Jim Case
2/1/2007 4:43:00 PM | Baseball
Head Coach
Jacksonville State joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2004 and the Gamecocks have won more OVC games during that four-year span than any other team in the league. During that time, Jim Case has led Jacksonville State to three Ohio Valley Conference Championships and the Gamecocks have played in the OVC Tournament Championship game every season.
Case, who was named the 2005 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, has led the Gamecocks to five consecutive 30-win seasons and three OVC Championships. He has posted a 189-162 record, including a 72-36 record in the OVC during his six years of guiding the Gamecocks.
“After being here for the last six years, I believe more than ever in our ability, not only to be competitive for conference championships, but also on a larger scale,” said Case. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the program for the coming years and I’m excited about the future of Gamecock baseball.”
The 2007 Gamecocks played in the OVC Championship game for the fourth straight year after posting an 18-9 mark in conference play. The Gamecocks placed the most players of any other school after 10 Gamecocks were named to OVC All-Conference teams. JSU also earned the OVC Sportsmanship Award in baseball for the 2007 season.
In addition, junior outfielder Clay Whittemore was named the OVC Player of the Year. Whittemore also became the school’s first-ever All-American at the Division I level after earning third-team honors on the TPX/Louisville Slugger All-America team.
“Coach Case has done a remarkable job leading our program over the last six years,” said JSU Athletics Director Jim Fuller. “His teams are always well coached and prepared for every game. His players always represent the University with class, whether it’s on the playing field on in the classroom.”
In 2006, Case led the Gamecocks to their second NCAA Regional appearance in three years after winning the OVC Tournament with a dramatic final at-bat win over Samford. JSU placed six players on the All-Conference squad, the most of any other team in the league.
In 2005, Jax State won the Conference regular-season title after posting a 35-25 season, including a 19-8 mark in the league. It was the school’s sixth conference championship and the first in Division I.
“I’m very excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish over the last six years,” said Case. “I’m very proud of our success on the field, but I’m equally as proud of our success in the classroom and that’s a compliment to the players that we’ve had play for us.
“I think you can contribute two things to our success, with one being the coaching continuity with Steve Gillispie being a part of our staff for all six years and Travis Janssen enters his third year,” added Case. “The other is we’ve had some outstanding players come through our program.”
Not only have the Gamecocks excelled on the field, but also in the classroom.
Jacksonville State claimed the prestigious OVC Team Academic Achievement Award after placing 11 student-athletes on the OVC Commission’s Honor Roll in 2005. The OVC Team Academic Achievement Awards are presented annually in each of the 17 Conference sponsored sports to the member institution’s team with the greatest percentage of its student-athletes named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
To be listed, recipients must have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average and have been eligible and on the team throughout the season.
Over the last six years, 87 players have posted a 3.0 grade point average or higher and a total of 70 players have been named to the Academic All-Conference teams.
The Gamecocks made an immediate impact in their first season in the league in 2004. JSU finished third in the regular season standings and then defeated Southeast Missouri State to claim the OVC Tournament Championship and advance to NCAA post-season play for the first time in more than 13 years and the first time in the school’s Division I history.
Four Gamecock players earned a spot on the All-Conference team and four were named to the OVC All-Tournament team, including Most Valuable Player Bobby Wynns. JSU had not played in an NCAA tournament since winning the Division II national championship in 1991.
“I believe that these accomplishments speak volumes about the kind of athletes we recruit and the commitment to excellence that we have on our team,” added Case.
One of his team’s principles is to study hard and go to class. While at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs led the SEC with 37 Academic Honor Roll recipients. Under his leadership at JSU, the baseball team has achieved an impressive increase in GPA and 59 team members have achieved Academic All-Conference honors over the last five years.
Gamecock pitcher C.R. Palmer was selected as JSU’s 2004 Eagle Owl Award recipient for excellence in his sport, being a positive role model, and exemplifying the well-rounded student athlete. The Eagle Owl Award is given annually to the male student-athlete of the year by a selection committee of faculty, staff and athletic department administrators.
“I believe that these accomplishments say more than anything else the kinds of athletes and the commitment to excellence that we have here,” said Case.
The road to JSU for Coach Case was filled with tradition and hard work.
Case was a three-sport letterman earning All-City honors in baseball and football at Birmingham’s Ensley High School. He credits coaches George Gould, Ronnie Syphurs, Jimmy Tucker, and Jerry Deaton for instilling good work ethic and practice habits.
Case continued his playing career at Louisiana Tech University under Coach Pat Patterson. Case earned All-Southland Conference honors as a catcher and was selected by the team as the recipient for the Outstanding Attitude Award. Afterward, he stayed at Louisiana Tech as a student assistant coach for a year before entering graduate school and working as a graduate assistant coach for Ron Polk at Mississippi State University.
