Executive Director's Biography

JIM HALLIHAN

On July 1, 1994, Jim Hallihan joined the staff of the Iowa Sports Foundation and took over as the Executive Director on September 1.

During Hallihan's tenure, the Iowa Sports Foundation has evolved from just the Summer and Winter sports festivals, which in 1994 had 15,791 athletes.  And when the 1995 Winter Games were cancelled and their existence was unknown, Hallihan brought the Winter Games back in 1996.  With the addition of Net Fest Basketball and Volleyball, Hoopin' At The Dome, The Iowa Games Golf Classic, and Fish Iowa Games; the Iowa Sports Foundation, under Hallihan's leadership, has grown tremendously.  Hallihan has also been a key factor in the additions of the Live Healthy Iowa (formerly Lighten Up Iowa), Live Healthy Iowa Kids (formerly Go the Distance), Go the Distance Day, and Live Healthy America programs, which promote healthier lifestyles and eating habits.  In 2008, over 153,000 individuals participated in Iowa Sports Foundation events.

Hallihan spends a great deal of his time traveling the state of Iowa promoting the Games and the "Character Counts!" program. His travels include a 100-stop media tour, as well as speaking engagements at sport clinics, schools, civic organizations, church groups and corporations.

For 8 1/2 years, Hallihan hosted a radio show, "Sports for the Right Reasons," in which sportsmanship and character-building are the focus for youth, parents and coaches.

Hallihan serves on the Board of the Institute for Character Development in Des Moines and attended two national sports summits whose focus was to reinstate character building through the six pillars of character in amateur sports throughout America.

On May 4, 2000, the Iowa Sports Foundation staff and Hallihan were awarded the American Character-Builder award, for creating and implementing an outstanding character development program.

In October 2006 at the National Congress of State Games Symposium, Hallihan was awarded the first ever Executive Director of the Year award.  He received this award from his fellow colleagues from state games organizations all around the country.

In March 2009, Hallihan was a recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Sportsmanship Award at the Girls' State Basketball Tournament which was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.  Each qualifying school in the Girls' State Basketball Tournament was asked to nominate one community member whom personifies sportsmanship and decorum throughout the season.  Ames High School nominated Hallihan to receive the Sportsmanship Award.

A native of Decatur, Ill., Hallihan enjoyed a successful basketball playing career at Miami (Ohio) University, where he was a two-year starter and team captain on the Redskins' NCAA Tournament team.

After a short stint as a head coach at Casey (Ill.) High School and a tour of duty in the Army, Hallihan joined the coaching staff at Virginia Tech. In 1973, Virginia Tech won the N.I.T., and the 1974-75 Virginia Tech coaching staff was named one of the Top Ten College Coaching Staffs of all time by Mike Douchant of the College Sports Xchange. Following his stay at Virginia Tech, Hallihan joined the coaching staff at East Tennessee State.

Hallihan joined Johnny Orr's basketball staff at Iowa State University in August of 1982 after serving as head coach at East Tennessee State from 1979-1982, guiding the Bucs to a 57-53 record. He served as Johnny Orr's top assistant at ISU for twelve years. During that time, the Cyclones made six NCAA appearances and three N.I.T appearances.

Hallihan holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Miami of Ohio in physical education and administration.

He and wife Trish have two daughters, Jennifer and Kelly; one son, Danny; and one granddaughter, Rosie.