aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ohio earned themselves a No. 2 seed in the [[2013 MAC men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]], where they beat Western Michigan 74–63. The following evening, Ohio lost to Akron 65–46 in the MAC Championships, losing a bid to the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Moylan|first=Connor|title=Akron wins 2013 MAC basketball tournament: Zips stifle Bobcats|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2013/3/16/4113792/Akron-2013-mac-champions-ncaa-tournament-berth|work=SB Nation|access-date=18 March 2013|date=16 March 2013}}</ref> However, Ohio earned an [[at-large bid]] in the [[2013 National Invitation Tournament|2013 NIT tournament]] as a number 6 seed in the Alabama quadrant.<ref>{{cite web|last=Arkley|first=Jason|title=Ohio lands NIT bid|url=http://www.athensohiotoday.com/sports/ohiouniversity/ohio-lands-nit-bid/article_8d48fa38-a817-50ac-8820-c4ebae0e1349.html|work=[[The Athens Messenger]]|access-date=18 March 2013|date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

On April 3, 2014, Christian resigned his position at Ohio to become the head coach at [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]], replacing [[Steve Donahue]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Vega|first=Michael|title=BC hires Jim Christian as basketball coach|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/04/03/report-hire-jim-christian-basketball-coach/yv6HWW1Qih76vMYCpTfrVK/story.html|work=[[Boston Globe]]|access-date=5 April 2014|date=3 April 2014}}</ref>

===Boston College===

On April 3, 2014, Jim Christian was named the Head Coach at Boston College. Under Christian, the Eagles saw little success, winning just 6 games in conference play in his first 3 seasons. They found some success in his fourth season, going 19–16, their best record since the 2010–2011 season. They also clinched an invitation to the NIT, their first postseason appearance since they went to the NCAA Tournament in 2009. That was however, the extent of their success under coach Christian as they finished with a losing record every other season.

After starting the 2020–2021 season 3–13, Boston College fired Jim Christian as their head coach and named Scott Spinelli their interim coach. In {{frac|7|1|2}} seasons, Jim Christian was 78–132 overall, 26–94 in conference play.

===Return to Kent State===

On June 21, 2022, Jim Christian returned to Kent State as the Assistant Athletic Director.

===Canisius===
On April 8, 2024, Christian was named head coach at Canisius.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jim Christian Named Canisius Head Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://gogriffs.com/news/2024/4/8/mens-basketball-jim-christian-named-canisius-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx |website=gogriffs.com |access-date=April 8, 2024 |date=April 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/jim-christian-canisius-basketball-coach-introduction/article_b2d405e4-f846-11ee-93c6-530c81c4b097.html|title=Canisius coach Jim Christian: 'My goal is to leave a tremendous impact, and win championships'|date=April 12, 2024|agency=''[[The Buffalo News]]''|author=Lenzi, Rachel|accessdate=July 20, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412011211/https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/jim-christian-canisius-basketball-coach-introduction/article_b2d405e4-f846-11ee-93c6-530c81c4b097.html|archivedate=April 12, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Christian and his wife, Patty, were married in the summer of 2005, and have three children, MacKenzie, Zach, and Jay.

