The scion of a prominent tennis family – his parents founded the Punahou Tennis Club in 1951 – it was natural for James “Jim” Osborne Jr. to take to the courts for the Buff ’n Blue. He would go on to make School history.
Osborne won the School’s first boys singles title as a junior in 1962 and repeated as a senior. Since those first titles, the program has captured the top prize in boys singles 21 additional times. At the University of Utah, he would become the Utes’ first All-American in 1965, repeating that accomplishment the following year as well.
After college, Osborne was a member of the victorious Davis Cup team in 1968, the same year he would go on to win a bronze medal for the United States at the Mexico City Olympics. As a professional, from 1968 to 1972, Osborne earned a Top 10 ranking and, along with partner Jim McManus, reached No. 2 in the world rankings.
He served as an assistant coach at Utah before a 15-year stretch as the head coach at Brigham Young University.