Hall of Fame Inductees
- Induction:
- 2013
Pistol Coach 1986-87, 1999-Present
James Sweeney has served as head coach of the Ohio State pistol team for more than 15 years, coaching the squad to five NRA Collegiate National Championship titles and coaching seven student-athletes to 23 NRA Collegiate Individual Championships. Throughout his time with the pistol team, Sweeney has coached one Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year (Teresa Meyer), two Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor recipients (Laura Murray and Jessica Marshall), 33 All-Americans and 39 Academic All-Big Ten honorees.Sweeney led the pistol team to its first NRA Collegiate National Championship in his first year as head coach, also guiding his student-athletes to national titles in free pistol, standard pistol, sport pistol and women’s air pistol that same year. Under Sweeney’s guidance, the women’s pistol team has captured four NRA National Championships (2000, 2004, 2005 and 2009). In 2003 and 2011, Sweeney was named the NRA Distinguished Coach of the Year.
Sweeney’s Ohio State coaching contributions date back to 1960-62, when he served as an assistant coach with the men’s gymnastics program. He left Ohio State to serve as the head coach for men’s gymnastics at Washington State (1962-66) before returning to Columbus as the head coach for the men’s gymnastics program (1966-77) and as the head coach and advisor for the spirit program (1968-69). He was honored as the NCAA Mid-East Men’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1968.
Sweeney has been actively involved in the shooting community for over 30 years, both as an active competitor and as the Director of the State of Ohio International Pistol Championships as well as of leagues in air gun, action pistol and bullseye. His contributions to society do not end in the shooting community, as he served as a foster parent for 16 years, working with children of various ages until they were adopted or could return to their homes.
Sweeney graduated from Ohio State in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, continuing his studies at his alma mater and earning his master’s degree in physical education (curriculum design) in 1960. In 1965, Sweeney graduated from Ohio State with a doctorate degree in physical education (educational psychology).
While studying at Ohio State, Sweeney also competed on the freshman football team (1952-53) under head coach Woody Hayes before joining the men’s gymnastics team (1953-56) after rehabilitating from a football injury. He was a finalist on still rings at the 1956 NCAA Championships.
Over the years since his graduation from Ohio State, Sweeney has written seven publications (1960-76), served as an assistant professor at Washington State (1962-66), and served as an instructor (1960-62), associate professor (1979-94), assistant professor (1966-79) and associate professor emeritus (1994-Present) at Ohio State in addition to his responsibilities as head coach of the pistol team.
