Northwest Missouri State University

Bearcat Sports

Jan. 10, 2008

Jim Redd chosen for Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

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Dr. Jim Redd

Former Northwest student-athlete, coach and athletic director Dr. Jim Redd has been selected for induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Redd will be inducted Feb. 10 during ceremonies at the hall's headquarters in Springfield.

Redd was a three-sport athlete out of Christian Brothers High School in St. Louis but focused on football at Northwest, earning All-MIAA honors in 1965 as a first-team defensive tackle and second-team offensive lineman. He served as captain for the Bearcats for three seasons.

He began his coaching career at the University of Colorado, serving as a graduate assistant with the Buffaloes and earning a master's degree.

Redd returned to Maryville in 1967 as an assistant under Ivan Schottel and then Gladden Dye in 1971. He took over as head coach in 1976, earning MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 1979 after guiding the Bearcats to a conference title.

He resigned from coaching following the 1982 season but remained at Northwest as an instructor. From 1984-85, Redd worked on his doctorate at Oklahoma State University, returning to Northwest in 1986 to become an associate professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

He was appointed Northwest director of athletics in 1993. Under his leadership, Northwest completed renovations at Bearcat Arena, constructed new softball and soccer facilities, renovated Herschel Neil Track and reconstructed the east grandstands at Bearcat Stadium.

During his tenure as AD, the Bearcat football team won two national championships under current head coach Mel Tjeerdsma. Northwest also won the 1997-98 MIAA All-Sports Trophy and 20 MIAA titles.

“I credit Jim with helping us get this thing where it is today,” said Tjeerdsma, who was hired by Redd. “He spent his whole career at Northwest. He’d been a coach and understood what needed to be done for us to be successful. He was very helpful in the things that we did. If not for him, we might not be where we are today.”

Redd retired from Northwest in 2001, but reentered higher education as the director of athletics and physical education at William Jewell College in Liberty the following year. In 2002, he was inducted into the Northwest M-Club Hall of Fame.

He remains active in Pony League Baseball, AAU Basketball, American Youth Soccer and Special Olympics.

Redd is the ninth person with Northwest ties to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Prior inductees include:

For more information, please contact:

Bryan Boettcher
Athletic Media Relations Director/Sports Information
Northwest Missouri State University
Office: 660.562.1118

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