James Whitford

James Whitford (born July 23, 1971)

Teams coached: Ball State Cardinals
Ball State record: 131-148 (.470)
Overall record: 131-148 (.470)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0
  • CIT Appearances:  2  (2016, 2017)
  • MAC Regular Season Champion:  3  (2016, 2017, 2020)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2013-2022 Ball State
2011-2013 Arizona (assoc. HC)
2009-2011 Arizona (asst)
2005-2009 Xavier (asst)
1997-2005 Miami (OH) (asst)
1996-1997 Miami (OH) (admin)
1994-1996 Miami (OH) (grad. asst)

James Whitford Facts

  • James Bryce Whitford
  • Born July 23, 1971
  • Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
  • Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin (BS, 1994) / Miami University (MA, 1996)
  • Attended UW and served as a basketball student manager for three years under head coaches Steve Yoder and Stu Jackson
  • Started working at Miami (OH) after graduation, working his way up from a grad and administrative assistant under Herb Sendek to being the top assistant on Charlie Coles‘ staff by 1998
  • Joined Sean Miller‘s staff at Xavier in 2005, staying there for four years before following Miller to Arizona in 2009
    • Promoted to associate head coach at UA in 2011, serving in this role for two years
  • Hired as the Ball State head coach in April 2013, his first head coaching opportunity
    • Inherited a team that in was in the midst of a full re-build, winning just 12 combined games during the first two seasons
    • Whitford’s teams won 21 games in both his third and fourth years and made consecutive trips to the CIT
    • Has won a share of the MAC West division title three times during his tenure at Ball State
    • Fired in March 2022 following nine seasons at the helm; went 131-148 overall
  • Along with his wife, Amber, has two sons

James Whitford Coaching Tree