Jim Wooldridge, whose basketball coaching career has included Kansas State, the Chicago Bulls and Louisiana Tech, is returning to Texas State University-San Marcos as major gifts development officer in the Bobcat Athletics Department.

Wooldridge, who came to Texas State in 1991 from Central Missouri State, coached the Bobcat men's basketball team to their first winning season in NCAA Division I and their first NCAA postseason appearance. In his three seasons with the Bobcats, he posted records of 7-20, 14-13 and 25-7 and was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1994.

"My wife and I have wanted to return to San Marcos ever since we left," Wooldridge said. "My coaching positions have given me extensive experience and involvement with alumni and the community that I can put to good use as a development officer for the Bobcats. I'm eager to get started."

Wooldridge began his career as a graduate assistant coach at Louisiana Tech, then went to assistant positions at East Central State in Oklahoma and Central Missouri State. The first of his 19 seasons as a head coach was at Central Missouri 1985-1991, posting a record of 131-48.

From Texas State he returned to his alma mater, Louisiana Tech for four seasons before he was hired as an assistant in 1998 by Coach Tim Floyd to help in rebuilding the Chicago Bulls following the retirement of Michael Jordan and dissolution of the Bulls' championship roster. He headed the Kansas State program from 2000 until last March. He begins work at Texas State on Sept. 5.

Wooldridge earned his B.S. degree at Louisiana Tech and his master's degree at East Central State.