Jim Lambright
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Lambright is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington
for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1. Prior to becoming head coach, Lambright served as an assistant on the Huskies
coaching staff for 24 seasons.
, the son of a fisherman. He played high school football
for head coach Jim Ennis at Everett High School
, graduating in 1960. Lambright earned a scholarship
to the University of Washington
in Seattle
, where he lettered as an undersized defensive end
for head coach Jim Owens
, earning all-conference and All-Coast honors as a senior for the Huskies
in 1964.
for a season in 1965 and then at Shoreline Community College
. In 1969, Jim Owens hired him as an assistant coach on the Huskies' staff. New head coach Don James retained him in 1975 and Lambright became the team's defensive coordinator
in 1977 and assistant head coach in 1987.
Lambright was an assistant coach for the Huskies for 24 seasons when he was elevated to head coach in late August 1993, following James' sudden resignation in protest of sanctions against the program from the NCAA
and Pacific-10 Conference. After six seasons as head coach, Lambright was relieved of his duties by athletic director
Barbara Hedges, replaced by Rick Neuheisel
in January 1999.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1. Prior to becoming head coach, Lambright served as an assistant on the Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
coaching staff for 24 seasons.
Early years and playing career
Lambright was born and raised in Everett, WashingtonEverett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, the son of a fisherman. He played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for head coach Jim Ennis at Everett High School
Everett High School (Washington)
Everett High School is a secondary school located in Everett, Washington, United States, which educates grades 9 through 12. The school enrolls approximately 1,700 students annually, more than triple the state and district average....
, graduating in 1960. Lambright earned a scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, where he lettered as an undersized defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for head coach Jim Owens
Jim Owens
-External links:...
, earning all-conference and All-Coast honors as a senior for the Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
in 1964.
Coaching career
Following graduation, Lambright was an assistant coach at Fife High SchoolFife High School
Fife High School is located in the town of Fife, Washington. FHS is the only high school in the Fife Public Schools system.-History:Fife High School initially consisted of the upper grades of the general Fife School, founded in 1899. The high school was officially separated from the lower grades in...
for a season in 1965 and then at Shoreline Community College
Shoreline Community College
Shoreline Community College is a community college in Shoreline, north of Seattle, Washington. It is located in a residential area east of Shoreview Park. The college contains 83 acres and continuously serves 12,000 full and part-time students....
. In 1969, Jim Owens hired him as an assistant coach on the Huskies' staff. New head coach Don James retained him in 1975 and Lambright became the team's defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
in 1977 and assistant head coach in 1987.
Lambright was an assistant coach for the Huskies for 24 seasons when he was elevated to head coach in late August 1993, following James' sudden resignation in protest of sanctions against the program from the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
and Pacific-10 Conference. After six seasons as head coach, Lambright was relieved of his duties by athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
Barbara Hedges, replaced by Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel
Richard Gerald "Rick" Neuheisel, Jr. , is an American football coach, former player, and attorney. He was most recently the head football coach at University of California, Los Angeles, a position he held from 2008 to 2011...
in January 1999.