47. Jim Glatch

Published: April 25, 2021, 3:53 p.m.

Jim Glatch took over as Edinboro University’s coach for student-athletes with disabilities in 1995. Most noteworthy is his work as the head coach of the wheelchair basketball team. He ranks as one of the leaders both nationally and internationally in coaching wheelchair basketball.

While winning on the basketball court is important, Glatch takes great pride that 70 percent of his student-athletes have graduated. On the court, he led the Fighting Scots to their finest season in 2006-07, reaching the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament championship game. Edinboro would finish second in the country while playing in front of a large crowd at McComb Fieldhouse, ending the year with a 24-9 record.

Glatch served as the director of Team USA’s Senior National Program from 2009-2012. His teams have earned success in international competition. He guided Team USA 23 team to the 2009 IWBF U23 World Championship, as the United States finished with a perfect 8-0 record while competing in Paris, France. That team included former Edinboro standouts Tommie Gray and Trevon Jenifer. The United States capped its perfect run to the title with a 77-54 win over Spain.

Glatch and his Team USA earned the bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympics in London, England. It was the first medal for the men’s team since 2000.

In addition to his duties with Team USA, Glatch gained previous international experience as an assistant coach for the 2001 Team USA 23 and Under World Cup Team, plus as a member of the selection committee of Team USA Women’s National Team in 2004 and a head coach at the U.S. Basketball Festival in 2003-04. 

He has worked numerous camps and runs the Edinboro University Fighting Scots Wheelchair Basketball Camp. Previously, he served as a clinician at the Philadelphia Junior Wheelchair Basketball Camp and worked the Wounded Warrior Clinic, which works with Veterans Hospitals and organizations to teach wheelchair basketball to military veterans.

Prior to taking over as Edinboro’s head coach, Glatch was the Director of Sports Management, PA for Special Olympics from 1989-95.  He coordinated 22 sports statewide along with assisting in the development of coaches.

Glatch received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and also attended the American Sports Education Program (ASEP) at the University of Illinois.

He resides in Meadville with his wife Sandy of 28 years. They have one son, Alex (26), along with two daughters, Carley (24) a member of Edinboro University’s Class of 2020 and Stephanie (21), a junior at Edinboro.