For the first time in 14 years, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff needs a new baseball coach.
Carlos James announced his departure from UAPB in social media posts Tuesday morning. He thanked the school for his time in Pine Bluff and said he would later release a statement. As of Tuesday afternoon, neither James nor UAPB have commented further.
The Pine Bluff native took over as head coach in 2011 after two years in the same position at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. James had previously served as an assistant coach at UAPB from 2000-04. He played for the now defunct Pine Bluff Locomotives in 1996 after playing college baseball at Seminole, Okla., Junior College and the University of Arkansas.
After a pair of lean years to start his tenure, he took UAPB to the SWAC tournament four times between 2013 and 2018. James was named SWAC Coach of the Year in 2013 after UAPB finished second in the SWAC West Division and reached the SWAC tournament for the first time in his tenure.
The Golden Lions then won three straight SWAC West Division championships between 2014-16, going 46-18 in SWAC play during that period.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB hasn’t made the SWAC tournament since 2018, having finished fifth in the division each year since, not including the canceled 2020 season. The Golden Lions finished 15-34 overall, 6-20 in SWAC play this season.
James had been outspoken about the challenges he faced at UAPB due to its budget, which was the smallest among any Division I program in Arkansas. James finished his time at UAPB with a career 212-414-2 overall record and went 133-165 in SWAC play.
He is the third UAPB head coach to depart this season. Head soccer coach Erik Solberg left to take the same position at Gardner-Webb, and women’s basketball coach Dawn Thornton left to take over at Alabama A&M.