COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- When a position on the Tennessee Tech women's basketball staff came open at the end of May, head coach Kim Rosamond knew the talented and experienced roster she had returning for the 2020-21 season required the position be filled with someone who matched in talent, experience and also mindset. Enter Jasmine James – a former high school star in her home state of Tennessee who went on to be a Freshman All American, a WNBA draft pick and a former head coach in less than a decade.
Rosamond announced on Monday that the Memphis, Tenn., native will be the newest addition to the Tech coaching staff, and the fifth-year head coach believes that James will be a perfect fit for the program.
"It will always be my mission to surround our players with elite people who possess a championship mindset, and that is exactly who we are getting in Jasmine James," Rosamond said. "I am so excited to have Coach J.J. join our basketball family, not only because of the impressive resume she brings, but also the strong role model she will be for our young women. Her discipline, competitive nature and leadership set her apart as a college and professional player, and these qualities have allowed her to quickly climb the coaching ranks. Her commitment and passion for developing leaders on the court and in life match perfectly with the environment we strive to create on a daily basis within our program."
After a standout prep career at Bartlett High School, James spent four years on the hardwood at the University of Georgia where she was a Freshman All-American during the 2009-10 campaign, earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2013, and was a three-time Academic All-SEC performer from 2011-2013. James wrapped up her career at Georgia by leading the Bulldogs to an upset win over No. 4-ranked Stanford in the Elite Eight. A heartbreaking overtime loss to California would end the gritty guard's dreams of a Final Four appearance, but she went on to be selected in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm. James later played for the Phoenix Mercury as well as enjoy four seasons of professional basketball in Brazil, Luxembourg, Germany and Israel.
"One of the things that drew me to the position was that Coach Rosamond recruited me when she was an assistant at Vanderbilt," James said. "I was just very comfortable with her as a person. Looking at her background with what she's done here at Tennessee Tech over four years and going into her fifth, made me want to be part of adding to the tradition at Tennessee Tech. I'm super excited – this staff is awesome, and I'm glad to be a part of it."
Rosamond and James' relationship may have sprouted its roots many years ago on the recruiting trail as one was a star player and the other an up and coming assistant coach, but the stamp of approval from a former Golden Eagle and Hall of Fame coach sealed the deal for both sides. James spent her playing days learning from legendary Georgia women's basketball coach Andy Landers, a 1974 graduate of Tennessee Tech and a 2007 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. The two still enjoy a close relationship today.
"He loves it here," James said. "We spoke while I was going through the interview process. He was very positive and spoke very highly of the city of Cookeville as well as Tech and Coach Rose. He's excited – we spoke again the other night – and he agrees, it's going to be a tremendous opportunity."
Having spent 19 years as a player and assistant coach in the SEC, Rosamond and Landers also have a strong bond.
"When one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history calls and tells you that someone is a rising star in our industry, you listen," Rosamond said. "Coach Landers has been a trusted mentor and friend for me throughout my career. The respect, admiration, and faith he has in Jasmine speak volumes, and I look forward to her passing down the knowledge and experience to our players that she gained through her time playing for him."
James' resume is not limited to her playing career as she spent time coaching with the Arkansas Banshees' organization on the summer circuit as well as serving as an assistant coach at Bartlett High School for one season. In 2018-19, she was promoted to head coach at her alma mater and proceeded to lead the program to its most wins in the previous five seasons as well as a runner-up finish in the District 15-AA tournament.
From there, she spent last season learning the ropes of the OVC at member school SIUE as the director of basketball operations. Needless to say, James got an up-close and personal look at the Golden Eagles roster from the opposing sideline.
"One of the positives this team has is experience," James said. "It's a team with five seniors – you don't see that every day. That's a great level of veteran leadership. Twenty-two wins in 2018-19 and follow it up with another winning season and an 8-0 start in conference – that's experience this group has and can take into this next year and build on."
On the other side of the coin, Rosamond likes the added perspective James will bring as a former high school head coach and rival in the OVC.
"It is very rare to have a group of assistant coaches who all have the benefit of being high school head coaches. That expertise and experience will be invaluable to myself and our team," Rosamond said. "Jasmine's past year in our league working under a coach who I respect tremendously in Paula Buscher was an added bonus. Coach J.J. will be a perfect addition to an already dynamic staff in Melanie Walls, Allison Clark and Director of Operations Emily Hatfield."
Rosamond has continuously stated that the chemistry and continuity of her staff have played a vital role in the resurgence of the program, and the newest addition to the program acknowledges the staff chemistry is one of the many things that made the job attractive.
"Going through the interview process, that was a huge thing," James said. "It is a family. I'm very close with my family, and I always try to keep myself close to situations that are family-oriented. That was one of the things that I enjoyed and appreciated in working for Coach Paula at SIUE and playing for Coach Landers at Georgia. I wanted to make sure I continued to have that in my next step as a Division I assistant coach. Coach Alli has been here for nine years, Coach Walls has been here for five and came to Tech with Coach Rose. Your coworkers are not just your coworkers, they are your family. That is the kind of environment I want to be part of every day."
