Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
There are athletes who want the bat or ball in their hands in big games, and there are coaches who have the good fortune of having one of these athletes on the team they coach. Jim Elgin was one of these athletes for Lynx in baseball and football. He thrived on making big plays at key times in games.
In baseball, Jim was a four-year starter at third base and an outstanding pitcher for head baseball coach Gordon Ellingsworth. His forte was power, whether it was at the plate smashing a home run or on the mound overpowering batters. Jim still holds Rhodes’ single season home run record of 13, and he’s the career home record holder with 28. He was selected All College Athletic Conference in 1984, 1985 and 1986, his senior year. He also was selected the Most Valuable Player on the team in 1986, the same year the Baseball Coaches Association named him Honorable Mention All American. In Jim’s junior and senior years, the Lynx captured the College Athletic Conference baseball title.
Jim started at quarterback his junior and senior years, and in 1985 led the Lynx to an 8-1-1 record and a Co-College Athletic Conference Championship. He teamed with Hall of Fame members Mike Palazzolo and Steve Becton to lead an explosive offense known for its big play ability. Jim was named First Team All College Athletic Conference his senior year. The Lynx were blessed with two outstanding kickers. Current Hall of Fame member Jim Hever led the nation in placekicking and Jim Elgin averaged 42.6 yards/punt to rank sixth in the nation in punting. Jim was a great “pooch” kicker, pinning opponents inside their own 10 yard line time and time again. Had it not been for his unselfishness and effectiveness at “pooch” kicking, Jim likely would have led the nation in punting his senior year.
Jim served on the Rhodes athletic staff for 10 years as an Assistant Football and Baseball Coach, and as the Lynx Head Baseball Coach, where he produced several outstanding teams. From 1988-93 Jim teamed with the legendary Lynx defensive coordinator Leland Smith to produce some of the top defenses at the NCAA Division III level. For the thrills he brought to the Rhodes community at Stauffer and Fargason Fields, we are honored to induct JAMES LARRY ELGIN II into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 23rd day of October, 2009.
