In just four short seasons, Campbellsville Wrestling Coach Franky James has built the Tigers into a national power. James built the program from the ground up and enters his fourth season with the number one ranked team in the NAIA, according to the 2007-08 NAIA National Pre-season Wrestling Ratings. He has also produced a National Champion Wrestler at Campbellsville in Zach Flake.
During James' tenure, the Tigers have had 30 wrestlers qualify for the NAIA National Tournament. The program has produced 13 All-Americans and has been consistently ranked in the NAIA Top 20, including finishing the 2007 season with a 14th place finish at the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament.
Coach James not only demands performance on the mat from his athletes, but also in the classroom. Campbellsville was ranked 2nd in overall team Grade Point Average in the nation in 2006-07 and was had the 4th best team GPA in 2005-06. The priogram has produced nine Academic All-Scholar Athletes as well.
James came to Campbellsville from Virginia Military Institute and was the 2002 Southern Conference Coach of the Year at U.T. Chattanooga. It was during that season that he led the Mocs to an undefeated Southern Conference Championship and qualified five wrestlers to the NCAA National Tournament.
While at VMI, James serves as an assistant for two seasons and helped guide the Keydets tot heir first ever All-Academy Tournament title and the Virginia Intercollegiate title for the first time.