Growing up across the street from the Blountstown High School Stadium destined Jim Goodman to spending most of his life working in the sport of football. Enjoying a career that spanned from high school to the pinnacle of the National Football League, Jim has always had a special place in his heart for the panhandle. Having returned to Bonifay eighteen years ago, he was able to watch his sons play at Holmes County High School and settle in the area. Even today, Jim Goodman still has his hand in the sport of football.
Jim’s story begins with him graduating from Blountstown High School, attending Chipola Junior College, and spending the next two years at the University of Florida, graduating in 1974. One of the most important events that would happen to Jim in his life occurred while he was at Chipola Junior College: he met his future bride and wife of 41 years, Jennie. His first coaching job was as an assistant at Van Guard Ocala while Jennie was finishing pharmacy school in Gainesville. After they were married, Jim began his career in collegiate and professional football that would take him to the very top and then back to the Emerald Coast.
Jim’s next stop was as a graduate assistant at the University of North Alabama for legendary coach Mickey Andrews. After going fulltime his second year in Florence, Alabama Jim moved on to the Head Coaching job at Marion Institute in Marion, Alabama. During his tenure as head coach at Marion, he met an individual that influenced his career in the future, Mike Shanahan, who at the time was the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida. Two seasons at Marion led to a coaching position at the United States Air Force Academy with Ken Hatfield. Interestingly, former Troy and Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey was the defensive coordinator on staff.
In December of 1981, Jim Goodman took on an opportunity that not many people get a chance at. Valdosta State College was starting a football program and selected him as their first head coach. In a short 10 months, Jim fielded a team and began NCAA Division II play in the Gulf South Conference. The Blazers would finish 5-5 their first year. After 3 seasons, Jim stepped down as head coach to become the Athletic Director due to some health issues. Coach Goodman says that having three young children and only being 33 years old led him to this decision.
An interesting side story in Coach Goodman’s career came in his first year during training camp. As one can imagine, it was a typical hot and humid August in South Georgia. So to motivate the players after a few grueling days, he came out to practice dressed in a stocking cap, parka, and ski gloves to downplay the heat. He laughs today and says, “I almost died.” He made it through that practice but nearly suffered from heat exhaustion from his efforts. Jim says it motivated the players to push through practice, but it still was not very smart.
The call to return to coaching proved strong, and he reunited with Ken Hatfield at the University of Arkansas for three seasons. The next 10 years saw a two-year stretch with Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida and then rejoining Coach Hatfield at Clemson University and Rice University. In the spring of 1998, Coach Goodman renewed a relationship that would lead him on a different path in his football career. He took a position with the Denver Broncos as a regional scout. This led the Goodmans to move to Jennie’s hometown of Bonifay, Florida.
The next 11 years saw Jim rise through the ranks of the Broncos with Coach Shanahan. In 2008, he was named Vice President of Player Personnel and Football Operations, but that also meant that the Goodmans would get to raise their children, Jeff, Nancy, and Tyler, in Bonifay. Two years later saw him move to Florida for good. The Denver Broncos underwent a leadership change and he was out. Initially he thought he would get back in, but for whatever reason, it did not happen. With some hindsight, he says it ended up not being a such bad thing.
Currently Jim is the Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Holmes County School Board. His wife Jennie still works part time as a pharmacist in the area. Eldest son Jeff has a law practice in Chipley and youngest son Tyler is a physical therapist in Niceville. Daughter Nancy just recently moved to Atlanta with her family. Being close to their children and seven grandchildren is what life is about for Jim and Jennie today. With lots of family in the area, they are also close to both of their mothers who reside in the area.
Coach Goodman says although he traveled all around the country, high school in the panhandle always stayed close to his heart. Over the years he heavily recruited in the Emerald Coast due to the quality of players and old school mentality found around here.
“Friday night games still mean something to our area,” Jim says. “It is about town pride and bragging rights for the next year. Tradition and memories are built from the games played with almost everyone in attendance.”
“Football is one of the greatest sports to be involved in,” Jim went on to say. “It instills discipline, responsibility and develops character. Learning how to work as part of a team and life lessons are some of the intrinsic values one gains from playing.”
Coach Goodman says he still receives calls and messages from his former players who thank him for the opportunities and lessons they learned playing for him. The resulting conversations and seeing how these young men have grown and developed means more to him then all the trophies and rings. It is all about giving back and enjoying the ride!
ITG Web Content
Legend Jim Goodman
Written by Arnold Gamber
Photo by Arnold Gamber
