James George "Jim" Skala (September 18, 1930 – September 24, 2023) was an American basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at the University of Michigan from 1949 to 1952 and was the captain, leading scorer, and most valuable player of the 1951–52 team. He later coached basketball at Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan.

Early years

Skala grew up in Chicago and attended Lindblom High School.

University of Michigan

Skala attended the University of Michigan. He played college basketball at Michigan from 1949 to 1952. He was the captain, leading scorer, and most valuable player for the Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team during the 1951–52 season. Skala also played football as a reserve at the end position on the

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

and 1950 Michigan football teams.

Coaching career and later years

After graduating from Michigan, Skala became the head basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University. He held that position from 1954 to 1960, compiling a 41-90 in six seasons. He then served six years as an assistant basketball coach at the University of Michigan and was responsible for recruiting

Cazzie Russell Cazzie Lee Russell (born June 7, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. An NBA All-Star, he was selected by the New York Knicks with the first overall pick of the 1966 NBA draft. He won an NBA championship with ...

to play for the Wolverines. Russell averaged 25.7 points per game and Bill Buntin 20.1 in leading Big Ten champion Michigan to the 1965 NCAA Tournament championship game against UCLA, a 91-80 loss. Skala resigned in October 1966 to accept a job with Commercial Carriers, an automotive carrier firm in Detroit. Skala died on September 24, 2023 at the age of 93.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skala, James 1930 births 2023 deaths Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball coaches Michigan Wolverines men's basketball coaches Michigan Wolverines men's basketball players American men's basketball players Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy alumni Basketball players from Illinois