Jim Lothrop joined the Puma Track & Field program as an assistant coach in 2015. He brings knowledge and experience in all throwing events, but is best known for coaching elite and developmental javelin throwers throughout the Southwest. He has coached 12 USATF Youth National Champions in the javelin and spent time working with elite javelin throwers as part of John Godina’s World Throws Center (now Altis).  He also spent time coaching the shot put and discus at Horizon High School in Scottsdale. 

Lothrop was an elite javelin thrower both in college and post collegiately. He attended Alma College in Alma, MI where he was on the basketball team as well as the track & field team. During his time at Alma College he was an NCAA Division III runner-up in the javelin and he took 8^th place in the discus. After college, Jim qualified for and competed in two Olympic trials in the javelin, placed as high as 5^th and 8^th at the USATF Outdoor Nationals, and was a two-time Sun Angel Classic Champion.

Lothrop earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Alma College and worked as a computer programmer-analyst for over 35 years before retiring in 2015. He uses his computer savvy to administer an online javelin discussion forum.