Virginia Union University has named Mark James as the 26th Head Football Coach in the school's history, it was announced at a press conference held on Tuesday, January 21, in the Belgium Building on the VUU campus in Richmond, Va.

James had served as the Panthers' defensive line coach for the past two seasons.

James has made several coaching stops along his way to Virginia Union.  He was a Head Coach for nine years at two major high schools in south Florida.  James was able to build powerhouse programs that gained national recognition for producing some of the top division I prospects and several NFL players.

In his tenure he has worked with a number of successful coaches and future and present NFL players.   His list of NFL players coached includes Patrick Simms, Louis Holmes, Stanley Mcglover, Leonard Hankerson, Major Harris, Hanik Milligan, Daryl Mcglover and Super bowl winning Josh Bynes.

He started his coaching career as a high school defensive assistant at Coconut Creek in 1997.  In 1998, James made the decision to attend Virginia Union University after transferring from University of Louisville.  Upon graduation from Virginia Union University in 2000, he returned back to the south Florida area to return to his coaching pathway.

James was the Head coach at Dillard High in 2004-2005. From 2005-2011 he was the Head coach at Boyd Anderson where James won three district championships and lead the team to become the school's all-time winningest football coach.  

James has also had short stints at Norfolk State University (Linebackers) and St. Paul's College in 2011 (Offensive Coordinator).  His thumb print in south Florida athletics is that he is known for placing the most players in college in an eight-year period than any other program in the state of Florida.

James was a defensive lineman at University of Louisville from 1990-1993 and Virginia Union University from 1998-2000.

He earned a degree in history from VUU in 2000.   James was named the National VUU Alumni of the Year in 2007.  He earned his Masters degree in educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University and is scheduled to earn his PhD in higher education administration in June of 2014.

James is married to Adia Middleton-James (Former two-sport athlete at VUU '99). He and his wife Adia have three children, Dane, Malik, and Mark Jr.

VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL COACHES

Coach                                                Seasons
MARK JAMES                                   2014
Michael Bailey                                  2009-13
Greg Richardson                             2008
Arrington Jones III                           2004-07
Willard Bailey                                   1995-2003
Harold Jackson                                1994
Mel Rose                                           1993
Henry Lattimore                               1993-94
Richard Macon/Willie Spence       1993
Joe Taylor                                         1984-91
Willard Bailey                                   1971-83
"Tricky" Tom Harris                         1950-70
Bernard Smith                                 1949
Sam Taylor                                       1945-48
Henry Hucles                                   1926-42
Thomas W. Harvey                         1924-25
Harold D. Martin                              1921-23
Lt. H.L. Harris                                   1918-20 
Wesley A. Daniel                             1917
S.M.F. Fisher                                    1915-16
James E. Garner                             1913-14
Harry E. Barco                                  1911-12
Wesley A. Stevens                          1908-10
John W. Barco                                 1904-07
Harry E. Barco                                  1903
F.C. Dickey                                        1902
J.R.L. Diggs                                     1900-01