Sarah James enters her sixth season on the Southwestern staff, joining as a part-time assistant for the Pirates in 2017-18.

Since arriving at Southwestern, James has helped the Pirates’ coaching staff win the 2019 SCAC Men's Staff of the Year and asissted the men’s team in winning the first conference championship in program history.

On the women’s side, James has helped move the Pirates to a women’s program-best second-place finish in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2018, Reghan Hartsell qualified for the NCAA Meet in the 100 & 200 breaststrokes, and in 2020, Jesse Stoval qualified for the NCAA Meet in the 50 and 100 freestyle, earning All-American honors. Under the direction of Duncan and James, Stovall earned All-American honors three times throughout her career. In 2022, Duncan and James earned the first SCAC Women's Staff of the Year award in program history, qualifying five swimmers for the NCAA meet. 

As a Division I student-athlete, James had a storied career at Southern Illinois University.  She helped the Salukis win a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Team Championship in 2016.  Individually, James was the 2016 MVC Champion in the 200 backstroke, and the 2015 MVC Champion in the 100 backstroke.  She set SIU school records in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. James was an MVC Scholar-Athlete, and a USA Swimming Nationals qualifier.

Sarah James also served as the Communication and Member Services Coordinator for the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Sarah and her English Black Lab Charlie reside in Oatmeal, Texas.

JAMES FILE 

Hometown: Marquette, Michigan
High School: Doherty High School, Colorado Springs
Alma Mater: Southern Illinois University, BS, 2017
Family: Her mother Anne Goodman James is the Head Swimming Coach at SCAC member school Colorado College