Former UVa Coach/Administrator Jim West Dies

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CHARLOTTESVILLEFormer Virginia baseball coach and athletics administrator Jim West died Wednesday morning (May 20) of complications from a stroke. West spent 33 years in the Virginia athletics department.

A native of Suffolk, Va., West coached the Virginia baseball team from the 1962 through the 1980 seasons. UVa baseball teams compiled an overall record of 280-277-5 under his direction. The 1972 team won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and was the first Virginia baseball team to participate in the NCAA Tournament.

West received his undergraduate degree in education from Virginia in 1958 and a master’s degree a year later. He earned his doctorate from UVa in 1975.

West joined the UVa athletics department in the fall of 1959 as head cross country coach and first-year baseball coach. He assumed the head baseball coaching responsibilities for the 1962 season and was director of the service physical education program from 1961-72. West was appointed assistant athletic director in 1972 and became associate director of athletic programs in 1978. He later was named senior associate athletic director.

West retired from the Virginia athletics department in September of 1992 and baseball uniform number 24, worn by West during his 19 years as the Cavaliers’ head coach, was retired by the Virginia athletics department.

Hill & Wood Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.