Former Fresno State coach Jim Sweeney dies at 83

Coach Jim Sweeney was one of the most generous individuals I have ever know. He was always a pleasure with which to work. As a young broadcast journalist in the late 70's & early '80's, always in over my head, I was spoiled rotten by Coach Sweeney (and Coach Grant, Coach Hill and a few others). In a world that exuded highly differential treatment for women, I was always treated as a professional with dignity and respect. It never occurred to me that in the future I would be subjected to the condescending, belittling and often times hostile treatment that was a woman's fate in a male dominated industry. His legacy as a coach, his overwhelming personality and his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him goes beyond the boys he coached into men. There are women working today that owe him a debt of gratitude for the positions they are now able to fill. Coach Jim Sweeney was a man among men, and as he often signed to others, "at least one of the greatest." B.J. Green-Giocalone

Coach Jim Sweeney was one of the most generous individuals I have ever know. He was always a pleasure with which to work. As a young broadcast journalist in the late 70's & early '80's, always in over my head, I was spoiled rotten by Coach Sweeney (and Coach Grant, Coach Hill and a few others). In a world that exuded highly differential treatment for women, I was always treated as a professional with dignity and respect. It never occurred to me that in the future I would be subjected to the condescending, belittling and often times hostile treatment that was a woman's fate in a male dominated industry. His legacy as a coach, his overwhelming personality and his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him goes beyond the boys he coached into men. There are women working today that owe him a debt of gratitude for the positions they are now able to fill. Coach Jim Sweeney was a man among men, and as he often signed to others, "at least one of the greatest." B.J. Green-Giocalone