Coach Jason James is in his third year as Head Basketball coach for the Lady Yellow Jackets. The 2015-16 A.I.I. Coach of the Year led the Lady Yellow Jackets to there first A.I.I. Conference Championship and the first in the Women's Program in just his second year. The Lady Yellow Jackets finished 19-12 last season after only winning nine games the previous year.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Coach James is a graduate from Winton Woods High School where he lettered in three sports. Jason graduated from Benedict College in where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications (Media Arts) in 2004. Jason also served in The U.S. Army National Guard from 1997-2004..
Prior to coming Allen, James worked for Benedict Athletics for 15 years. Originally, James began his career at Benedict as a student assistant to then Lady Tigers Head Coach Cedric Baker in 2001. That year, the team played in postseason play for the first time in Benedict’s history at the NAIA Championship Tournament in Jackson, TN.
In 2002, James moved to the Men’s basketball program as an Assistant Coach when Coach Fred Watson was hired to take over the program. and when the Tigers made the move from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Coach James, strong recruiting skills helped the Tigers win their first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 2004 defeating defending champion Morehouse in the Championship game.
After that season, the Tigers became the powerhouse of the conference winning three more conference tournament championship, five regular season titles and eight trips to NCAA Division II Tournament including a trip to the regional championship (Sweet 16) in 2008.
Coach James intends to lead the same level of accomplishments at Allen University. Coach James values the athletics at Allen University and is proud to be a part of the Allen University family. He is paaionate about the game of basketball, Allen University and the success of his student-athletes both on and off the court.
Coach James and his Wife Whakeela have five kids together Bryanna 17, Caleb 12, Jason II 11, Ja'Iona 8, and Deandre 7.
