Duke Values to Austin Peay

One-On-One With Nate James

(St. Louis, MO) – Nate James is bringing Duke values to Austin Peay. The former Blue Devil player and assistant coach has his earned his master’s degree at ‘Coach K University’. He is ready to put his training to good use in the Ohio Valley Conference.

After a successful playing career that saw him score over 1,000 points, James played professionally overseas. He returned to Durham to join Mike Krzyzewski’s staff. During his coaching 14-year apprenticeship, Duke won two national titles and played in eight Sweet Sixteen games.

Playing for and coaching under ‘Coach K’ has uniquely prepared the 43-year old James. He has played with and coached some of the greatest players of the past 20 years. He has helped recruit elite-level players and watched how Krzyzewski molded players into teams and teens into men.

Krzyzewski’s 1,170 coaching wins speak for themself, but the astonishing number of former players and coaches that lead Division 1 and NBA programs is incredible. James is the eleventh former Dukie to join that fraternity.

Duke Values to Austin Peay

During our interview Jame spoke in reverential terms when referring to his mentor. The Coach K imprint is very real. James knows he is uniquely fortunate to be part of the Duke lineage. He learned valuable life and basketball lessons at Duke. As the son of a Sergeant Major, James had hard work instilled in him at an early age.

Lessons about teamwork and preparedness were deepened and finalized at the Atlantic Coast Conference power. James says Krzyzewski attacks life every day and has an enormous will to prepare.

 

 

The Duke family is more like a brotherhood. While James has had other opportunities to leave the program, the opportunity at Austin Peay had a family appeal. APSU Athletic Director Gerrald Harrison worked previously at Duke. When Harrison called, James knew Clarksville, Tennessee could be the perfect place to go.

 

 

James says Krzyzewski grooms his assistants to become head coaches. While he wasn’t looking for a specific program, Austin Peay felt like the right fit. He sees that APSU is putting resources into the program and he has confidence in his very familiar Athletic Director.

 

 

Harrison and James want to bring Duke values to Austin Peay.

Building the Governors

One of James’ first recruits is UNC Charlotte transfer Caleb Stone-Carrawell. The 6’7 wing is the son of James’ Duke teammate (and St. Louis basketball legend) Chris Carrawell. James is known as ‘Uncle Nate’ to Stone-Carrawell. His father not only played with James at Duke but they spent many years together on Krzyzewski’s staff.

The two Dukies met in high school and their prep teams played one another. James came out on top of Carrawell’s Cardinal Ritter Prep squad. James admits that father Chris was a better player, but believes son Caleb can be a stand out at APSU.

 

 

The rookie head coach says the team he is building will be ‘together’ and play with toughness. While he hasn’t had the opportunity to coach his first team, he would like to play fast and create havoc on the defensive end.

While selecting a coaching staff he was looking assistants that would complement his style and tendencies. James and new assistant Brett Carey have a long history and hiring the former Indiana State assistant settled a score between the two.

 

 

APSU has known basketball success and James hopes to build on that success. He hired coaches that have known success both as players and as coaches. While he is bringing Duke values to Austin Peay, he hired coaches that have won in other places.

Pandemic affected recruiting was difficult but the first-year coach has done his best to bring in high-character and successful players to APSU. Clarksville native Tariq Silver has been a part of Oregon State’s recent success. Before playing for College of Charleston, Cam Copeland played for the well-respcted McLennand Community College. In-coming freshman Elijah Hutchins-Everett is a four-star center from New Jersey.

 

 

Nate James is comfortable in his own skin. His confidence is tangible and his sense of humor engaging. As he attempts to bring Duke values to Austin Peay he will also bring a wealth of personal experiences and knowledge. His transparency during our interview was refreshing. Listen to the entire interview here.

We are a long way from the Governors’ first practice with Nate James, but he plans on being thoroughly prepared and ready to win the day.

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