Staff Directory
James, Brian
Brian James
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
Brian James enters his 13th season on staff at Northwestern on head coach Chris Collins’ staff and begins his fourth season as special assistant to the head coach in 2025-26.
James, who has been a part of three NCAA Tournament team in Evanston, is in charge of working with Northwestern's post players and out of bounds plays. He is credited for drawing up “The Play,” Nathan Taphorn’s length-of-the-court pass to Dererk Pardon that resulted in a buzzer-beating 67-65 win for Northwestern over Michigan in 2017 that all but clinched NU’s first NCAA tournament berth in program history.
During his time in Evanston, James has worked with the top three shot blockers in school history in Alex Olah, Pardon and Matthew Nicholson. Northwestern has recorded its top four shot blocking seasons in program history during James’ tenure.
Most recently in 2024-25, Nicholson recorded a career-best 45 blocks and became the first player in program history to register three seasons of 40+ rejections. The Wildcats posted their third straight winning season and Nick Martinelli became the first Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring since 2011-12 (John Shurna), averaging 20.5 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7) in 1997-98. Martinelli was named All-Big Ten Second Team. Brooks Barnhizer, who was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and NABC All-District Second Team, posted averages of 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in 17 games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
James helped Northwestern to its first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, reaching the Second Round in 2024 by defeating FAU 77-65 in overtime. The 2023-24 team finished with a 22-12 overall record and tied for third in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 mark. Northwestern placed in the top three of the conference standings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1958-59 and 1959-60. The Wildcats tied their program record for most Big Ten wins in a season and claimed 24 league victories over the last two seasons, the most over a two year stretch in school history.
In the 2022-23 season, James assisted the team to the school’s second NCAA Tournament berth, a 22-12 overall record, and a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 league ledger. For the first time since 1958-59, Northwestern finished second in the league standings, while also setting a school record for conference wins in a single-season. The Wildcats reached the second round following a 75-67 victory over Boise State.
During the 2021-22 season, the Wildcats tallied a 64-62 road win at No. 10 Michigan State on Jan. 15. Northwestern defeated Nebraska 71-69 in the Big Ten Tournament, earning the team's first postseason win since 2016-17. He oversaw Pete Nance's career that saw him become the 38th player in program history to score 1,000 or more points
In 2020-21, the 'Cats opened Big Ten play 3-0 for the first time since the 1967-68 season and earned a No. 19 ranking from the AP. NU recorded a 79-65 win over No. 4 Michigan State on Dec. 20, it's first win over a top-five opponent since beating the Spartans in 1979. Later that week, the Wildcats knocked off No. 23 Ohio State, 71-70.
Under James, Alex Olah became Northwestern’s all-time leader in blocked shots in only three seasons while finishing with 181 for his career. He also posted 1,161 career points and left NU with 663 rebounds to rank ninth in program history in the category.
With both Olah and fellow veteran big man Joey van Zegeren sidelined due to injury at the beginning of Big Ten play in 2015-16, James groomed freshman Dererk Pardon for a key role on the squad. In just his second career game and first Big Ten game, Pardon posted 28 points and 12 rebounds in a victory at Nebraska under James’ tutelage.
James helped in the development of Pardon as one of the conference’s best big men. Pardon led the Big Ten Conference in 2016-17 with a .617 field goal percentage in league play, becoming the first Northwestern player to do so since Evan Eschmeyer in 1998-99. In all games during the 2016-17 season, Pardon ranked second in the league in field goal percentage (.611), fourth in blocked shots (1.8 pg) and seventh in rebounding (8.0 pg). As a junior, Pardon set the single-season program record in field goal percentage (.619) and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media.
James came to Northwestern after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers alongside head coach Doug Collins, Chris Collins’ father. He helped the Sixers reach the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Taylorville, Illinois, native has 14 years of NBA coaching experience. Prior to joining the Sixers, James served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for three seasons from 2005-06 through 2007-08. In addition to the Bucks, James had held assistant coaching positions in the NBA with Washington (2001-03), Toronto (1998-2001) and Detroit (1995-98). His stints with the Wizards and Pistons also came as a member of Doug Collins’ staff.
The Raptors reached the semifinal round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2001 and James helped coach the Eastern Conference squad at the 1997 NBA All-Star Game while on the coaching staff of the Pistons.
During his time in the NBA, James coached such notable players as Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala.
He also served as an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and spent two years as an advance scout for the Seattle Supersonics.
His 18 years of high school coaching experience in the state of Illinois were split between four different high schools. In addition to Glenbrook North, James also served head-coaching stints at Romeoville and Wilmington. He compiled a varsity career coaching record of 196-79 (.713) and helped his teams reach the state tournament four times. James served as Collins’ coach during his high school career at Glenbrook North where he helped Collins gain McDonald’s All-America status as well as the title of Illinois’ Mr. Basketball.
