Jim Kavanagh joined the Holy Cross staff in 1971 as Harold "Skip" O'Connor's assistant; he was appointed Head Coach in 1977 when his mentor retired.

After teaching and coaching at La Salle Academy for two years he accepted a teaching position in the Worcester Public Schools and an assistant's job with Coach O'Connor. Coach Kavanagh taught math and coached part-time at Holy Cross for 28 years before accepting the position of Director of Men and Women Track and Cross Country on a full time basis in the summer of 1999.

A Rhode Island native, Kavanagh excelled in track and football at La Salle Academy and later at Boston College from 1965 - 1968.

In track he was a three time New England Champion, twice in the discus and once in the shot put. In each of his last three years he journeyed to the NCAA's as a hammer thrower finishing second in his senior year. He qualified for the 1968 Olympic Trials and finished 10th with a career best of 199'11". He was a four time All-American in the hammer and weight throw, a NCAA qualifier in the discus and 3rd place finisher in the East Coast AAU Decathlon Championship.

In football he enjoyed a fine two-year career which led to his being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. A serious ankle injury forced him to leave both Kansas City and later Buffalo.

Coach Kavanagh lives in Shrewsbury, MA where is wife Elizabeth is the librarian at St. John's High School. They are the proud parents of three children Michael, Brian and Jane.