James Clark - Assistant Women's Basketball Coach - Women's Basketball Coaches

James Clark

Title:
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Email:
jac372@drexel.edu
Phone:
x-0559

Playing Career
Santa Rosa Junior College
West Georgia College
Bethany College

Coaching
Drexel University Assistant Coach (2007-present)
Philadelphia Belles Assistant Coach (2004-2007)
Springside High School (2004-2007)
Mid-Atlantic Under-15 Boys Basketball (2004-07)
Professional Shooting Coach (2003-04)
Capuchino High School (2002-03)

Career Accolades
Shooting coach for professional NBA players Chucky Atkins and Mike Miller and WNBA players Nykesha Sales, Katie Douglas and Shannon “Pee Wee” Johnson.

Assistant Coach James Clark brings his expertise, enthusiasm and creativity to the Drexel bench for his fifth year as a Dragon. Drawing on a broad background of professional playing and coaching experience allows Clark to bring a different perspective to Dillon’s staff. His ability to relate to today’s players and push them to get the most out of themselves makes Clark a valuable member of the Drexel coaching collective.

Clark’s primary focus on Dillon’s staff is player development and recruiting, but he also contributes to in-game strategy and practice planning and execution during the season. Much of Clark’s talent lies in his aptitude for working with players one-on-one to develop effective drills and practice habits.

He dips into is experience in coaching at the AAU and collegiate level to stints as a professional shooting coach and a video scouting coordinator with the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle to help the Dragons improve on a daily basis. His work with players in practice and on an individual basis during the past three years has helped the Dragons steadily improve their shooting percentage and offensive efficiency.

In 2009-10, the Dragons finished first in the NCAA in free-throw shooting accuracy (.808) and were among the top teams in the conference in three-point shooting percentage. They led the league in both categories again in 2010-11. The team’s consistency from beyond the arc has been a trademark of Drexel basketball and, thanks in part to Clark’s work with the team, the Dragons led the CAA in three-point shooting in 2009 en route to their first conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Clark draws from a variety of playing experiences to help relate to student-athletes. He played his collegiate ball at Santa Rosa Junior College in California, West Georgia College in Carrolton, Ga. and Bethany College in Scotts Valley, Calif. Clark also played one year of professional basketball in Australia in 2000 before entering the coaching ranks.

His first foray into coaching was serving as head coach of the women’s varsity team at his alma mater, Capuchino High in San Bruno, Calif. for the 2002-03 season. Following the season he began work as a professional shooting coach in Orlando, Fla. Clark worked with guards Chucky Atkins (Detroit Pistons) and Mike Miller (Miami Heat), as well as current WNBA star Katie Douglas (Indiana Fever) and former players Nykesha Sales, and Shannon “Pee Wee” Johnson. During this time he also worked with the Orlando Miracle, producing scouting tapes and presentations on the Miracle’s opponents.

He moved to Philadelphia in 2004 where he worked as a service and events supervisor for career services while completing his bachelor’s degree in general studies at La Salle University. During this time he continued to coach at Springside High, with the Philadelphia Belles and the Mid-Atlantic AAU Under 15 Boys’ Team.

In addition to his on-the-court work with the team, Clark has worked diligently to streamline the program’s video analysis system, scouting and tape exchange. His enthusiasm for the game and drive to help players reach their full potential have been important contributing factors to Drexel’s sustained success.