If ever there was an Iron Man in the history
of Geneva College basketball, it was Jim Irons. Jim combined intense
desire and durability into an outstanding playing career that
extended from his days at Monaca, into Geneva and beyond graduation,
playing in independent leagues until age 40.
Jim starred in football and basketball at Monaca High School and was twice named to the All Section
basketball team and, as a
senior in 1959, was not only section MVP but also MVP at the county
All Star game, leading the area high schools in scoring that season.
At Geneva, he was a fan favorite: as a junior, he was named the
second team All State and first team as a senior, when he pulled down 352 rebounds for an average of
15.3 per game in addition to averaging 16.3 points per game, a
performance earned him honorable mention NAIA All American. In his
post collegiate days, Jim received over 25 All Tournament awards, as well as some 200 trophies. Off the court,
Jim received recognition as a teacher at both East Liverpool, Ohio
(1991), and Freedom (1977), and was named to the Who’s Who
in American Teachers in 1992. In addition, Jim coached basketball at the high
school level for 16 years, winning over 200 games and several times
being named Coach of the Year.
If ever there was an Iron Man in the history
of Geneva College basketball, it was Jim Irons. Jim combined intense
desire and durability into an outstanding playing career that
extended from his days at Monaca, into Geneva and beyond graduation,
playing in independent leagues until age 40.
Jim starred in football and basketball at Monaca High School and was twice named to the All Section
basketball team and, as a
senior in 1959, was not only section MVP but also MVP at the county
All Star game, leading the area high schools in scoring that season.
At Geneva, he was a fan favorite: as a junior, he was named the
second team All State and first team as a senior, when he pulled down 352 rebounds for an average of
15.3 per game in addition to averaging 16.3 points per game, a
performance earned him honorable mention NAIA All American. In his
post collegiate days, Jim received over 25 All Tournament awards, as well as some 200 trophies. Off the court,
Jim received recognition as a teacher at both East Liverpool, Ohio
(1991), and Freedom (1977), and was named to the Who’s Who
in American Teachers in 1992. In addition, Jim coached basketball at the high
school level for 16 years, winning over 200 games and several times
being named Coach of the Year.