Vikings add James as quarterbacks coach
Berry head coach Tony Kunczewski named Max James as the Vikings’ next quarterbacks coach.
James joins the Vikings with tons of experience on the field. He most recently served as an offensive and defensive graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University since 2022.
Prior to Eastern Michigan, he served as the quarterbacks coach at Valparaiso University after being promoted from the running backs coach.
While at Valpo, he was a part of a coaching staff that led the team to its second straight season with a Pioneer Football League record of .500 or better during the fall 2021 campaign. That marked the first time the team had achieved that feat in consecutive seasons since 1999 and 2000. The Beacons won four Pioneer Football League games in the same season for just the third time ever (2017 and spring 2021) and four league games in any conference for just the third time since 1968.
James was part of an offensive staff that helped Valpo score 298 points during the fall 2021 campaign, the fifth most in program history. During the Nov. 6 game vs. Presbyterian and the Nov. 13 game vs. Butler, the offense totaled 112 points in a two-game span, tying the 2017 squad (vs. Marist, vs. Morehead State) for the program’s most points over two games since 1985.
The team’s 65 points in the win over Presbyterian marked its highest single-game scoring output since 1996 and the fifthhighest single-game scoring output in program history.
With James serving as running backs coach, the team rushed for 23 touchdowns in fall 2021, the third most in the program record book and most since 1971. Valpo’s eight rushing TDS vs. Presbyterian shattered a single-game program record.
In addition, Valpo finished the season as the only team in the Football Championship Subdivision and one of four teams in all of Division-i college football (joining Army, Oklahoma State and Michigan) with eight rushing TDS in a single game.
James came to Valpo after spending time on staff at the University of Tennessee from 2019-2021 as a graduate assistant who worked with quarterbacks and wide receivers.
James was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati Christian University from 2017-2019 and served as an offensive coach at his alma mater, St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, from 2011-2017. He was on staff at St. Xavier for an Ohio Division I state championship in 2016.
James’ experience ranges from scouting report creation, opponent breakdowns, player development, film analysis and play calling, and he has recruiting experience in 10 states.
James is married and has one child.