Taylor James is in his first season as a graduate assistant with the NIU football team. James will assist with coaching the linebackers.
James comes to DeKalb after serving as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at his alma mater Trine University. He returned to his alma mater following the 2019 football season to be linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Under his guidance, Kyle Naif was a Second Team AFCA All-American in the 2020-21 season.
A native of LaPorte, Ind., James graduated from Trine in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in general studies. He was a three-year starter at linebacker, earning All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors three straight seasons.
James spent the 2019 football season as a defensive backs coach at nearby Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind.  While at Manchester, James coached one player who earned All-HCAC honors in Jaquan Walker. Walker finished the season with 13 pass breakups to rank eighth nationally in that statistical category.
Leading up to his time at Manchester, James was a member of the University of Sioux Falls football coaching staff as a graduate assistant (2017-18) alongside current NIU defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto. At USF, James worked as a corners and safeties coach. USF fielded one of the nation’s best defenses in 2017, ranking second in total defense (244.3 yards per game) and scoring defense (12.5 ppg). USF led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, sacks, and was second in first downs allowed. Â
James is married to Kyla Kincaid.
