Nick James has been hired as the Episcopal School of Jacksonville Eagles’ next baseball program director and varsity head coach. James’ extensive background in teaching and coaching includes 18 years in the dugout at the high school level, nine of which were at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale.
During his time at Westminster, he was a three-time district coach of the year and National Christian Coach of the Year while also teaching English at the school. Most recently, James served as the co-director of Cannons Baseball United (commonly known as CBU) since 2019. Under his leadership, CBU has established itself as one of the top college placement and player development programs in the United States, putting 52 players into college baseball and four players selected by the MLB draft in 2022 alone.
James also serves as the Florida Director for The National Team Identification Series in the Southeast for USA baseball.
James received his bachelor of arts degree in English from James Madison University where he was a three-time all-conference scholar-athlete for their baseball team. He went on to earn his master’s degree from Jacksonville University.
“Coach James’ experience as an educator and coach made him the ideal choice to serve as Episcopal’s next head coach,” said Andy Kidd, Episcopal's director of athletics. “He truly embodies everything we look for in a coach for our student-athletes. We are pleased that Coach James’ education background will allow him to be on campus full-time as a member of our English Department faculty.”
James takes over from Coach Mike Jones, who after 20 years of leading the Episcopal baseball program, has decided to step down as ESJ’s Baseball Program Director. Jones, the longest tenured head coach in the baseball program’s history, will finish his career with 322 wins. His teams advanced to the FHSAA regional playoffs 14 times, won six district championships, won one regional championship and won the state championship in 2006.
Additionally, under Jones’ leadership, 50 of his student-athletes went on to play at the collegiate level, and five went on to sign professional contracts.
“Coach Jones has had a profound impact on the Episcopal baseball program,” said Kidd. “From the first day he stepped foot on campus, he was committed to making our baseball program one of the top programs in the state. While Coach Jones will no longer be leading the baseball program, we are pleased that he will stay on the coaching staff as a pitching coach with the Eagles.”
