MEET THE DIRECTOR

Interim Director Jim Norris

Jim Norris is in his 19th year at Binghamton University, and 10th year as a senior level administrator. He has been responsible for providing direct oversight to 19 of the University's 21 sport teams, the Sports Medicine Division, and the Strength and Conditioning program. Norris also served as the HPEA Department liaison to Physical Facilities and as the West Gym Building Administrator.

Notable accomplishments during Norris' tenure include the addition of the men's and women's lacrosse programs, the complete restructuring of the Sports Medicine and SSO Divisions, and the implementation of a random student-athlete drug testing program. Numerous programs during his administrative tenure have competed for, or won America East Conference Championships (including men's swimming and diving, golf, men's/women's soccer, men's lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, and men's/women's tennis), have competed in NCAA national tournaments in seven different sports, and have contributed significantly toward winning the America East Conference Academic Cup twice during their time in the conference. Additionally, Norris served on the planning committee for the construction of the Event Center and as the "point person" for the athletic department during the design and construction phases of the Bearcat Sports Complex.

Prior to assuming his present duties, Norris spent nine years with the Binghamton men's basketball program during which time BU enjoyed four of their most successful seasons in school history in terms of total wins. With the intensity and integrity that have defined the lifelong Binghamton resident, Norris helped build a top-notch Division III program in the early 90s, and then took the head coaching reigns during the University's historic transition to Division II. Norris came to Binghamton in 1991, where he was the top assistant coach to Dick Baldwin for five years, including two seasons as associate head coach. In all, Norris has coached basketball for close to thirty years, including eight seasons with the Chenango Forks High School boys' varsity team, where he racked up more than 100 wins. Norris has coached and mentored several young coaches who are among the elite up-and-coming coaches in the game today - most notably Seton Hall Men's Basketball Coach Bob Gonzalez.

Prior to taking over full-time at Binghamton in August 1996, Norris spent seventeen years as a park and recreation administrator for the City of Binghamton and County of Broome.

Norris is a 1979 graduate of SUNY Cortland, where he received a bachelor's degree in physical education, and a master's degree in recreation.

Still active in the local community, Norris has offered his time for countless speaking engagements in the Southern Tier and serves on the Broome County Arena/Forum Board of Directors. Additionally, he has been actively involved with the youth program at St. Paul's Church coaching youth basketball for youngsters in grades K-8. In the spring of 2001, he was honored with the prestigious Service to Mankind award by the Binghamton-Vestal Sertoma Club, and was one of fifty people featured in the first edition of Faces of the Southern Tier.

He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Binghamton.