In October 2025, Nate James joined the Howard University men's basketball program as associate head coach. His hiring marks a homecoming for James, who spent his high school years in the DMV while becoming a McDonald’s All-American at St. John’s Catholic Prep.
Most recently, James spent two seasons as the head coach at Austin Peay State University (2021-23) and brings a wealth of high-level Division I experience from his decade-plus at Duke University, working under Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and six-time national champion “Coach K” Mike Krzyzewski.
James spent 13 years at his alma mater, Duke, working his way up from an assistant strength & conditioning coach to associate head coach. During his time at Duke, the Blue Devils made 11 NCAA Tournaments, won five ACC (Atlanta Coastal Conference) Tournament Championships, one regular season ACC Championship and two national championships (2010 & 2015).
He coached 25 NBA Draft Picks, including NBA All-Stars Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. He worked with the program’s big men, helping recruit and develop Williamson into the 2019 National Player of the Year and Vernon Carey Jr., into the 2020 National Freshman of the Year. Other big men who made the NBA under James’ tutelage include: Lance Thomas; The Plumlee Brothers (Miles, Mason and Marshall); Amile Je?erson; Jahlil Okafor; Mark Williams; Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr.
During Coach K’s tenure with USA Basketball, James assisted each summer with Olympic Training Camp. He helped with all practices and ?lm sessions to prepare the team for Olympic competition – playing a crucial role in the Gold Medal summers of 2008, 2012 and 2016.
Before getting into coaching, James had a six-year overseas playing career that took him across the globe featuring stops in Bosnia, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Hungary, Italy and Russia. He was part of league championship teams in The Netherlands and Hungary.
As a player at Duke (1996-01), James was part of five straight ACC Regular Season Championships – a feat no other player in ACC History has accomplished. He also won three ACC Tournament Championships and the 2001 National Championship, alongside Shane Battier, Mike Dunleavy Jr., and Chris Duhon.
