University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics

Jim Adams had a stellar men's basketball career at UW-Oshkosh, helping the Titans to consecutive WIAC championships in 1947 and 1948.

Adams played basketball at UW-Oshkosh from 1947-50. In 1998, Adams' performance on the hardwood was saluted by UW-Oshkosh when he was named to the school's All-Decade Team of the 1940s, a 10-member honor squad.

Adams and the Titans compiled an 11-4 record in 1947 to share the WIAC title with UW-River Falls. UW-Oshkosh had its championship season end when UW-River Falls topped the Titans by a 67-55 count for the right to advance to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1948, Adams helped UW-Oshkosh to a 10-7 record and a share of the WIAC championship, tying with UW-Milwaukee, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point. The Titans forced a four-way tie for the league title by defeating UW-Whitewater, 61-50, in the regular season finale. In UW-Oshkosh's 61-55 win over UW-Stevens Point that year, Adams made his first collegiate start and responded to the assignment with 10 points.

UW-Oshkosh posted a 6-10 record in 1949, finishing in a tie for seventh place in the WIAC standings with UW-Milwaukee and UW-Stevens Point. Season highlights for Adams included a team-best 20 points in a 67-57 win over UW-Milwaukee and a game-high 15 points in a 58-56 loss to UW-Whitewater.

In 1950, UW-Oshkosh won 11 of its 18 games, including eight of 12 in WIAC play to tie UW-Milwaukee for second place in the league standings. Season highlights for Adams included 13 points in a 75-58 win over UW-Eau Claire. Adams finished the year leading the Titans in rebounding for the third consecutive season.

Adams also participated in football in 1946 and in track & field in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950 at UW-Oshkosh. He was a member of UW-Oshkosh teams that finished third at the WIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship three times.

After graduating from UW-Oshkosh in 1950, Adams held teaching, coaching and administrative positions in the Omro, Cedarburg and Mayville school districts. Adams coached boys basketball at Omro High School from 1953-57, leading the Foxes to the conference title in 1955. He also coached boys basketball at Cedarburg High School from 1964-68, leading the Bulldogs to the league championship in 1967.

Adams passed away on March 19, 2015 at the age of 89.

December 17, 2025