A 1977 graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in physical education, James holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Northeastern Illinois University.
He has three children: Christopher, Dayna and Brady.
James, who has been a part of three NCAA Tournament team in Evanston, is in charge of working with Northwestern's post players and out of bounds plays. He is credited for drawing up “The Play,” Nathan Taphorn’s length-of-the-court pass to Dererk Pardon that resulted in a buzzer-beating 67-65 win for Northwestern over Michigan in 2017 that all but clinched NU’s first NCAA tournament berth in program history.
During his time in Evanston, James has worked with the top three shot blockers in school history in Alex Olah, Pardon and Matthew Nicholson. Northwestern has recorded its top four shot blocking seasons in program history during James’ tenure.
Most recently in 2024-25, Nicholson recorded a career-best 45 blocks and became the first player in program history to register three seasons of 40+ rejections. The Wildcats posted their third straight winning season and Nick Martinelli became the first Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring since 2011-12 (John Shurna), averaging 20.5 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7) in 1997-98. Martinelli was named All-Big Ten Second Team. Brooks Barnhizer, who was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and NABC All-District Second Team, posted averages of 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in 17 games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
James helped Northwestern to its first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, reaching the Second Round in 2024 by defeating FAU 77-65 in overtime. The 2023-24 team finished with a 22-12 overall record and tied for third in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 mark. Northwestern placed in the top three of the conference standings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1958-59 and 1959-60. The Wildcats tied their program record for most Big Ten wins in a season and claimed 24 league victories over the last two seasons, the most over a two year stretch in school history.
In the 2022-23 season, James assisted the team to the school’s second NCAA Tournament berth, a 22-12 overall record, and a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 league ledger. For the first time since 1958-59, Northwestern finished second in the league standings, while also setting a school record for conference wins in a single-season. The Wildcats reached the second round following a 75-67 victory over Boise State.
During the 2021-22 season, the Wildcats tallied a 64-62 road win at No. 10 Michigan State on Jan. 15. Northwestern defeated Nebraska 71-69 in the Big Ten Tournament, earning the team's first postseason win since 2016-17. He oversaw Pete Nance's career that saw him become the 38th player in program history to score 1,000 or more points
In 2020-21, the 'Cats opened Big Ten play 3-0 for the first time since the 1967-68 season and earned a No. 19 ranking from the AP. NU recorded a 79-65 win over No. 4 Michigan State on Dec. 20, it's first win over a top-five opponent since beating the Spartans in 1979. Later that week, the Wildcats knocked off No. 23 Ohio State, 71-70.
Under James, Alex Olah became Northwestern’s all-time leader in blocked shots in only three seasons while finishing with 181 for his career. He also posted 1,161 career points and left NU with 663 rebounds to rank ninth in program history in the category.
With both Olah and fellow veteran big man Joey van Zegeren sidelined due to injury at the beginning of Big Ten play in 2015-16, James groomed freshman Dererk Pardon for a key role on the squad. In just his second career game and first Big Ten game, Pardon posted 28 points and 12 rebounds in a victory at Nebraska under James’ tutelage.
James helped in the development of Pardon as one of the conference’s best big men. Pardon led the Big Ten Conference in 2016-17 with a .617 field goal percentage in league play, becoming the first Northwestern player to do so since Evan Eschmeyer in 1998-99. In all games during the 2016-17 season, Pardon ranked second in the league in field goal percentage (.611), fourth in blocked shots (1.8 pg) and seventh in rebounding (8.0 pg). As a junior, Pardon set the single-season program record in field goal percentage (.619) and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media.
James came to Northwestern after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers alongside head coach Doug Collins, Chris Collins’ father. He helped the Sixers reach the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Taylorville, Illinois, native has 14 years of NBA coaching experience. Prior to joining the Sixers, James served as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks for three seasons from 2005-06 through 2007-08. In addition to the Bucks, James had held assistant coaching positions in the NBA with Washington (2001-03), Toronto (1998-2001) and Detroit (1995-98). His stints with the Wizards and Pistons also came as a member of Doug Collins’ staff.
The Raptors reached the semifinal round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2001 and James helped coach the Eastern Conference squad at the 1997 NBA All-Star Game while on the coaching staff of the Pistons.
During his time in the NBA, James coached such notable players as Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala.
He also served as an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and spent two years as an advance scout for the Seattle Supersonics.
His 18 years of high school coaching experience in the state of Illinois were split between four different high schools. In addition to Glenbrook North, James also served head-coaching stints at Romeoville and Wilmington. He compiled a varsity career coaching record of 196-79 (.713) and helped his teams reach the state tournament four times. James served as Collins’ coach during his high school career at Glenbrook North where he helped Collins gain McDonald’s All-America status as well as the title of Illinois’ Mr. Basketball.
A 1977 graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in physical education, James holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Northeastern Illinois University.
He has three children: Christopher, Dayna and Brady.
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