James Black is entering his fifth season as assistant coach for the Lady Owls after spending the previous seven seasons at Augustana College serving as both a head coach and an assistant.
A native of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Black came to the Lady Owls program after spending the previous five seasons as head coach of Augustana, a Division III school in Rock Island, Ill. Prior to his head coaching duties he was the Vikings assistant for two seasons.
Black assists in all aspects for the Lady Owls program, including on-court coaching and academic support. In addition, Black coordinates the team’s community service initiatives and the development of guards. Also, Black focuses on recruiting in Tennessee, Kentucky, and in the Midwest as well as planning KSU’s summer camps program.
While the head coach at Augustana, Black managed all aspects of the program and was a disciplinarian both on and off the court; he led the Vikings to their best finish since 1993 and had at least one Academic All-American Nominee in four of his five years.
Prior to his time at Augustana, Black spent two years as an assistant coach at Morehead State University. He began his coaching career at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn., where he spent ten years as an assistant.
In addition to his coaching skills, Black has shown to be an innovator in fund-raising and satellite programs around women’s basketball. While at Augustana he developed ball girl programs, community service programs and initiated the first all-girls basketball camp.
As a player, Black began his career playing at Roane State Community College in Harriman, Tennessee. After transferring to Lee College, his career was cut short due to a knee injury. Black graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administraion from Tusculum in 1987 and then received his masters’ in Education two years later. He resides in Adairsville, Ga., with his wife, Carol. He has one daughter, Monique.
Black is also a member of the Black Coaches Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaching Association.
