Jim Hinga
| Sport(s) | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
September 23, 1924 Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Died | March 10, 2002 (aged 77) Naples, Florida |
| Playing career | |
| 1944–1946 | Purdue |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1954–1968 | Ball State |
Jim Hinga (September 23, 1924 – March 10, 2002) was an American college basketball coach. Hinga coached Ball State University from 1954 to 1968 and compiled a 154–169 career mark, which is still a school record for victories. He also was an assistant football and track coach and Ball State's manager of physical education and athletic facilities and services from 1969 to 1981.
Hinga helped his team to a three-year record of 21-2-2 (.920). In his junior season in 1939–40, he was named an all-state football end while leading the Redskins to the Associated Press and United Press International state title. His teammate, Robert Cowan, would go on to a three-year career in the National Football League. Hinga was also a member of the two-time IHSAA state champion track and field team and won the 440-yard race.
He attended Purdue University and played football and track as a freshman during the 1942–43 school year. Hinga then joined the United States Air Force during World War II. He returned to Purdue in the fall of 1944 then played basketball for head coach Piggy Lambert. Two teammates who would go on to successful playing careers were Paul Hoffman and Howie Williams.
Hinga, who previously coached basketball, football and track at West Lafayette and Fort Wayne North High Schools from 1947 to 1954, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. He was the head basketball coach and assistant football coach under former high school teammate Bob Cowan at their alma mater.
He was then named the head basketball coach at Ball State Teachers College in the fall of 1954. Hinga coached for 14 seasons (still the longest tenure Ball State men's basketball coaching tenure in program history) and built a record of 154–169 (.477). Following his resignation, he was hired to be the first full-time commissioner of the Indiana Collegiate Conference from 1970 until 1978, when it became the Heartland Conference; he then continued as commissioner until retiring in 1984.
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