James Spencer Lentz (April 5, 1927 – July 22, 2009) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Bowdoin College from 1968 to 1983.
Following Lentz's graduation, he served as an assistant coach in 1951 for his alma mater, Gettysburg.[2][5][6] In 1952, he was promoted to a full-time position and was the freshman coach.[2][7][8] In 1952, his freshman team finished the season undefeated.[9] In 1956, he served as the line coach. In 1957, he was hired on the inaugural staff for newly hired Harvard head coach John Yovicsin as the offensive guard and centers coach.[10][11][12] In 1962, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.[13][14] In 1968, Lentz was hired as the head football coach for Bowdoin.[4][15] He served as the head coach for sixteen years, amassed an overall record of 55–66, and won ten Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortiums.[16][17] He resigned following the 1983 season.[16][18]
From 1952 until the late 1950s, Lentz was the swimming coach for Gettysburg.[2][8] He was also the freshman lacrosse coach for Harvard from 1957 to 1967.[4][14] He served one year as the head lacrosse coach for Bowdoin before becoming the junior varsity coach for a number of years.[4][19]
