Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame
Jim Fairfield was voted into the Chadron State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, 15 years after he had concluded his football career with the Eagles and became eligible for induction. However, by that time he was the head football coach at Fountain Hills High in his native Arizona and could not attend the inductions.
In 2015, Jim resigned as the football coach and athletic director at Fountain Hills and he and his wife Paige moved to Bremerton, Wash., to be closer to their son and his family.
He came to CSC in 1981 after playing at Scottsdale Junior College. That fall, he caught 60 passes for 821 yards to lead all Nebraska receivers by 22 receptions and 133 yards. His 60 receptions were second and his yardage fourth all-time on CSC’s seasonal lists. His 208 yards receiving vs. undefeated Panhandle State of Oklahoma was the school record.
Fairfield was leading Nebraska in receiving again in 1982, when he sustained a broken ankle in the fifth game.
During his 23 years as head coach, his teams made the state playoffs 18 times, he was the conference’s Coach of the Year five times and was an all-star game coach four times.
The Fairfields have two sons, Jason and Brandon.
