TUSKEGEE UNIV. HEAD COACH
in 2016. His final year at Miles, the offense averaged better than 28 points per game in 2019 while going 9-3 en route to a conference championship and D2 playoff berth. James brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the coaching staff, after serving as former quarterbacks coach at Lane College. His career also includes a stay at Clark Atlanta as their quarterback coach and a graduate assis- tant at his alma mater, Tuskegee, and an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Bullock County High School. James was a star quarterback for Tuskegee from 1998- 2001, where he compiled an impressive record of 42-5 as a starter. He has the most wins of any signal-caller in Golden Tigers history. He won three SIAC championships during his career, led the Golden Tigers to a 12-0 sea- son and HBCU National Championship in 2000, was an All-Conference selection after the 2001 season and played professionally for the Alabama Lighting of the NAFL in 2004, where he led the league in passing yards and touch- downs. His 91-yard touchdown run record from scrim- mage is atop the Golden Tigers list. James is a native of Pritchard, Alabama and a graduate of Tuskegee, where he holds a Bachelor’s degree in History. He is married to Rosie James and he has two daughters, Erin Morrissette and Layla James.
Aaron James was named the 18th head football coach in Tuskegee program history in January of 2023. A 2022 participant in the NFL Coaching Academy, James returns to his alma mater after a year as the offensive coor- dinator at Bethune-Cookman. With the Wildcats, James coached tight end standout Kemari Averett, who earned All-SWAC First Team, AFCA/FCS Coaches All-Ameri- can First Team, Stats Perform FCS All-American Second Team, and HERO All-American Second Team honors. Prior to his stop in the SWAC, James spent nine years at SIAC conference member Miles where he served as the offensive coordinator, a role he was in for three years with the Golden Bears before serving as the quarterback coach for eight of the nine seasons, along with seving as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator previously. During his time with the Golden Bears, James coached 24 players who earned All-SIAC honors in his nine seasons, including 12 First Team and 12 Second Team honorees. Running back Justin Hardy highlighted the honorees by winning SIAC MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and earning First Team honors in 2017. James has also been a part of four SIAC championship squads, in 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2019, while also coaching on the 2012 team that made Miles’ first-ever Division II playoff appearance. He was instrumental in helping quar- terback David Whipple earn First Team All-SIAC honors
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