While at MSU, Case completed a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and an Educational Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
Leading up to his first head coaching position at JSU, Case served as assistant coach at UAB under Pete Rancont and at Mississippi State University under Pat McMahon.
While at UAB, his teams claimed a 1991 Sun Belt Conference Championship and their first NCAA Regional appearance as well as a 1992 Great Mid-West Conference Title.
During his stints at MSU, Case coached in six NCAA Regional tournaments, two Super-Regionals, and made two College World Series appearances. Over 30 of his former players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft with eight advancing to the major leagues. Former MSU pitchers Matt Ginter and Paul Maholm were first round draft choices and former JSU pitcher Jesse Corn was a sixth round choice.
Because of Case’s many successes, he is frequently asked to speak at local, regional and national clinics and organizations. He has twice been featured as an invited lecturer at the National American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, including this past January in Philadelphia.
Jim and Jan Case have been married for 24 years and have two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. Jan is a math professor at JSU, while Catherine is a freshman at UAB and Elizabeth attends Jacksonville High School.
CASE VS ALL OPPONENTS
Case, who was named the 2005 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year, has led the Gamecocks to five consecutive 30-win seasons and three OVC Championships. He has posted a 189-162 record, including a 72-36 record in the OVC during his six years of guiding the Gamecocks.
“After being here for the last six years, I believe more than ever in our ability, not only to be competitive for conference championships, but also on a larger scale,” said Case. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the program for the coming years and I’m excited about the future of Gamecock baseball.”
The 2007 Gamecocks played in the OVC Championship game for the fourth straight year after posting an 18-9 mark in conference play. The Gamecocks placed the most players of any other school after 10 Gamecocks were named to OVC All-Conference teams. JSU also earned the OVC Sportsmanship Award in baseball for the 2007 season.
In addition, junior outfielder Clay Whittemore was named the OVC Player of the Year. Whittemore also became the school’s first-ever All-American at the Division I level after earning third-team honors on the TPX/Louisville Slugger All-America team.
“Coach Case has done a remarkable job leading our program over the last six years,” said JSU Athletics Director Jim Fuller. “His teams are always well coached and prepared for every game. His players always represent the University with class, whether it’s on the playing field on in the classroom.”
In 2006, Case led the Gamecocks to their second NCAA Regional appearance in three years after winning the OVC Tournament with a dramatic final at-bat win over Samford. JSU placed six players on the All-Conference squad, the most of any other team in the league.
In 2005, Jax State won the Conference regular-season title after posting a 35-25 season, including a 19-8 mark in the league. It was the school’s sixth conference championship and the first in Division I.
“I’m very excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish over the last six years,” said Case. “I’m very proud of our success on the field, but I’m equally as proud of our success in the classroom and that’s a compliment to the players that we’ve had play for us.
“I think you can contribute two things to our success, with one being the coaching continuity with Steve Gillispie being a part of our staff for all six years and Travis Janssen enters his third year,” added Case. “The other is we’ve had some outstanding players come through our program.”
Not only have the Gamecocks excelled on the field, but also in the classroom.
Jacksonville State claimed the prestigious OVC Team Academic Achievement Award after placing 11 student-athletes on the OVC Commission’s Honor Roll in 2005. The OVC Team Academic Achievement Awards are presented annually in each of the 17 Conference sponsored sports to the member institution’s team with the greatest percentage of its student-athletes named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
To be listed, recipients must have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average and have been eligible and on the team throughout the season.
Over the last six years, 87 players have posted a 3.0 grade point average or higher and a total of 70 players have been named to the Academic All-Conference teams.
The Gamecocks made an immediate impact in their first season in the league in 2004. JSU finished third in the regular season standings and then defeated Southeast Missouri State to claim the OVC Tournament Championship and advance to NCAA post-season play for the first time in more than 13 years and the first time in the school’s Division I history.
Four Gamecock players earned a spot on the All-Conference team and four were named to the OVC All-Tournament team, including Most Valuable Player Bobby Wynns. JSU had not played in an NCAA tournament since winning the Division II national championship in 1991.
“I believe that these accomplishments speak volumes about the kind of athletes we recruit and the commitment to excellence that we have on our team,” added Case.
One of his team’s principles is to study hard and go to class. While at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs led the SEC with 37 Academic Honor Roll recipients. Under his leadership at JSU, the baseball team has achieved an impressive increase in GPA and 59 team members have achieved Academic All-Conference honors over the last five years.
Gamecock pitcher C.R. Palmer was selected as JSU’s 2004 Eagle Owl Award recipient for excellence in his sport, being a positive role model, and exemplifying the well-rounded student athlete. The Eagle Owl Award is given annually to the male student-athlete of the year by a selection committee of faculty, staff and athletic department administrators.
