Jim Lynam

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lynam returned to his alma mater, St. Joseph's, in 1978. In the 1980–81 season, he guided the Hawks to an ECC Tournament championship and a surprising NCAA tournament run as a #9 seed. They defeated Creighton, upset the #1 ranked DePaul, and beat Boston College before falling to eventual national champion Indiana in the Elite Eight. This Cinderella run defined his college head coaching legacy. He began his NBA head coaching career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers from 1983 to 1985. During this tumultuous tenure, he became the franchise's first coach in Los Angeles after owner Donald Sterling moved the team overnight without league approval. Lynam also scouted and drafted Manute Bol, though Bol was later ruled ineligible. After being fired midway through his second season, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant before taking over as head coach.

In Their Own Story

Midway through the 1987–88 season, Lynam became the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers following the departure of Billy Cunningham. That season marked the first time since 1975 that the team played without Julius Erving or Moses Malone. Despite these losses, Lynam brought the Sixers back to the playoffs in his first full season. The following year, he led Philadelphia to an Atlantic Division title with a 53–29 record, securing the second seed in the conference. They finally surpassed the Larry Bird Celtics for the first time in the Charles Barkley era but fell to Michael Jordan's Bulls in consecutive playoff series. Injuries derailed the 1991–92 season after a strong 7–3 start, ending with a 35–47 record and a missed playoff berth. Frustrated by owner Harold Katz's controversial moves, including trading Moses Malone and letting Rick Mahorn leave, Barkley demanded change. Katz stepped away from operations, handing decision-making to Lynam.

Reader's Guide

Lynam served as the Philadelphia 76ers' General Manager from 1992 to 1994, replacing his coaching role with that of executive. He hired Doug Moe as his replacement on the bench. After two years in management, he accepted an offer to coach the Washington Bullets prior to the 1994–95 season. His tenure in Washington lasted until February 6, 1997, when he was fired. Post-Washington, Lynam remained active in basketball, joining John Calipari's staff with the New Jersey Nets and later serving as an assistant for Maurice Cheeks with the Portland Trail Blazers starting in 2001. He returned to Philadelphia as an assistant under Cheeks for the 2005–06 season but left due to a medical condition before rejoining the staff on September 29, 2006, alongside Moses Malone. In July 2010, he was considered for an assistant role in Portland and served as a part-time consultant for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2010–11 season before retiring to broadcasting.

Did You Know?

• Lynam was a three-year starter at St. Joseph's and won the team MVP award after Jack Egan was expelled for his role in the 1961 point-shaving scandal.
• As head coach of St. Joseph's, he led the Hawks to an Elite Eight run in 1981 as a #9 seed, upsetting #1 DePaul and Boston College before losing to Indiana.
• Lynam served as the San Diego Clippers' last coach in San Diego and their first coach in Los Angeles after owner Donald Sterling moved the franchise overnight.
• He was named an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers on September 29, 2006, alongside NBA Hall of Famer Moses Malone.
• Lynam's daughter, Dei, worked as a sideline reporter for TNT's NBA Playoffs coverage from 2010 to 2015.