Sameera Patnala

Jaquan James came to AMSA to replace outgoing athletic director Pete Jones.

Jaquan James is more than just AMSA’s newest athletic director — he also prides himself on giving back to his community. His journey, from playing on the basketball courts as a child and into college, to going overseas as a sports agent, has led him back to his home in Massachusetts. 

In the spirit of giving, he founded a non-profit that gives young people the opportunity to play basketball.

Not backing down after his work overseas as a basketball agent in Barcelona and London was interrupted by the Covid pandemic, Mr. James founded his non-profit as a way to foster community. 

“After college I still wanted to be around sports so I tried different things,” he said. “I didn’t really like coaching so that cut out quick. I was a basketball agent overseas, but Covid messed that up so that’s when I came back and started my non-profit.”

The non-profit, Passion Hardwork Dedication (PHD), hosts basketball events in the summer, free of charge, and hosts them in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 

“I do men’s leagues to raise money, so whatever I make from a men’s league, I use that to fund the kids’ whole summer,” said Mr. James, who has been running PHD since 2020. 

After working as the assistant athletic director at Hopkinton High School, he came to AMSA over the summer to replace outgoing athletic director Pete Jones. But his love for sports preceded his current career path, going all the way back to childhood.

 “I come from a single mother,” he said. “My dad was never around, and my mom raised me and my little brother. She went to school my whole childhood trying to do right by us. She tried to provide for us, so sports was limited for me. I wasn’t allowed to play multiple sports because my mom couldn’t afford it, so I ended up playing basketball, and I was good at it.”

Although breaking his leg in six places playing football as a child distanced him from football, it only made his connection to basketball grow stronger. He went on to play basketball in college, using the sport as his outlet aside from school work.

AMSA provided Mr. James the opportunity to take his own experiences and use them to focus on bettering the community. 

“I’ve seen a world where I had to struggle since I got older, so growing up seeing kids who did have to struggle, I felt for them,” Mr. James said. “Helping them not make the same mistakes that maybe I made growing up, that’s what has drawn me towards sports now.”

Balancing his busy schedule as athletic director with raising his 3-year-old son, one of Mr. James’ biggest points of pride is being a role model for his son, just like his mom was his role model. 

“I got lucky with my mom,” he said. “I didn’t have a father figure so my mom played both roles. She set the bar high for me and my brother. Growing up I saw her work hard. She bought us a house and she’s a doctor now. I ended up getting my masters degree and my brother is getting his Ph.D. now so she really set the standard.”

Mr. James plans to raise his son to value the same strong work ethic. 

“Everything I do is for him,” he said. “I see him every day, but I’m working so I don’t get much time with him. But the ultimate goal is to set myself up so I could watch his journey.”

Growing up without a father has led him to become a better father for his own son. 

“He copies everything I do,” Mr. James said. “He looks up to me already. Knowing that I have somebody who looks up to me and guiding them through their life, makes me enjoy it. [My job] kind of takes me away from him a little bit at times but that’s why outside of here I try to put my time into him.”

He brings the same dedication to his job here every day. 

“The pros of being an assistant A.D., I wasn’t the main guy there; I was able to socialize with the kids the way I wanted to,” Mr. James said. “The cons were decisions that didn’t run through me.”

In his new role, he tries to get to know the students and receive their feedback. He also plans to expand the athletic programs at AMSA. 

“I get to handle things in a way where I’m advocating for the kids first, not just making sure the program runs,” he said.

He takes pride in having a growth mindset, which allows him to face the challenge of stepping up into this new role.

“I was ready for that next step,” he said. “From a growth point, I was ready for the challenge. How can I improve? I’m doing this, but will this next opportunity help me with my goal?”

He has has some big shoes to fill, but Mr. Jones thinks he’s up for the challenge. 

“He definitely cares a lot, and he desires to succeed so I think he’s going to do a great job,” Mr. Jones said.

Mr. James has surrounded himself with supportive staff to help him adjust to this new role, already feeling like a part of the community. 

“You get pulled in a thousand different directions, and you can’t be multiple places at once,” Mr. Jones said. “But he came in right away and made sure he has some support around him which was very smart.”

Mr. James, by working in different communities, has realized the value of perspective. His goal is to be open-minded, and he looks forward to receiving feedback. 

“I love constructive criticism because it’s beneficial and most people don’t realize that,” Mr. James said. “Some people don’t know how to say things, but it’s good to hear it at the same time. You can’t take things personal all the time.”