Year Inducted: 2003
Nominated By: Dick Vinci
Sports Competed In: Boxing Football, Wrestling
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete
High School:
Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S., graduating in 1953...Lettered four years each from 1949-53 in football (end and fullback) and basketball (forward)...Flood was a two-time 1st Team All Conference in football and named 1st Team All Conference one season in basketball.
College:
Went to Pueblo Junior College and played football (end) and was on the boxing team (156 lbs.) for a year (1955-56) before transferring to Sacramento State College (SSC), where he graduated in 1959.. At SSC, spent three years (1956-59) as a boxer at both 156 lbs. and 165 lbs.
Achievements:
College:
● Competed in the 1956 Olympic Trials where he finished runner-up as he was unable to fight in the finals due to a cut.
● Won numerous tournaments, among them: San Jose State, Michigan State, Idaho State, Washington State and University of Nevada Tournaments as well as the 1957 California Polytechnic Tournament and the University of California Tournament.
● NCAA National Champion (1958) at 156 lbs. and placed runner-up at the NCAA Tournament at 165 lbs. in 1959 (He won the semi-final and was unable to defend his title due to a cut).
● Won the Invitational Intercollegiate Boxing Tournament (165 lbs.).
● Chosen twice as the "Outstanding Athlete" at California State University-Sacramento.
● Named to the National Intercollegiate Boxing Association First Team All American (1959).
● Won the 1960 Russ Newland Memorial Award for the Best Boxer.
Military:
Joined the U.S. Army for two years (1953-55) where he was on the boxing team at 156 lbs... Won the 1954 Northeast Overseas Boxing Tournament (156 lbs.) which took place at St. Johns, Newfoundland...Placed runner-up at the 1955 Service Championship Tournament held at Parks Air Force Base.
Boxing Career:
Southern Colorado Golden Gloves Champion Colorado Golden Gloves Champion...Boxed professionally for two years (1960-62) at 156 lbs and posted a career record of 12 wins and 2 losses...Professional boxing career cut short due to an injury in 1961...Named the "Best Preliminary Boxer of 1960" by the Society of California Boxing.
Coaching Career:
Started his coaching career as an assistant in the football program, the head coach of both the boxing and track teams for three years (1955-57) at Pueblo Catholic H.S...Spent the next two seasons (1957-58) as the head football coach at St. Mary's H.S., before being hired on as an assistant football and track coach at Colorado College where he worked for 32 years (1959-91).
Quote:
"Jim Flood semifinal bout at 165 pounds was the "The greatest fight ever in the NCAA championship history"... "Jim had one of the remarkable careers as a collegiate and golden glove boxers. An opponent never defeated Jim. His 3 or 4 losses came due to cuts. Jim was ahead in points and the ring doctor stopped the match due to a cut or Jim won the previous night but the ring doctor would not let him fight the next night due a cut...Jim probably would have been a three time NCAA boxing champion but the ring doctor made Jim forfeit the 1959 title due to a cut."
-- an article published in "Sports Illustrated" in 1959, The Jesse Landenberg.
Honors:
Inducted into the Sacramento Valley Boxing Association Hall of Fame (1984)...Inducted into the California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) Hall of Fame (2002).
Occupation:
Was a coach & Athletic Director for 30 years (1961-91) for the California Youth Authority.
