Jim Baron
Biographical details
Born (1954-03-20) March 20, 1954 (age 69)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1973–1977St. Bonaventure
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1979Rochester (assistant)
1979–1980Loyola (MD) (assistant)
1980–1981St. Bonaventure (assistant))
1981–1987Notre Dame (assistant)
1987–1992St. Francis (PA)
1992–2001St. Bonaventure
2001–2012Rhode Island
2012–2016Canisius
Head coaching record
Overall412–397 (.509)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NEC tournament (1991)
NEC regular season (1991)
Awards
4× Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (1995, 2003, 2007, 2009)

James Edward Baron (born March 20, 1954) is a retired American college basketball coach. He previously held the position of head coach at Saint Francis University, St. Bonaventure University, the University of Rhode Island and Canisius College.

Playing career

Baron lettered in basketball for four years (1973 to 1977) at St. Bonaventure University and helped St. Bonaventure win the 1977 National Invitation Tournament as a senior. Baron graduated from St. Bonaventure with a degree in physical education in 1977 and later earned a master's degree in counseling from the same institution in 1988.[1]

Coaching career

In 1977, Baron began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Aquinas Institute in Rochester, New York.[2] The following year, Baron became an assistant coach at NCAA Division III University of Rochester. Baron moved up to Division I as an assistant for Loyola College in Maryland for the 1979–80 season. In 1980, Baron returned to his alma mater as assistant coach for St. Bonaventure.[1]

From 1981 to 1987, Baron was an assistant coach at Notre Dame under Digger Phelps.[1] Baron helped Notre Dame make the NCAA Tournaments of 1985, 1986, and 1987 and rank in the season-end top-25 polls in 1986 and 1987.[3]

Baron first became a head coach in 1987 at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. His teams showed improvement each of his first four seasons, culminating in an appearance in the 1991 NCAA tournament.[4][5]

In 1992, Baron began a 20-season stint as a head coach in the Atlantic 10 Conference, returning to St. Bonaventure once again, this time as head coach. During his nine seasons as head coach, St. Bonaventure appeared in the 1995 National Invitation Tournament and 2000 NCAA tournament, the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1978. As a #12 seed, St. Bonaventure lost 85–80 in double overtime to #5 Kentucky.[5][6] The A-10 recognized Baron as Coach of the Year in 1995.[5]

Baron became head coach at Rhode Island in 2001. After going 8–20 in his first season, Baron led Rhode Island to a 19–12 season the following year and won his second A-10 Coach of the Year award.[5][7] Rhode Island spent four weeks ranked in the top-25 polls from December 24, 2007 to January 21, 2008.[1] Rhode Island made three NIT appearances, including in the 2010 semifinals.[1]

In April 2010, he agreed with Rhode Island to a contract extension through the 2013–14 season.[8] However, after a 7–24 season and a second-to-last place conference finish in 2011–12, the university terminated his contract on March 4, 2012.[9] Rhode Island never appeared in the NCAA Tournament during Baron's tenure.

Canisius College hired Baron as men's basketball head coach on April 2, 2012.[5] After four years at Canisius, Baron announced his retirement from coaching on May 20, 2016.[10]

