A veteran of more than 30 years in the coaching profession, Jim Platt returns for his fifth season as a member of the Black Knights’ coaching staff.
Platt works extensively with the Army defense. Under his watch, the Black Knights have gone from allowing 67.9 points per game in the season prior to his arrival to 60.8 points per game last season. Army has been one of the stingiest teams in the Patriot League in each of the last two seasons. In 2008-09, the Black Knights were second in the league and 29th in the nation in scoring defense. The Black Knights also ranked among the nation’s top 100 in field goal percentage defense (.417) and steals (7.5). Platt’s work with the defense contributed to Marcus Nelson’s selection as the Black Knights’ first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2007-08, the Army defense ranked second in the Patriot League, and 35th in the nation, in scoring defense. The squad also boasted the third-best field goal percentage defense in the league (.413). The Black Knights 259 steals were an Academy record, and their 8.63 steals per game average ranked second in the Patriot League and 29th in the country.
Platt arrived at West Point just prior to the 2005-06 campaign after guiding Charleston Southern to a 55-89 record over the previous five campaigns. In 2001-02, his second season at CSU, Platt helped the program to its first winning record in conference play in six seasons. He was named Big South Coach of the Year in 2001.
Platt has spent the past 27 years at the Division I level. In that time, he has helped guide teams to 10 NCAA appearances, including two trips to the Sweet 16, and 10 20-win seasons. Two of his teams earned bids to the National Invitation Tournament. His career coaching mark stands at 111-148.
A 1973 graduate of Concordia University in River Forest, Ill., Platt secured his first head coaching assignment in 1990 when he began a four-year stint at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. The Trojans were 56-59 under his tutelege.
He departed UALR to join Steve Robinson’s staff at the University of Tulsa, embarking upon a three-year tour that featured a trio of NCAA postseason appearances. After NCAA appearances in 1996 and 1997, Platt accompanied Robinson to Florida State University for a three-year stint.
Platt began his collegiate coaching career at Illinois State University in 1978, serving for six years as an assistant to legendary coach Bob Donewald. The Redbirds won the Missouri Valley Conference title in 1983, earning their second straight NCAA Tournament berth. From 1984 through 1990, Platt assisted Joey Meyer at DePaul University. During his time in Chicago, Platt was named one of the nation’s Top 20 assistant coaches by Basketball Times magazine.
A native of Aurora, Ill., Platt coached basketball at Luther High School from 1973 through 1978 before making the move to the collegiate ranks. During his undergraduate days at Concordia, Platt starred in both basketball and baseball. He was inducted into the Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
Platt and his wife, Cheryl, have three children: son Jeff, who joined the Army coaching staff in 2009; daughter Jessica, who lives in Tallahassee, Fla.; and daughter Jamie, who graduated in 2006 from Charleston Southern University. The Platts have one grandchild, Addysen.
|
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
