Jim Kerwin

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Jim Kerwin

| image = Jim_Kerwin.jpg

| size =

| caption = Kerwin from the 1963 Jambalaya.

| birth_date = {{birth date|1941|3|23}}

| birth_place = Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|13|1941|3|23}}

| death_place = Springdale, Arkansas, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 190

| high_school = Croydon Hall
(Middletown, New Jersey)

| college = Tulane (1960–1963)

| draft_year = 1963

| draft_round = 6

| draft_pick = 45

| draft_team = New York Knicks

| career_start =

| career_end =

| career_position = Shooting guard

| career_number =

| coach_start =

| coach_end =

| years1 = 1963–1967

| team1 = Phillips 66ers

| cyears1 = 1978–1980

| cteam1 = Northern Oklahoma

| cyears2 = 1980–1984

| cteam2 = Seminole State

| cyears3 = 1984–1990

| cteam3 = Oklahoma (assistant)

| cyears4 = 1990–1992

| cteam4 = Kansas State (assistant)

| cyears5 = 1992–2003

| cteam5 = Western Illinois

| highlights =

• First-team All-SEC (1962)

}}

Jim Kerwin (March 23, 1941 – August 13, 2021) was an American retired basketball player and college coach.

Kerwin, a 6'3" shooting guard from Long Branch, New Jersey who attended Croydon Hall High School in Middletown, New Jersey,{{cite web | last = Edelson| first = Stephen| title = Jersey Shore's greatest basketball players: the 1960s| work = Asbury Park Press | date = January 26, 2016 | url = http://www.app.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2016/01/25/jersey-shore-greatest-basketball-players-1960s/79266548/ | accessdate = August 10, 2016}} came to Tulane and was a three-year starter for the Green Wave and one of the Southeastern Conference's top scorers.{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Tulane sharpshooter Jim Kerwin getting the eye| work = The Dispatch | date = December 7, 1961 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19611207&id=g3ocAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087,2024325&hl=en | accessdate = August 10, 2016}} Kerwin left Tulane as the school's all-time leading scorer (since eclipsed) with 1,462 points. After the season, he was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1963 NBA draft (sixth round, 45th pick), but never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Following an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) career with the Phillips 66ers, Kerwin moved to coaching at the junior college level, coaching Northern Oklahoma College and Seminole State College, where he coached future NBA player Anthony Bowie.{{cite web | last = Hersom | first = Bob | title = Kerwin likely to jump to OU if he's asked| work = The Oklahoman | date = April 4, 1984 | url = http://newsok.com/article/2063424 | accessdate = August 10, 2016}} Kerwin then moved to Oklahoma as an assistant to Billy Tubbs for six seasons, coaching Sooner players such as Mookie Blaylock, Stacey King, Harvey Grant, Brent Price, and Ricky Grace, then moved to Dana Altman's staff at Kansas State for two seasons. He was then named head coach for the Western Illinois University, where he coached for eleven seasons, compiling a record of 135–174. He resigned in 2003, citing health concerns.{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Kerwin named coach at Western Illinois| work = Tulsa World | date = April 25, 1992 | url = http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/kerwin-named-coach-at-western-illinois/article_1407b482-619b-5298-a950-e3fea3bea76f.html | accessdate = August 10, 2016}}{{cite web | last = | first = | title = Jim Kerwin resigns at Western Illinois| work = The Oklahoman | date = March 13, 2003 | url = http://newsok.com/article/1919586 | accessdate = August 10, 2016}}

Kerwin's brother Tom played basketball at Centenary College of Louisiana and for the Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA).{{cite news|title=Gents face Phillips Oilers on Monday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56078586/the-times/|newspaper=The Times|date=January 10, 1965|page=41|via =Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 25, 2020}} {{Open access}}

Kerwin died in Springdale, Arkansas at the age of 81.{{Cite web|title=James Kerwin Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information|url=https://westfieldchapel.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/4695544/Kerwin-James/index.php|access-date=2021-10-10|website=westfieldchapel.frontrunnerpro.com|language=en}}