Jim Lothrop joined the Puma Track and Field program as an assistant coach in 2015. During his tenure, Jim has coached Puma throwers to 24 NJCAA All-American finishes, including three NJCAA National Champions.  Most of those student-athletes were able to continue competing at NCAA DI schools. 

Jim was an elite javelin thrower both in college and post collegiately. He attended Alma College in Alma, Michigan where he was on the basketball team as well as the track and field team all four years. During his time at Alma College he was an NCAA Division III runner-up in the javelin and he took 8th place in the discus. After college, Jim qualified for and competed in two Olympic trials in the javelin.

Jim received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Alma College and worked as a computer programmer-analyst for over 35 years before retiring in 2015.