Popular local AD Spillers passes at 62
- Updated: March 6, 2024
2024 EAST COUNTY SPORTS
Special to EastCountySports.com
Jim SPillers
DEL CERRO — Longtime Grossmont and Southwestern College athletic director James Spillers passed away Monday morning, succumbing to his years-long battle with throat cancer.
The 62-year-old Del Cerro resident graduated from San Diego State University, where he was on the track and field team in the early 1980s. After graduating, he joined the athletic department as an assistant track coach. He worked his way up to Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations. After 19 years on the Mesa, he was hired as the athletic director at Grossmont College in July 2005.
He was a stabilizing force behind the Grossmont College athletic department that had undergone many changes in the early 2000’s. While at Grossmont, the department won two CCCAA State Championships and one National Championship (Football, 2005). Under his leadership, Grossmont was honored as the Chet DeVore recipient by the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC), which is given annually to the best athletic department (based on points garnered throughout the academic year) twice.
Some of his hires at Grossmont include Randy Abshier (Baseball) and Jaime Ivers (Beach Volleyball).
In January 2016, Mr. Spillers was hired as the Athletic Director and Dean of the Wellness and Exercise Science Department. He held that position until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
An article on Mr. Spillers in 2005 summed up his personality perfectly. “Some people just exude positive energy and goodwill. Jim Spillers, associate athletic director for facilities and operations, is one of those guys. There’s no secret to his success: he’s been able to parlay a lifelong love of athletics into a winning career.”
Final resting information has not been finalized as of yet.
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