Bio

Jim Givens currently serves as Director of Athletics at The University of Findlay. He began this role on January 1, 2023.

Givens, who is in his 25th year with the Oilers, oversees all of Findlay’s athletic programs, made up of 22 varsity sports. The sports include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball, women's lacrosse and wrestling.

While in his role as Senior Associate AD, Givens raised more than a million dollars for the athletic department through various initiatives including the Oiler Golf Classic which he helped launch in 2002. Givens is passionate supporter of higher education and the University of Findlay and has been instrumental in helping the organization reach its' fiscal goals.

In the past, Givens played an integral role in the development of the new Sport and Event Management program at the University of Findlay.  Serving as an instructor and providing work experience for students in the program has been his concentration areas thus far in the program.

A member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) as well as the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Givens served 14 years (2000-08, 2010-15, 2021-22) on the NCAA Division II Midwest Region ranking committee and has chaired the regional ranking committee for five years.  A national baseball committee member from 2010-15, Givens was appointed the chair of the NCAA Division II national baseball committee for each of his years on the committee.

Givens started at UF in 1997 as the head baseball coach, serving in that capacity for six years.

A graduate of Kent State University, Givens was a highly successful baseball player for the Golden Flashes.  During his tenure, Givens was named all-Mid-American Conference (MAC) three times and was a first team all-region pick during the 1991 campaign.

He started all but the first game of his freshman year and one other in four years. At the completion of his four years he held the record for career games played (209), stolen bases (54), at bats (773), hits (239) and assists (589).  His 218 at bats, 78 hits and 178 assists were all single season records at the conclusion of the 1991 campaign.  Known as a defensive standout Givens’ fielding percentage at shortstop remains the highest percentage in school history for shortstops.  His career hits mark at the end of the 1991 season placed him third all time, just behind Mike Schmidt, on the MAC career hits list. 

In June of 1991, Givens was drafted in the 31st round by the Detroit Tigers.  He played in the organization until 1996 as a middle infielder.  In 1992, Givens was the shortstop on the championship Lakeland Tigers (A) affiliate.  Givens was promoted to the Toledo Mudhens in 1993 after just 72 games in London, Ont. the Tigers AA affiliate.  He was the first position player promoted out of his draft class to Triple AAA (Toledo).  During his time with the organization he was a part of Major League spring training in 1994 and 1995 with the parent club Detroit.

Givens currently resides in Findlay with his wife, Renee, daughter, Kylie, and son, Drew.