Director of Football Sports Performance, University of Southern Mississippi
Coach Jim Durning has been involved with Division I athletics for 30 years. Initially as a player and then transitioning to the role of coach. He has coached in the field of strength and conditioning for 25+ years. The last 20 years have been as the Director or Head of Strength & Conditioning.
Marshall University 1988-1992/1994-1996
Jim graduated from Marshall University in 1992 after a successful football career that included two appearances for the National Championship (1991, 1992) under head coach Jim Donnan. Coach Durning was named a team captain of the 1992 National Championship team. In 1994, Durning joined the Thundering Herd strength and conditioning department as a graduate assistant under the direction of S&C head coach, Scott Reese. Marshall appeared in the 1995 National Championship game.
University of Georgia 1996-1999
Coach Durning moved to the University of Georgia as an assistant strength and conditioning coach under head coach Jim Donnan. Georgia Football appeared in and won both the Outback Bowl (1997) and the Peach Bowl (1998) during his time in Athens. Coach Durning had the opportunity to coach some of the greats in Georgia Football history including Champ Bailey (NFL HOF), Hines Ward, Robert Edwards, Matt Stinchcomb and Richard Seymour.
James Madison University 1999-2012
In 1999, Mickey Matthews brought Jim to JMU to be the first ever Head S&C Coach for Football. From 1999-2012 James Madison football achieved much success. The Dukes won the National Championship in 2004, three conference titles (1999, 2004, 2008), and had multiple playoff appearances. James Madison had over 35 players go to NFL, CFL and AFL teams.
UNC Charlotte 2012- 2018
2012 brought the opportunity to join Brad Lambert at Charlotte to build the 49ers football program from start up to Conference USA. Jim was the first ever Head S&C Coach for Football. During his 7 seasons in Charlotte, Jim solidified an unwavering foundation for the 49ers football program. A young start up program saw players move to NFL and CFL rosters, two of those players (Larry Ogunjobi and Nate Davis) were selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft.
University of Southern Mississippi 2019- present
Head Coach Jay Hopson added Coach Jim Durning as the Director of Strength & Conditioning in January 2019. Southern Miss appeared in the Armed Forces Bowl in Durning's first year with the program.
Jim would like to offer a special thank you to his wife Nancy, and their four children (Alex, Morgan, Mason, and Colin) for their unconditional love, continued support and always adapting to life as a football family.
**Coach Durning's longevity in this profession would not be possible without the support and assistance of everyone working to achieve common goals related to the development of student athletes. Many thanks to all the head/assistant coaches and administrators who have provided the leadership and resources necessary to succeed. To all those individuals that guided and assisted Coach Durning, he would like to give his sincerest thanks and gratitude.
