Jim Darden

James Wesley Darden
(Jimmy)

• Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lbs.
• School University of Wyoming, University of Denver
• High School Cheyenne Central High School

• Born June 19, 1922 in Cheyenne, WY USA
• Died April 29, 1994

Biographical Information

Jim Darden had a chance to sign with the Cleveland Indians out of high school, but his parents vetoed the idea [1]. He played basketball in college, including for the University of Wyoming team that won the 1943 championship, although Darden was serving in World War II at the time of the tournament [2]. After his discharge, he joined the Denver Nuggets, eventually becoming player-coach for the team in the first year of the NBA [3].

Darden became the basketball and baseball coach at Colorado School of Mines in July 1954,[4] staying through his retirement in 1992. He coached the baseball team to the 1972 NAIA District Tournaments. The school named their baseball field Darden Field in his honor in 2007.

Darden was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.

Related Sites

• BasketballReference page
• Colorado Sports HOF page