Milan names Kenwood coach Jason James as new boys basketball coach

After three weeks of searching, Milan found a new boys basketball coach in a man that has coached on the college level in West Tennessee.

Former UT Martin coach Jason James was named the new coach at Milan on Friday.

"I got sold on the vision academically and athletically with (Milan Special School District Director of School Jonathan) Criswell and (Milan high school principal Greg) Scott," James said. "It is closer to family as my wife is from Oxford (Miss.) and has family in Milan and Jackson. All of that played into it being an intriguing situation."

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James replaces Kendall Dancy, who resigned as the boys and girls basketball coach on March 22 after three seasons in charge.

James  coached Kenwood's boys program in Clarksville the past three seasons. The program lost in the District 10-AAA quarterfinals last season.

"The most important part is getting the culture the way that we want it," James said. "You want to build a culture that is based on hard work, toughness, togetherness, being disciplined, and all of those things start in the summer when get them in the gym. We are all working for the same thing, and that is the success of these young men."

Milan is coming off a 6-15 season, being eliminated in the District 13-AA quarterfinals.

"Winning is what we want, but we aren't going to sit here and focus on winning or losing a basketball game," James said. "We try to get in this to impact lives and make a different. We want these guys to improve themselves every single day and play the game the right way. We will put everything into playing and competing every possession, and we will live with the results."

James went 37-117 in five seasons at UT Martin's coach. That came after serving seven seasons as an assistant coach. He also coached at Germantown and Blytheville (Ark.) before coaching at Kenwood.

James has not had the opportunity to meet the team yet, but he is planning on doing that soon.

Milan moves to District 12-AA next season with Gibson County, Huntingdon, Union City and Westview.

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.