Jim Thorp

Jim Thorp

MSGT Jim Thorp, begins his 28th year affiliated as a coach with VMI’s Rifle team.

MSGT Thorp was initially assigned to VMI Army ROTC back in 1979.  He started his association with the Rifle team in the capacity of head coach in 1981, the founding year of the VMI NCAA rifle team.  MSGT Thorp then served as VMI’s head rifle coach for the following 27 years, retiring from the head position after the 2008 rifle season. 

During MSGT Thorp’s long tenure in the head coach capacity, he was able to showcase VMI as site for the NCAA Rifle Championships on four different occasions (1982, 1988, 1990 and 1992).  Further, over these many years he coached rifle to upwards of 600 VMI cadets. 

MSGT Thorp now serves as VMI’s assistant rifle coach, where his legacy still continues and where he still is prominently involved and associated with VMI’s rifle program.  However, in the assistant coach capacity he now has more free time for leisure pursuits. 

Prior to his work with VMI’s rifle team, MSGT Thorp served 21 years in the United States Army.  In that regard, while on active duty he served primarily in Armor and Artillery units.  He spent 1½ tours fighting in Vietnam, a tour in Korea and three tours in Germany.  MSGT Thorp developed a reputation as a “troop oriented field soldier” spending over 4 ½ years in the capacity of company First Sergeant.

Besides his work with the VMI rifle team, MSGT Thorp ran the local 4H Rifle program from 1983-2004, and is currently a Hunter Safety Instructor, as well as an NRA Instructor and Training counselor in numerous shooting disciplines.  In his spare time, MSGT Thorp is a small arms weapons enthusiast and collector as well as an amateur historian of note.