Former Viking, Lobo was more than an athlete
Jim Coleman, once a stellar three-sport athlete at Valley High School and baseball player for the University of New Mexico — where he authored one of the great pitching performances in the program’s history — has died.
Coleman passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 29. He was 47.
Coleman’s brother Joe said the family believes it was a massive coronary that killed Jim, who was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago.
“He was a a funny, quick-witted, sharp guy,” said Joe Coleman, the boys basketball coach and athletic director at Valley. “People who knew him, loved him. He was always so much more concerned about everybody else than his own health or how he was doing.”
Jim Coleman was an all-state athlete who played football, basketball and baseball at Valley, where he graduated in 1989.
UNM awarded him a baseball scholarship, and while with the Lobos, Coleman was responsible for an epic performance on the mound.
He once pitched all 13 innings of a win over San Diego State at the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Hawaii, helping the Lobos make the finals that year.
Jim was a regular at his brother’s home games at Valley. He also was a fan of the UFC and the Dallas Cowboys, and a longtime employee at Costco.
“I never knew he was at half our games,” his brother said. “But he never missed any. He did it without any fanfare.”
Joe Coleman said on the day his brother died, Jim called 911 himself because he was having trouble breathing, and he later collapsed. Paramedics were unable to revive him.
“He hadn’t said anything to me about not feeling well,” Joe Coleman said. “No one knew anything was gonna happen.”
His brother was beloved in the North Valley, he added.
“He was truly admired with anyone who had any kind of interaction with him and knew him,” Joe Coleman said. “It was unbelievable the outpouring of support (after he died). He was so, so loved.”
Jim Coleman is also survived by his father Al and sister Edy. He was buried Nov. 6 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 7999 Wyoming Blvd. NE.