Bio

Jim Sykes was named Morningside University Director of Athletics in December 2020, then was promoted to Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics before the 2024-25 academic year. 

Sykes was part of the Morningside men’s basketball coaching staff for several years before he was promoted to the head coach position during the 2003-2004 season. He held a .698 winning percentage with a record of 390-168 after 2020-21, holding the record for most victories as a Morningside men’s basketball head coach. Fifteen of his last 18 seasons were winning seasons.

In 10 of those seasons, he posted 20-plus-win seasons. Sykes led his teams to eight National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II tournament appearances, eight Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) regular-season championships, and three GPAC post-season tournament championships. He earned the honor of GPAC Coach of the Year seven times.