Bio

Jim Winkler is entering his second year as the Head Football Coach for the Jaguars. With more than 17 years of experience at the junior college level we welcome Coach Winkler to the Jaguar Family.

Coach Wink’s junior college coaching career includes being on the coaching staff at Cabrillo College from February 2014 to March 2018.  He served several roles while working with the Seahawks; defensive secondary coach, special teams coordinator, defensive coordinator, and interim head coach.  From 2002 through the 2013 season, Jim worked at West Valley College and coached the secondary, special teams, and coordinated the defense before leading the program as head coach from January 2009 through the 2013 season. While a member of the Vikings staff, he spent the Summer of 2008 as a "guest coach" for the Canadian Football League's defending Grey Cup Champions, Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Before coaching at the junior college level, Coach Winkler was an assistant coach at San Jose State University from 1998-2000 working with linebackers and the secondary.  During his time on staff the Spartans were 3-0 versus Stanford and upset a top-ten ranked TCU team during the 2000 season.  Before landing at SJSU, Coach Wink was on staff at the University of Redlands from 1994-1998, working as the Defensive Coordinator his last two years there.

Prior to moving up to the college ranks, Coach Winkler spent four seasons working at the high school level in San Diego.  In addition to coaching, Jim, spent over six years in the United State Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant at the conclusion of the Persian Gulf Conflict and Desert Storm. Before enlisting in the USMC he played his collegiate career at Concordia University in Seward, NE.  In high school (Cheyenne Central High School, WY) Jim was selected as a unanimous all-conference and all-state outside linebacker and participated in the Wyoming All-Star Shrine Bowl.

Coach Winkler holds three educational degrees; Master of Education in Counseling (University of Redlands), Master of Kinesiology in Sports Psychology (San Jose State University), and Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (San Diego State University).