Jim Sexton, a well-respected and well-connected veteran of nearly 30 years in the collegiate basketball ranks, will begin his third season as a member of the University of Evansville coaching staff this fall. Sexton will once again help with scouting and game management for the Purple Aces this season, while also assisting UE’s recruiting efforts.
In his first year at UE, Sexton proved an invaluable asset to the Purple Aces’ program, as he helped the Purple Aces to the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and a spot in the 2009 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in his first year on the bench. The Purple Aces relied on Sexton’s wealth of coaching experience to assist with in-game coaching decisions and scouting reports. He also helped UE’s players reach new heights on the court, as eight of UE’s nine returning members of the 2007-08 squad set new single-season career-highs on the court last season with Sexton’s guidance.
Sexton joined the UE program in 2008 after spending four years at Big Ten member Northwestern. At Northwestern, Sexton served as the program’s recruiting coordinator, and was instrumental in helping the Wildcats land a recruiting class ranked among the Top 25 in the nation by the ASGR Scouting Service in 2007, which included McDonald’s All-American and USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team member Amy Jaeschke.
Prior to his work at Northwestern, Sexton spent eight years at two Patriot League schools: the United State Naval Academy (1996-2000) and Lehigh (2000-2004). At Navy, Sexton helped the Midshipmen produce a 67-46 overall record in his four years of service, including a share of the 1998 Patriot League championship. Sexton also helped Lehigh to a second-place finish in the Patriot League and a school record for league wins in 2004.
Sexton began his coaching run at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, where he served as head coach for 15 years. At Blackburn, Sexton was a three-time conference Coach of the Year, and in 1992-93, was named the Illinois Coaches Association’s Division III Coach of the Year.
Sexton is a 1977 graduate of Blackburn College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. He also earned a master’s degree in physical education from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 1986. Sexton has two adult children--Jaime and Ryan--as well as a son-in-law, Stephen, and granddaughters Ella and Marin, who all reside in St. Louis, Missouri.
