James rebuilding ACCC women’s hoops

History notwithstanding, Mark James likes what he sees ahead of him as Allen County Community College women’s basketball head coach.
“You can win anywhere if you have the kids in your program who want to be here and want to work,” James said as the seventh head coach in 10 years at ACCC.
James comes to Allen County after a year as an assistant coach at Pittsburg State University. Before that, James was an assistant coach at Independence Community College under Tony Turner. Turner was the ACCC head women’s coach in 2006 and led the Red Devils to a 19-13 season.
That was the only winning season for the Allen County women in 10 years.
“Tony spoke highly of the school here and the community. He encouraged me to apply. I did last year and didn’t get it so I was fortunate to become an assistant for Coach (Lane) Lord at Pittsburg State,” James said.
James was an assistant coach at Independence Community College a year before Turner came. He stayed on with Turner, helping turn the ICC Lady Pirate program around. Independence’s women had an 82-42 record while James was there with Turner.
“I was looking to be a head coach. I learned a great deal from Tony and Lane the past five years. I’ve taken aspects from both of them and incorporated aspects I want to develop on my own,” James said.
“I’m excited about this season.”
James said he didn’t come in to “clean house” and talked to all the players on the Red Devil women’s squad who could return. He said two off last year’s 3-27 squad have told him they want to come back this year.
They are the Red Devils’ leading scorer Rackell Goldson, who averaged 10 points a game and is from Orlanda, Fla., and Le Roy native Kandace Shields, who saw limited action.
There is no time table set by James.
“But don’t take that to mean I don’t expect to win. When our team steps on the court each night, we will expect to win the game. And we will be in shape,” James said.
“We’ll be a team that wants to get up and down the court. We run with purpose on offense. We play tough pressure defense, fullcourt and half-court pressure.”
 Grove and earned a bachelor’s of science degree in sociology and a master’s degree in physical education from Emporia State University.
After serving on the ICC coaching staff, James stepped up to the NCAA Division II level at Pittsburg State. He said he enjoyed his year as Lane Lord’s assistant coach.
The Gorilla women were 16-12 overall but were 13-9 in MIAA conference play. Pitt State lost to Northwest Missouri State in the MIAA tournament semifinals.
Also coming out of both Independence and Pittsburg State is James’ assistant coach. The college recently hired Aubrey Jones, who played basketball at both schools and was an assistant coach at PSU.
“I’ve been a part of two programs that have been winning. We’re out to change the environment  and bring positive energy,” James said.
“Aubrey knows Kansas kids and knows the game well. Our players are really going to enjoy working with her.
“We’re going to be a very young team. We don’t have any transfer sophomores coming in at this time.”
Establishing the foundation for a turn around starts with the players, James said. Bring in the players who want to be here not just to play basketball but to get a college education and who will work on and off the court is the first step.
James said Allen County has 13 players signed with eight in-state players and five out-of-staters. He has two girls who want to walk on the team.
“We have two scholarships left. I really like the kids we have coming in here,” he said.
James and his wife, Leah, have a daughter, Bailey, 15.