| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1929 Butte, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 2013 (aged 83) Fresno, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Portland (1951) |
| Playing career | |
| 1947–1949 | Portland |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1950 | Portland Columbia HS (OR) (assistant) |
| 1951 | Butte Central Catholic HS (MT) (assistant) |
| 1952–1955 | Butte Central Catholic HS (MT) |
| 1956–1959 | Kalispell Flathead HS (MT) |
| 1960–1962 | Montana State (assistant) |
| 1963–1967 | Montana State |
| 1968–1975 | Washington State |
| 1976–1977 | Fresno State |
| 1978 | Oakland Raiders (assistant) |
| 1979 | St. Louis Cardinals (assistant) |
| 1980–1996 | Fresno State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 201–153–4 (college) |
| Bowls | 6–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 Big Sky (1964, 1966–1967) 6 PCAA/Big West (1977, 1982, 1985, 1988–1989, 1991) 2 WAC (1992–1993) | |
James Joseph Sweeney (September 1, 1929 – February 8, 2013) was an American college football coach who was the head coach at Montana State University (1963–1967), Washington State University (1968–1975), and California State University, Fresno (1976–1977, 1980–1996), compiling a career college football record of 201–153–4 (.567). Sweeney's 144 wins at Fresno State are the most in the program's history. He was also an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played in college as an end for the Portland Pilots.