COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy auyellowjackets.com) — The Minority Coaches Association has named Allen University Coach Jason James one of the top NAIA men’s basketball coaches in the country.
Coach James is entering his seventh season at Allen University. He was the head women’s basketball coach for the first four years, leading the Lady Yellow Jackets to Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference championship in 2015-16 – in just his second year at the helm. Coach James was also named A.I.I. Coach of the Year in 2015-16. In his final season as the women’s coach he led the team to their first 20-win season in school history and advanced to the semifinals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament.
In 2018, Coach James took over the men’s program, winning 15 games in his first year with a win over NCAA Division II and CIAA member Fayetteville State. In his second year, the Yellow Jackets won 18 games and finished tied for third place in the AAC. They also knocked of two nationally-ranked teams in 12th-ranked Union College and 18th-ranked Voorhees College. Coach James has coached two players to NAIA All-American status – Kamya Thomas and Vernon Jackson.
“I’m definitely honored and grateful for this acknowledgement from the MCA. I want to thank our president, Dr. Ernest McNealey, and his staff for all the help they provide. I also want to thank my co-workers in the Athletic Department for their support of our current and former staff. I have to thank the current and former players for buying in on what we are doing in AU athletics. Finally, I thank all my volunteer assistants who have helped me – Charles Eubanks, Traci Fountain, Lakeisha Tolliver, Levelle Gerald, and Shawn Jones.