Antonio James was named App State's defensive line coach in January 2026.
James served as an assistant defensive line coach on Bret Bielema’s staff at Illinois in 2025 after working previously as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Southern Illinois.
James, who contributed to Illinois making a run to the 2008 Rose Bowl as a player, helped coach his alma mater to a 9-5 record with a victory over Tennessee in the 2025 Music City Bowl. Illinois has built a reputation for developing defensive linemen under Bielema, who walked on to Iowa’s team at that position before becoming a team captain.
After entering the collegiate coaching ranks as at graduate assistant at Michigan and coaching at Morgan State from 2016-21, James spent three seasons at Southern Illinois from 2022-24. He was the Salukis’ defensive line coach for one season before promoted to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator prior to the 2023 season.
Under James' direction, SIU's defense was elite during a run to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2023, ranking in the top 10 in the FCS in several categories, including scoring defense (No. 4, 16.2 points per game), total defense (No. 4, 282.3 yards per game), sacks (No. 6, 3.0 per game), rushing defense (No. 5, 94.2 yards per game), pass efficiency defense (No. 7, 111.73), turnovers gained (No. 7 with 25) and fourth-down defense (No. 8, 33.3 percent conversion rate).
James was the defensive coordinator and co-special teams coordinator in his last four seasons at Morgan State, highlighted by a 2018 defense that led the league in sacks (29), red zone defense and fourth-down defense.
He got his start in collegiate football coaching as a graduate assistant working with Michigan’s defensive line from 2014-16. The Wolverines had back-to-back seasons with 10 wins during his final two years in Ann Arbor and finished both seasons ranked inside the top 12 of the AP Top 25 poll. Following his stint with Michigan, James was named to the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 30 Under 30 Coaches' Leadership Institute.
James’ first job in coaching was at Urbana High School, where he directed the defensive line and outside linebackers from 2011-13. He was a four-year letterman on the defensive line for the Fighting Illini from 2006-09 and earned his bachelor's degree in history from Illinois in 2010. A native of Massillon, Ohio, he was an all-state selection as a senior at Washington High School.
JAMES AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2011-13: Urbana HS (Defensive line/Outside Linebackers)
2014-15: Michigan (Graduate assistant - defensive line)
2016: Morgan State (Defensive line)
2017: Morgan State (Linebackers/Co-special teams coordinator)
2018-21: Morgan State (Defensive coordinator/Co-special Teams coordinator)
2022: Southern Illinois (Defensive line)
2023-24: Southern Illinois (Assistant head coach/Defensive coordinator/Defensive line)
2025: Illinois (Assistant defensive line coach)
Playing Experience
2006-09: Illinois (defensive lineman)
