Jim Whiteman - Charter Class

Jim Whiteman, Wrestling Coach, was born to Keith and Jackie Whiteman of Cataldo, Idaho.  He has one brother, Greg, and one sister, Coleen.

Jim participated in football, wrestling, and baseball in his high school years at Coeur d’Alene High School.  He also participated in wrestling for one year and baseball for one year at North Idaho College.

Jim was the head wrestling coach at Lakeland for 12 years (1977 – 1989), coached wrestling at various middle schools for 10 years, was assistant wrestling coach at Coeur d’Alene High School for 7 years, and assistant wrestling coach at North Idaho College for 2 years.

In Jim’s 12 years at Lakeland, he lead his wrestlers to 2 state championships, several league titles, several district titles, and produced multiple state champions, tri-state tournament champions, and place winners - among them, Lakeland’s current head wrestling coach, Rob Edelblute.

Other coaching accomplishments and honors include leading his North Idaho College wrestlers to a national title, was inducted into the national wrestling coaches Hall of Fame in 2009, numerous District 1 Coach of the Year awards, 2 Idaho state Coach of the Year awards, and 2012 Lakeland Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee.

Jim thanks many people for encouraging and helping him throughout the years, namely his parents, Keith and Jackie; his wife, Gina; high school coaches, Ken Huff and Eric Ohlund; college coach, Les Hogan; assistant coaches Van Tuinstra, Terry Kiefer, Conrad Garner, and Chet Park; and North Idaho College coaches, John Owen and Vic Peterson.

Aside from his professional coaching experiences, he’s been a volunteer coach for T-ball, little league, American Legion, youth basketball and junior tackle football.  He’s a member of Real Life Ministries, and is a volunteer home group leader, and enjoys hunting and fishing.

Jim and his wife, Gina, reside in Coeur d’Alene.  His plans for the future include retirement, and to continue coaching wrestling and other youth sports.