James is a NCCP level 3 Certified, Performance Coach in “Jumps” and Level 2 “Sprints and Hurdles”. He has been coaching for the University of Guelph since 2006 and has been present for every National Championship won since the first two National titles were won in 2008. He is a recognized as a Chartered Performance Coach by Athletics Canada. He earned his NCCP Level 3 specialist in Polevault under the mentorship of Brian Risk, (Prior-National Polevault Development Chair), Brent McFarlane (Olympic Head Coach, 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney) and Zolten Tenke (Author, Olympian, National Jumps Coach Hungary) He has also had the opportunity to review “Heat it Up” and “Building the Bulletproof Athlete” by coach Risk.
Recruited to start the Gryphon polevault program in 2005, James found himself training in a golf style dome protected, only from the snow and rain (but not the cold). The official program was born late one very cold night in 2006 when a group of friends dug into the asphalt below the turf and set the polevault box in concrete. The polevault mats would be moved several times across Guelph over the years before the new Fieldhouse was constructed in 2012 and the location became permanent. James has developed numerous 5.00m+ men / 4.00m+ women in this program and has lead many others into qualifying for OUA and U-Sport Championships. Gryphon polevaulter’s and multi-event athletes regularly top the podium at both OUA (Provincial) and USport (National) Championships. He currently leads the #1 combined men’s and women’s University polevault program in Canada qualifying 2 men and 3 women to represent Guelph at the National University Championships in 2020.
James is also the Head Coach for the Sir John A Macdonald Secondary School Track and Field and Cross-country teams that have won a combined 86 Regional Titles. He was the recipient of the OFSAA Leadership in Sport Award in 2019 for his contributions to polevault at the highschool level in his community. As a highschool polevault coach, athletes at Sir John A Macdonald have won 16 Provincial Highschool (OFSAA) polevault medals in the last 12 years. Combined, highschool athletes coached by James over his teaching career have won over 50 Provincial Highschool medals in polevault plus many, many more across all event groups. Athletes coached by James hold every local and regional polevault record.
As an Athletics Ontario club coach, James has served as the past Head Coach for the Kitchener-Waterloo Track and Field Association and currently serves as Head Coach for Elite Jumps. Athletes within his training group consistently earn podium positions at both Indoor and Outdoor Provincial and National Championship events at both the Junior and Senior level and have represented Canada on National Teams. Current club athletes include 5.00m+ men and 4.00m+ women and numerous 4.00m+ men and 3.00m+ women. Athletes in this group include Highschool, University and Post-Collegiete Athletes who are consistently ranked at the top in Canada. James is also a level 2 certified track and field official in the event.
James has a talent for developing athletes into some of the best jumpers in Canada. A pole-vaulter himself, it became clear early on, that his true gift was in coaching athletes in this event. His approach to coaching ensures that all athletes continue to progress in their development, regardless of ability. He presents an individualized approach to the event that encourages a positive team culture. He is a life-long learner of the event and will never assume he knows it all.
