MSCC Class of 2015

James Lathrop

Director of S&C

Jim Lathrop has challenged himself and those he has worked with to embrace the developmental process of training athletes. "Athletes are what this is about, from big to small, short to tall, I have tried to help you all. Thank you for allowing me into your lives," he says. Lathrop has developed his coaching philosophy through employing tried, true, and tested training principles in a fundamentally basic program that places the team and the athletes' needs above all.

Jim thanks the following individuals for giving him his start: his parents for showing him the importance of hard work and serving others; Russ Ball for hiring him as a GA at Mizzou. He expresses special thanks to Chuck Stiggins and Pete Martinelli-true legends, mentors, and friends-who, he says, "took the time to sit and talk to me like I was somebody."

After Mizzou, Jim became an assistant at Cal, before going to Georgia Tech as Assistant Director of Player Development for 3 years. Dave Pasanella- his boss, colleague, training partner, and best friend, entrusted Jim with the speed program, as well as baseball and basketball. Jim followed Dave as Director after Dave's untimely death. From there, he went to Wyoming and developed the his two longest coaching relationships with Joe Tiller and Brock Spack--great mentors, role models, and friends. After Wyoming, he went to Purdue as Head Strength Coach for 13 years, a position he now holds at Illinois State.

"To all my assistants- Lynne Stoessel, Jim Kramer, Jim Schulze, Trent Greener, Ray Davis, Ron Thomson, Brandon Johnson, and Drew Kramer: You're the best," he says. "Thank you to all my former GA's, interns, and volunteers. To my current and biggest staff--Carter, Chris, Casey, Ryan, and Amanda- you are a gifted group with great potential. Thanks to dear friends, Cori Metzgar and David Lang, whom I admire for being all I wish I was. Finally, thanks to my family- Liz, Alex, and Katrin, you'll never know how much you mean to me."