James White (cross-country)

James "Jim" White (born May 14, 1941 in Sweetwater, Texas)[1] is an American track and field coach, a former high school cross country coach at McFarland High School. From 1987 to 2003, his team won nine state championships in Divisions III and IV, as well as numerous lesser titles.[2][3] Jim White is married to Cheryl White and has three daughters: Julie, Jami, and Tami. Jim White started teaching in the McFarland school district after graduating from Pepperdine University in 1964. White taught different subjects at numerous grade levels (fifth-grade science, seventh and eighth-grade wood shop and PE) before starting his coaching career in 1980. Jim White retired from coaching the McFarland High School cross-country team in 2003. However that didn't stop the former McFarland High School cross-country coach to go out and participate in practices.[4] During his time as a coach, Jim White would follow his team on a bike as they ran or occasionally ran with them.[5]

In 2015, Walt Disney Pictures released the film McFarland, USA about him and his program, with White being portrayed by Kevin Costner.[6][7]

References
  1. Dodd, Johnny (February 20, 2015). "Meet the Real-Life Hero Coach Played by Kevin Costner in McFarland, USA". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. Highfill, Bob (January 12, 2006). "A long run reaches the finish line". recordnet.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  3. "Successful McFarland cross country team loses state title after 24 years, feels "punished"". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-02-08.
  4. "Jim White, Coach Behind 'McFarland' Movie: "It's a Running Town Now"". Runner's World. 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  5. "McFarland, USA vs. the True Story of Coach Jim White's 1987 Team". HistoryvsHollywood.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  6. Moreno, Graciela (November 7, 2014). "Cross-country puts McFarland on the big screen". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  7. Farber, Stephen (February 4, 2015). "'McFarland, USA': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 8, 2020.


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