LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Bellarmine community deeply mourns the death of Jim Spalding, who died at the age of 79 on Wednesday evening after a lengthy illness. A true Bellarmine legend, Mr. Spalding will forever be remembered as an excellent basketball player, a coach, and athletic administrator. Mr. Spalding always played to win and always had the best interest of Bellarmine at heart.
His life's work help set the stage for Bellarmine athletics to climb to its current status as a nationally prominent NCAA Division II member that has hosted 18 national championships and has won a national title in men's basketball.
Beyond his considerable work at Bellarmine, Mr. Spalding also helped conceive and establish the Great Lakes Valley Conference, a league that has grown into one of the nation's top conference across all three NCAA divisions.
“The Bellarmine University community is deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Spalding, a consummate educator, and loyal and dedicated Knight,” said Bellarmine President Joseph J. McGowan. “Through his excellent leadership, Jim was responsible for building the foundation of the university's nationally distinguished and highly competitive department of athletics as we know it today. As an outstanding student athlete at Bellarmine, a successful coach and a first-rate administrator-- in addition to his outstanding success as a loving grandfather, father and husband--we will miss Jim greatly, but we will be ever grateful for his leadership, exceptional competence, integrity, friendship and gentle humor. “
A 1955 Bellarmine graduate, Mr. Spalding returned to his alma mater after completing his master's degree in education and served as a member of the biology faculty and as an assistant basketball coach. He became the head coach in 1966 and took on the director of athletics duties in 1971. During his 23-year tenure as A.D., Mr. Spalding expanded Bellarmine's participation in intercollegiate sports from four to 16 teams.
As a Bellarmine basketball player, Mr. Spalding was chosen for the prestigious Kentucky College All-Star team in 1955. He also made his mark in Bellarmine's history books by positioning himself in the top forty on the all-time scoring list. As head basketball coach, Spalding compiled a record of 71-60 and led the Knights to the NCAA tournament twice in five years.
After his retirement, Mr. Spalding remained an ardent supporter of Bellarmine athletics and was a driving force in helping bring the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite 8 to Louisville for a 6-year run from 1995 through 2000.
Mr. Spalding continued his support as long as his health would allow and was among the Bellarmine faithful in attendance at both the 2011 NCAA National Championship victory in Springfield, Mass., and at the Bellarmine-Duke exhibition this past November in Durham, N.C.
Visitation for Mr. Spalding will be held Saturday from 5-8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-6 p.m. at Ratterman's Funeral Home at 3800 Bardstown Road in Louisville. The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday (June 11) at Mother of Good Shepherd, 3511 Rudd Avenue in Louisville's Portland neighborhood. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial gifts in Mr. Spalding's honor may be made to the Conventional Franciscan Friars (Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Development Office, 103 St. Francis Blvd., Mount St. Francis IN 47146) or to the Bellarmine University Athletics Scholarship Fund in memory of Jim Spalding (2001 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40205).
