Ernest James wrestling Adam Coon at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)EDINBORO, Pa. -- Edinboro wrestling coach Matt Hill has announced the appointment of Ernest James as an assistant wrestling coach for the upcoming season. James is no stranger to the Fighting Scot program, enjoying an outstanding career from 2009-14.
The addition of James gives the Edinboro staff an additional Fighting Scot flavor. Hill, who will enter his second year as the head coach, is a former Edinboro standout, while assistant coach Mike DePalma also competed for the Fighting Scots before completing his career at Kent State. Pat Bradshaw, another assistant on the staff, was also a former Boro standout.
"I'm extremely pleased to welcome Ernest James, a former Fighting Scot, to our coaching staff," related Hill. "Ernest has a great presence to himself and brings a positive energy to the wrestling room. Ernest had a stellar college career at Edinboro and after pursued a MMA career for a few years in California. He's a true competitor and also an amazing person off the mat. He will focus on training and developing our upper weights but also be a great mentor and friend to our entire team. I look forward to helping him with his new coaching career decision and learning from him as well. "
James excelled as a heavyweight for Edinboro. He was a three-time NCAA Division I national qualifier who wrapped up his career with a 100-49 record with 37 falls. He won one EWL and one PSAC championship. He ranks eighth in career falls and is in the top 30 in career victories.
After redshirting in 2009-10, James emerged as the starter at heavyweight in 2010-11, posting a 17-16 finish with 8 falls. He would place second at the PSAC Championships and fourth at the EWL Championships.
In 2011-12, James qualified for Nationals for the first time thanks to a second place finish at the EWL Championships. He ended the year with a 30-14 record with 14 falls. He captured the PSAC title and placed second at EWL's. The 14 falls are tied for 11th in a season.
James picked up his first win at Nationals as a redshirt junior, ending the 2012-13 campaign with a 24-14 ledger and seven falls while earning a trip to Nationals for the second time. He added a third place finish at the PSAC Championships and was fifth at the EWL Championships.
As a redshirt senior in 2013-14, James ended the year with a 29-7 record with 8 falls. He won his first EWL Championship, then went on to go 2-2 at Nationals. He picked up career win number 100 at Nationals with a 5-3 decision over Bloomsburg's Justin Grant. He earlier beat Grant 3-1 in sudden victory in the EWL title match, and placed second at the PSAC Championships after a 2-1 loss to Grant.
James got his coaching career underway last year, serving as an assistant coach for the West Virginia Regional Training Center. He previously trained with the Valley Regional Training Center, run out of Fresno State, in 2017-18.
James earned his Bachelor of Science degree in HPE - Human Performance from Edinboro in December 2014. Her served internships with Saint Vincent Hospital in Cardiac Rehab and Corporate Wellness, along with a stint at Eberle's Physical Therapy. He also competed in MMA for a time, posting a 1-1 record.
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