Director of Coaching and Player Development

Anthony James

James began his collegiate coaching career in 1994 as a graduate assistant at Wheeling Jesuit University. He would later begin to establish himself as one of the elite high school coaches in West Virginia when he took over Wheeling Park HS in the fall of 1997. While there he won back-to-back state titles and also experienced an undefeated season in 1999. For his efforts he was honored by being named WV High School Coach of the Year during those years.

During the spring of 1998, James established the Soccer Vision Academy teams in Wheeling West Virginia. The goal was to simply use the teams as means to generate interest in the broader goal of developing youth players through its academy and the Soccer Vision Academy camps.

In 2000 he became the head women's soccer coach of West Virginia Wesleyan College where he won two conference titles and was named West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice. James also coached two conference players of the year, two rookies of the year and two All-Americas.

During his time in West Virginia, James worked at the state ODP level and joined the Region I staff in 1999 as a senior staff coach with the girl's program. He was later named head coach of the U-13 girl's program in 2004. In 2005 he was named to the Region I staff to take an ODP team to Barbados to compete internationally against teams from Barbados and other Caribbean countries. View photos.

In February 2004, James jumped from the Division II level to Division I as the head coach of Youngstown State University. In 2008 the Penguins experienced their most successful season at the Division I level while winning their first ever Horizon League post season game. During his tenure, five of his players were named to the Horizon League All-Conference teams.

James who is originally from Trinidad & Tobago holds a USSF "A" License, NSCAA Premier Diploma and USSF Youth License. He is formerly an assistant coach with the US Under-14 Girl's National Team and is currently the head coach of the Ohio North 1997 Girl's ODP state team. Currently, James is also the assistant coach of the Region I U-13 Girl's team.

Most recently, James spent time enhancing his coaching credentials with international trips to Spain and Brazil. While in both countries, James was able to study the youth academies of Real Madrid in Spain and Flamengo, Botafogo, Fluminense and Tigres FC in Brazil.

Honors as a Student Athlete
BS. Industrial Engineering 1994
MBA 1997
4 Time All Conference Selection1990-1993
NAIA All American 1993
NAIA Senior Bowl Selection 1993
Wheeling Jesuit University Hall of Fame Inductee 2009

Honors as a Coach
Two Time HS Girl's Coach of the Year 1998-1999
Led Wheeling Park HS girls to undefeated season 22-0 1999
Two Time WVIAC Women's Coach of the Year 2001, 2003