Austin Peay names ex-Duke associate James to coach Governors

Updated Apr. 2, 2021 4:28 p.m. ET

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Austin Peay has named former Duke associate coach Nate James to his first head coaching job with the Governors.

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Austin Peay athletic director Gerald Harrison said in a release that James’ experience and ability to recruit and retain players “will make him a huge asset to our university and our department.”

James said he was “excited and honored” to be the Ohio Valley Conference school’s 13th head coach and will work to build a culture that players, alumni, donors and fans “will always be proud of.”

He replaces Matt Figger, who resigned on Monday after going 76-51 in four seasons to coach Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

James was a 1,000-point scorer and two-time captain in Durham, North Carolina, as Duke won or shared five Atlantic Coast Conference regular season titles and three tournament crowns. He also played professionally from 2002-07 with a 2004 training camp with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers between multiple international stops and league titles in the Netherlands and Hungary.

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