Ms. James (Director of Basketball Operations, aka DOBO):

Ms. James enters her 12th season with the program. She is from Goldsboro, NC, but was born at a now-decommissioned military base in Michigan. Ms. James attended Eastern Wayne High School and continued her education at East Carolina University, where she graduated with a BA in Communication-Public Relations. Fun fact about Ms. James: ECU was the only college she applied to in HS, and she had her mind set on being a Pirate. Later, she returned to college and continued her education online at Webster University in Missouri, pursuing and graduating with her Master's in Communication Management in 2017. “I continued with communication because it is pervasive, and there are no limits to it. You must be able to communicate at any job and in everyday life, so why not study it? Communication is the backbone of EVERYTHING!!!” 

Ms. James entered the higher education system in 2010, beginning at PCC in the financial aid department. Ms. James ended up working with the team by chance. One day at work, PCC, now Assistant Vice President, Spain, brought Coach Mullins and a student-athlete to her office, seeking financial assistance. From that moment on, the basketball program held a special place in her heart.

Ms. James finds it most rewarding to serve students at the college level. She sees her role in the program as multifaceted, and she enjoys the variety of responsibilities that come with being a DOBO. "People often ask me what I do as a DOBO, and I just smile, chuckle,  and say, 'Name something— I probably have my hand in it. There's something special about interacting with our young adult/student-athletes. I learn something new from them daily, and they keep me on my toes. They truly make my heart smile".

When she is not wearing the hat as DOBO, Ms. James serves as Godmother, Auntie, and Titi to an amazing Goddaughter and a slew of nieces, nephews, and greats she loves to spend time with when time allows. Ms. James values and loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys watching basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, boxing, and track & field. Outside of sports, Ms.James enjoys watching a good action movie, going bowling, cooking, or playing a good game of spades. Sleep is one of her favorite pastimes that you would never guess of hers. 

Some impactful and memorable moments from her time with the program include witnessing four guys from the 19-20 team get down to only four players remaining in the game and returning to defeat a robust Wake Tech team 68-64. I also became a part of Pitt's basketball history by finishing as the Regular Season Champion and qualifying for the NJCAA National Tournament during the 2018-19 season. What tugs at her heartstrings the most is when May rolls around each year after the ball stops bouncing and it's time for the tassel to get turned. Watching our Basketball Student-athletes walk across that stage, shake the President's hand, and receive that piece of paper "makes my eyes sweat every year. They have earned something they worked hard for, which no one can take away from them. The whistles will get silenced, the lights will dim, the claps and cheers will fade, and the ball will stop bouncing at some point, but each of these young men has a foundation to stand on that will take them further in life. That makes me proud and happy".