After playing for some of the most legendary basketball coaches in state history at Bingham High School and BYU, Jim Jimas became one himself, guiding Hillcrest and Brighton high schools to state championships over a 22-year head coaching career.
Jimas, forever a Cougar hoops hero after making one of the most memorable plays in program history to secure a victory in the NIT championship game over Army, died early Tuesday morning at his home in Salt Lake City.
One of Jimas’ former players at Hillcrest, Marty Haws, said the boyish-looking coach laid the groundwork for most of what he accomplished at BYU.