Sport(s) Football Name Jim Lambright | ||
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1965 Fife HS (WA) (assistant) Education | ||
James Ralph Lambright (born April 26, 1942) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons, from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1. Prior to becoming head coach, Lambright served as an assistant on the Huskies coaching staff for 24 seasons.
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Early years and playing career
Lambright was born and raised in Everett, Washington, the son of a fisherman. He played high school football for head coach Jim Ennis at Everett High School, graduating in 1960. Lambright earned a scholarship to the University of Washington in Seattle, where he lettered as an undersized defensive end for head coach Jim Owens, earning all-conference and All-Coast honors as a senior for the Huskies in 1964.
Coaching career
Following graduation, Lambright was an assistant coach at Fife High School for a season in 1965 and then at Shoreline Community College. In 1969, Jim Owens hired him as an assistant coach on the Huskies' staff. New head coach Don James retained him in 1975 and Lambright became the team's defensive coordinator in 1977, and assistant head coach in 1987.
Lambright was an assistant coach for the Huskies for 24 seasons when he was elevated to head coach in late August 1993, following James' sudden resignation in protest of sanctions against the program from the NCAA and Pac-10 Conference. Lambright's initial contract as head coach was a four-year deal with a base salary of $150,000; he was earning $95,400 as James' chief assistant. He signed a contract extension in January 1998 that brought his compensation to over $500,000 annually. As the Huskies' defensive coordinator Lambright designed the team's "Purple Reign" defensive schemes.
After six seasons as head coach, Lambright was relieved of his duties by athletic director Barbara Hedges in late December 1998, replaced by Rick Neuheisel in January 1999.
Coaching tree
Assistant coaches under Jim Lambright who became NCAA or NFL head coaches: