|
 JIM
HALLIHAN
IOWA SPORTS FOUNDATION
On July 1, 1994,
Jim Hallihan joined the staff of the Iowa Sports Foundation and took over as the
Executive Director on September 1.
During Hallihan's
tenure, the Iowa Sports Foundation has evolved from just the Summer and Winter
sports festivals, which in 1994 had 15,791 athletes. And when the 1995 Winter
Games were cancelled and their existence was unknown, Hallihan brought the
Winter Games back in 1996. With the addition of Net Fest Basketball and
Volleyball, Hoopin' At The Dome, The Iowa Games Golf Classic, a Mud Run, Flag
Football State Championship, and Fish Iowa Games; the Iowa Sports Foundation,
under Hallihan's leadership, has grown tremendously. Hallihan has also been a
key factor in the additions of the Live Healthy Iowa (formerly Lighten Up Iowa),
Live Healthy Iowa Kids (formerly Go the Distance), Go the Distance Day, and Live
Healthy America programs, which promote healthier lifestyles and eating habits.
In 2009, over 136,000 individuals participated in Iowa Sports Foundation events.
Hallihan spends a great deal of his time traveling the state of Iowa promoting
the Games and the "Character Counts!" program. His travels include a 100-stop
media tour, as well as speaking engagements at sport clinics, schools, civic
organizations, church groups and corporations.
For 8 1/2 years,
Hallihan hosted a radio show, "Sports for the Right Reasons," in which
sportsmanship and character-building are the focus for youth, parents and
coaches.
Hallihan serves on
the Board of the Institute for Character Development in Des Moines and attended
two national sports summits whose focus was to reinstate character building
through the six pillars of character in amateur sports throughout America.
On May 4, 2000, the Iowa Sports Foundation staff and Hallihan were awarded the
American Character-Builder award, for creating and implementing an outstanding
character development program.
In October 2006 at
the National Congress of State Games Symposium, Hallihan was awarded the first
ever Executive Director of the Year award. He received this award from his
fellow colleagues from state games organizations all around the country.
In March 2009, Hallihan was a recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic
Union Sportsmanship Award at the Girls' State Basketball Tournament which was
played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Each qualifying school in the Girls'
State Basketball Tournament was asked to nominate one community member whom
personifies sportsmanship and decorum throughout the season. Ames High School
nominated Hallihan to receive the Sportsmanship Award.
A native of
Decatur, Ill., Hallihan enjoyed a successful basketball playing career at Miami
(Ohio) University, where he was a two-year starter and team captain on the
Redskins' NCAA Tournament team.
After a short
stint as a head coach at Casey (Ill.) High School and a tour of duty in the
Army, Hallihan joined the coaching staff at Virginia Tech. In 1973, Virginia
Tech won the N.I.T., and the 1974-75 Virginia Tech coaching staff was named one
of the Top Ten College Coaching Staffs of all time by Mike Douchant of the
College Sports Xchange. Following his stay at Virginia Tech, Hallihan joined the
coaching staff at East Tennessee State.
Hallihan joined
Johnny Orr's basketball staff at Iowa State University in August of 1982 after
serving as head coach at East Tennessee State from 1979-1982, guiding the Bucs
to a 57-53 record. He served as Johnny Orr's top assistant at ISU for twelve
years. During that time, the Cyclones made six NCAA appearances and three N.I.T
appearances.
Hallihan holds
bachelor's and master's degrees from Miami of Ohio in physical education and
administration.
He and wife Trish have two daughters, Jennifer and Kelly; one son, Danny; and
one granddaughter, Rosie.
|