Jim Lambright

James Ralph Lambright (April 26, 1942 – March 29, 2020) was an 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 (.636).[1] Prior to becoming head coach, Lambright served as an assistant on the Huskies coaching staff for 24 seasons.

Jim Lambright
Biographical details
Born(1942-04-26)April 26, 1942
Everett, Washington
DiedMarch 29, 2020(2020-03-29) (aged 77)
Playing career
1962–1964Washington
Position(s)Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965Fife HS (WA) (assistant)
1966–1968Shoreline CC (assistant)
1969–1977Washington (assistant)
1978–1992Washington (DC)
1993–1998Washington
Head coaching record
Overall44–25–1 (.636)
Bowls1–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Pac-10 Conference (1995)
Awards
All-Pacific Coast football team (1964)

Early years

Born and raised in Everett, Washington, Lambright's father was a fisherman. He played football for head coach Jim Ennis at Everett High School and graduated 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.

Coaching career

Following graduation, Lambright was an assistant coach at Fife High School for a season in 1965 and then at Shoreline Community College. In 1969, 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 1978,[2] 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 Pac-10 Conference, namely a two-year bowl ban.[3][4][5][6] Lambright's initial contract as head coach was a four-year deal with a base salary of $150,000; he was earning $95,400 as James' chief assistant.[7] He signed a contract extension in January 1998 that brought his compensation to over $500,000 annually.[8] As the Huskies' defensive coordinator Lambright designed the team's "Purple Reign" defensive schemes.[9]

After six seasons as head coach and three decades on staff, Lambright was relieved of his duties by athletic director Barbara Hedges in late December 1998,[10][11] replaced by Rick Neuheisel in January 1999. Lambright died from complications of dementia on March 29, 2020.[12]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Washington Huskies (Pacific-10 Conference) (1993–1998)
1993 Washington 7–45–34th
1994 Washington 7–44–45th
1995 Washington 7–4–16–1–1T–1stL Sun
1996 Washington 9–37–12ndL Holiday1516
1997 Washington 8–45–34thW Aloha1818
1998 Washington 6–64–4T–5thL Oahu
Washington: 44–25–131–16–1
Total:44–25–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
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References
  1. cfbdatawarehouse.com – Jim Lambright
  2. Cour, Jim (October 10, 1984). "They're giving Don James a big assist". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 22.
  3. "It's judgment day for Washington". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 22, 1993. p. 8E.
  4. Cour, Jim (August 23, 1993). "Penalty hits UW; James resigns". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. p. 1A.
  5. Farrey, Tom (August 24, 1993). "UW head coach quits over sanctions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Seattle Times. p. C1.
  6. Boling, Dave (August 23, 1993). "UW head coach quits over sanctions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. A1.
  7. "Lambright's 4-year contract delivers pay raise of $54,600". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 27, 1993. p. C3.
  8. "Lambright signs contract extension". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. Associated Press. January 17, 1998. p. 8D.
  9. W. Thomas Porter Go Huskies!: Celebrating the Washington Football Tradition Page 140 1600788270 - 2013 "Eventually, Lambright became the Huskies' defensive coordinator and designed the "Purple Reign" defensive schemes"
  10. Cour, Jim (December 31, 1998). "Huskies dismiss Lambright as head coach". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. p. 1D.
  11. Strickland, Carter (December 31, 1998). "UW drops ax on Lambright era". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C1.
  12. Longtime College Football Coach Has Died At 77
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