Hall of Fame
Jim Beshears was a standout basketball guard from 1959-62, twice earning Little All-America honorable mention prior to APSU’s elevation to Division I status. During his career, the Morton’s Gap, KY native led Austin Peay to three straight Volunteer State Athletic Conference Western Division titles. He earned all-conference in both the 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons and also was All-VSAC tournament those campaigns. In 1961, Beshears was named MVP of the South Central Regional tourney and led the Governors to the NCAA Small College quarterfinals. Among nine records set (and all but one later broken), he averaged 19.7 points per game during his three year varsity career. Beshears set and reset point-scored marks during his junior and senior seasons. His 43 points against Bethel in 1960-61 stood as the single-game scoring mark until James “Fly” Williams broke the record in the 1972-73 season. Beshears still holds APSU’s mark for the most consecutive free-throws made (17). Beshears also was a standout baseball pitcher, matching the three letters he earned in basketball. His 1962 6-0 won-loss record (1.000 percentage) stands as the Governors’ best single-season winning percentage. After graduating from Austin Peay (1962), he began an eight-year head coaching career at South Hopkins High School in Nortonville, KY. In six years as head coach he posted a 145-42 record. He served as a middle school teacher for ten years and was golf coach at Madisonville High School for nine years. He also served as assistant middle school principal for three years before becoming South Hopkins High School assistant principal for six years.