Personal life

Baron is the father of two professional basketball-playing sons, Jimmy and Billy Baron, both of whom he coached in college.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Saint Francis Red Flash (Northeast Conference) (1987–1992)
1987–88 St. Francis (PA) 7–20 4–12 8th
1988–89 St. Francis (PA) 13–16 7–11 T–8th
1989–90 St. Francis (PA) 17–11 10–6 T–3rd
1990–91 St. Francis (PA) 24–8 13–3 T–1st NCAA First Round
1991–92 St. Francis (PA) 13–16 5–11 8th
St. Francis (PA): 74–71 (.510) 39–43 (.476)
St. Bonaventure Bonnies (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1992–2001)
1992–93 St. Bonaventure 10–17 0–14 8th
1993–94 St. Bonaventure 10–17 4–12 9th
1994–95 St. Bonaventure 18–13 9–7 T–4th NIT Second Round
1995–96 St. Bonaventure 10–18 4–12 5th (East)
1996–97 St. Bonaventure 14–14 5–11 5th (East)
1997–98 St. Bonaventure 17–15 6–10 4th (East) NIT First Round
1998–99 St. Bonaventure 14–15 8–8 4th (East)
1999–2000 St. Bonaventure 21–10 11–5 2nd (East) NCAA First Round
2000–01 St. Bonaventure 18–12 9–7 T–5th NIT First Round
St. Bonaventure: 132–131 (.502) 56–86 (.394)
Rhode Island Rams (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2001–2012)
2001–02 Rhode Island 7–19[11] 3–12[11] 12th[12]
2002–03 Rhode Island 19–12[13] 10–6[13] T–4th[14] NIT Second Round[13]
2003–04 Rhode Island 20–14[15] 7–9[15] 7th[16] NIT First Round[15]
2004–05 Rhode Island 6–22[17] 4–12[17] 11th[18]
2005–06 Rhode Island 14–14[19] 8–8[19] T–7th[20]
2006–07 Rhode Island 19–14[21] 10–6[21] T–4th[22]
2007–08 Rhode Island 21–12[23] 7–9[23] T–9th[24] NIT First Round[23]
2008–09 Rhode Island 23–11[25] 11–5[25] T–2nd[26] NIT Second Round[25]
2009–10 Rhode Island 26–10[27] 9–7[27] T–5th[28] NIT Semifinals[27]
2010–11 Rhode Island 20–14[29] 9–7[29] 6th[30] CBI Quarterfinals[29]
2011–12 Rhode Island 7–24[31] 4–12[31] 13th[32]
Rhode Island: 162–166 (.494) 82–93 (.469)
Canisius Golden Griffins (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (2012–2016)
2012–13 Canisius 20–14 11–7 5th CIT Quarterfinals
2013–14 Canisius 21–13 14–6 T–3rd CIT First Round
2014–15 Canisius 18–14 11–9 5th CIT Quarterfinals
2015–16 Canisius 14–19 8–12 7th
Canisius: 73–60 (.549) 44–34 (.564)
Total: 425–415 (.506)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Jim Baron". University of Rhode Island. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011.
  2. ^ "Baron Inducted Into Athletics Hall of Fame". St. Bonaventure University. June 6, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "Notre Dame Fighting Irish Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  4. ^ "Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Jim Baron". Canisius College. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  6. ^ "1999-00 St. Bonaventure Bonnies Schedule and Results | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  7. ^ "Rhode Island Rams Index | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  8. ^ Rhode Island Rams, coach Jim Baron agree to one-year extension through 2013–14 – ESPN
  9. ^ Katz, Andy (March 4, 2012). "University of Rhode Island fires coach Jim Baron". ESPN.
  10. ^ Stepner, Shawn. "Canisius hoops coach Baron retires". WKBW. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2001–02 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  12. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2001–02) – College Basketball – ESPN
  13. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2002–03 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  14. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2002–03) – College Basketball – ESPN
  15. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2003–04 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  16. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2003–04) – College Basketball – ESPN
  17. ^ a b Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2004–05 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  18. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2004–05) – College Basketball – ESPN
  19. ^ a b Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2005–06 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  20. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2005–06) – College Basketball – ESPN
  21. ^ a b Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2006–07 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  22. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2006–07) – College Basketball – ESPN
  23. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2007–08 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  24. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2007–08) – College Basketball – ESPN
  25. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2008–09 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  26. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2008–09) – College Basketball – ESPN
  27. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2009–10 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  28. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2009–10) – College Basketball – ESPN
  29. ^ a b c Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2010–11 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  30. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2010–11) – College Basketball – ESPN
  31. ^ a b Rhode Island Rams Basketball 2011–12 Schedule – Rams Home and Away – ESPN
  32. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Standings (2011–12) – College Basketball – ESPN
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