As a coach, James has mentored youth athletes at Malvern Preparatory School and St. Andrew Rowing Club. He has also served as a guest coach with collegiate athletes at Georgia Tech, Clemson, Georgia State, Nova Southeastern, Vesper Boat Club and Pennsylvania Athletic Club.
James started rowing as a graduate student at Auburn University, competing in sculling and sweep rowing. He later joined Atlanta Rowing club where he competed as a pre-elite in the masters program. James went on to row at Malta Boat Club in Philadelphia, where he competed as a lightweight on the elite team. While rowing with Malta, he collected gold medals in the lightweight single at Club Nationals and the lightweight quad at Canadian Henley.