==Head coaching record==
{{CBB Yearly Record Start|type=coach|conference =|postseason=|poll=both}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|Kent State Golden Flashes]]
 | conference = [[Mid-American Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2002
 | endyear    = 2008
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | season       = [[2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2002–03]]
 | name         = Kent State
 | overall      = 21–10
 | conference   = 12–6
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2003 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | season       = [[2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2003–04]]
 | name         = Kent State
 | overall      = 22–9
 | conference   = 13–5
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2004 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2004–05]]
 | name         = Kent State
 | overall      = 20–13
 | conference   = 11–7
 | confstanding = T–2nd <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2005 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2005–06]]
 | name         = [[2005–06 Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team|Kent State]]
 | overall      = 25–9
 | conference   = 15–3
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2006–07]]
 | name         = Kent State
 | overall      = 21–11
 | conference   = 12–4
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2007–08]]
 | name         = [[2007–08 Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team|Kent State]]
 | overall      = 28–7
 | conference   = 13–3
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Kent State
 | overall    = 137–59 ({{Winning percentage|137|59}})
 | confrecord = 76–28 ({{Winning percentage|76|28}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball|TCU Horned Frogs]]
 | conference = [[Mountain West Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2008
 | endyear    = 2012
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2008–09]]
 | name         = TCU
 | overall      = 14–17
 | conference   = 5–11
 | confstanding = 7th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2009–10]]
 | name         = TCU
 | overall      = 13–19
 | conference   = 5–11
 | confstanding = 7th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2010–11]]
 | name         = [[2010–11 TCU Horned Frogs basketball team|TCU]]
 | overall      = 11–22
 | conference   = 1–15
 | confstanding = 9th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2011–12]]
 | name         = [[2011–12 TCU Horned Frogs basketball team|TCU]]
 | overall      = 18–15
 | conference   = 7–7
 | confstanding = 5th
 | postseason   = [[2012 College Basketball Invitational|CBI Quarterfinal]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = TCU
 | overall    = 56–73 ({{Winning percentage|56|73}})
 | confrecord = 18–44 ({{Winning percentage|18|44}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio Bobcats]]
 | conference = Mid-American Conference
 | startyear  = 2012
 | endyear    = 2014
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2012–13]]
 | name         = [[2012–13 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
 | overall      = 24–10
 | conference   = 14–2
 | confstanding = T–1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2013 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2013–14]]
 | name         = [[2013–14 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
 | overall      = 25–12
 | conference   = 11–7
 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2014 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT Quarterfinal]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Ohio
 | overall    = 49–22 ({{Winning percentage|49|22}})
 | confrecord = 25–9 ({{Winning percentage|25|9}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College Eagles]]
 | conference = [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2014
 | endyear    = 2021
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2014–15]]
 | name         = [[2014–15 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 13–19
 | conference   = 4–14
 | confstanding = 13th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–16]]
 | name         = [[2015–16 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 7–25
 | conference   = 0–18
 | confstanding = 15th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2016–17]]
 | name         = [[2016–17 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 9–23
 | conference   = 2–16
 | confstanding = 15th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18]]
 | name         = [[2017–18 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 19–16
 | conference   = 7–11
 | confstanding = 12th
 | postseason   = [[2018 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2018–19]]
 | name         = [[2018–19 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 14–17 
 | conference   = 5–13
 | confstanding = T–11th 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]]
 | name         = [[2019–20 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 13–19
 | conference   = 7–13
 | confstanding = T–10th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]]
 | name         = [[2020–21 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]
 | overall      = 3–13
 | conference   = 1–9
 | confstanding = 15th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Boston College
 | overall    = 78–132 ({{Winning percentage|78|132}})
 | confrecord = 26–94 ({{Winning percentage|26|94}})}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball|Canisius Golden Griffins]]
 | conference = [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]]
 | startyear  = 2024
 | endyear    = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2024–25]]
 | name         = [[2024–25 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team|Canisius]]
 | overall      = 3–28
 | conference   = 3–17
 | confstanding = 13th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Canisius
 | overall    =  {{winpct|3|28|record=y}}
 | confrecord =  {{winpct|3|17|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall = {{winpct|323|314|record=y}}
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://bceagles.com/coaches.aspx?rc=257 Boston College profile]

{{Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{TCU Horned Frogs basketball coach navbox}}
{{Ohio Bobcats men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Boston College Eagles men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Jim}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia]]
[[Category:American men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Boston College Eagles men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Boston University Terriers men's basketball players]]
[[Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Guards (basketball)]]
[[Category:Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Miami RedHawks men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Ohio Bobcats men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:People from Bethpage, New York]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Nassau County, New York]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Rhode Island Rams men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Saint Francis Red Flash men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball coaches]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]