“I believe that these accomplishments say more than anything else the kinds of athletes and the commitment to excellence that we have here,” said Case.
The road to JSU for Coach Case was filled with tradition and hard work.
Case was a three-sport letterman earning All-City honors in baseball and football at Birmingham’s Ensley High School. He credits coaches George Gould, Ronnie Syphurs, Jimmy Tucker, and Jerry Deaton for instilling good work ethic and practice habits.
Case continued his playing career at Louisiana Tech University under Coach Pat Patterson. Case earned All-Southland Conference honors as a catcher and was selected by the team as the recipient for the Outstanding Attitude Award. Afterward, he stayed at Louisiana Tech as a student assistant coach for a year before entering graduate school and working as a graduate assistant coach for Ron Polk at Mississippi State University.
While at MSU, Case completed a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and an Educational Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
Leading up to his first head coaching position at JSU, Case served as assistant coach at UAB under Pete Rancont and at Mississippi State University under Pat McMahon.
While at UAB, his teams claimed a 1991 Sun Belt Conference Championship and their first NCAA Regional appearance as well as a 1992 Great Mid-West Conference Title.
During his stints at MSU, Case coached in six NCAA Regional tournaments, two Super-Regionals, and made two College World Series appearances. Over 30 of his former players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft with eight advancing to the major leagues. Former MSU pitchers Matt Ginter and Paul Maholm were first round draft choices and former JSU pitcher Jesse Corn was a sixth round choice.
Because of Case’s many successes, he is frequently asked to speak at local, regional and national clinics and organizations. He has twice been featured as an invited lecturer at the National American Baseball Coaches Association Convention, including this past January in Philadelphia.
Jim and Jan Case have been married for 24 years and have two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth. Jan is a math professor at JSU, while Catherine is a freshman at UAB and Elizabeth attends Jacksonville High School.
YEAR SCHOOL W-L PCT CONF NCAA
1983 Louisiana Tech 20-30 .400 5-8 --
1984 Mississippi State 45-16 .738 18-5 3-2
1985 Mississippi State 50-15 .769 16-8 3-1
1986 Mississippi State 34-21 .618 12-15 --
1987 UAB 23-21 .523 8-10 --
1988 UAB 22-28-1 .441 4-12 --
1989 UAB 28-27 .509 7-11 --
1990 UAB 27-26 .509 8-10 --
1991 UAB 29-30 .492 9-7 1-2
1992 UAB 43-18 .705 17-1
1993 UAB 35-23 .603 12-6
1994 UAB 32-23 .582 16-6
1995 UAB 34-22 .607 13-9
1996 UAB 33-25 .569 13-11
1997 UAB 31-29 .517 14-13
1998 Mississippi State 42-23 .646 14-15 4-1
1999 Mississippi State 42-21 .667 15-14 2-2
2000 Mississippi State 41-20 .667 17-10 3-3
2001 Mississippi State 39-24 .619 17-13 3-2
2002 Jacksonville State 23-31 .426 9-20
2003 Jacksonville State 32-26 .552 19-14
2004 Jacksonville State 31-29 .517 16-11 0-2
2005 Jacksonville State 35-25 .583 19-8
2006 Jacksonville State 35-24 .593 19-8 0-2
2007 Jacksonville State 33-27 .550 18-9
Collegiate Career Coaching Record: 786-579 .576 189-138 19-17
CASE VS ALL OPPONENTS
Alabama 2-3
Alabama A&M 4-0
Alabama State 11-1
Austin Peay 10-7
Belmont 4-3
Birmingham-Southern 4-6
Campbell 5-1
Eastern Illinois 6-7
Eastern Kentucky 11-5
Florida 0-1
Florida Atlantic 1-6
Furman 1-2
Gardner-Webb 3-0
Georgia State 6-2
Georgia Tech 0-1
High Point 3-0
Illinois 1-0
Jacksonville University 1-6
Kennesaw State 1-3
Louisiana-Monroe 7-5
LSU 0-3
Marshall 1-2
Mercer 3-3
Middle Tennessee State 8-7
Mississippi State 0-7
Morehead State 8-4
Murray State 9-3
Northwestern University 1-0
Northwestern State 3-6
Oakland 3-0
Ohio State 0-1
Ole Miss 0-3
Purdue 0-3
Rider 2-1
Samford 18-6
South Alabama 1-7
Southeast Louisiana 2-4
Southeast Missouri State 9-6
Southern Miss 0-1
Stetson 1-4
Tennessee-Martin 9-3
Tennessee Tech 11-4
Texas A&M 0-3
Toledo 1-0
Troy 3-11
West Alabama 3-0
UAB 8-3
UCF 3-3
UMASS 0-1
Vanderbilt 0-1
Yale 1-0
Sunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, May 10
