Western Kentucky announced the hiring of Kali James as the football program’s defensive tackles coach on Saturday.

James comes to WKU after one season at Jackson State, where he worked as the team’s defensive line coach/running game coordinator in 2024. He helped the Tigers to the SWAC Championship and a victory over South Carolina State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl.

Jackson State ranked sixth in the FCS in scoring defense in 2024, allowing an average of just 17.1 points per game, and fourth in total defense with just 275.7 yards allowed per game. The Tigers were 18th nationally in turnovers gained and were 13th in rushing yards allowed with 110.6 per game. Jackson State ranked 18th in the FCS in sacks. James oversaw a unit that included Joshua Nobles, an Honorable Mention All-American by BOXTOROW and a First Team All-SWAC selection, and Jeremiah Williams, who was named a Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central.

Prior to his time at Jackson State, James spent two seasons at Florida, where he started as a defensive line graduate assistant in 2022 before being promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2023.

James was the defensive line coach at Eagles Landing Christian Academy and spent the 2019 season as a defensive line assistant intern at South Carolina.

The Riverdale, Georgia, native was a standout player at Tuskegee from 2016-19 prior to his coaching career. He played in all 43 games and was a four-year starter at defensive tackle. As a player, James was named the SIAC Newcomer of the Year and served as the team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was awarded the Golden Tiger Man of Character Award while at Tuskegee, and he totaled 76 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also scored a touchdown on a scoop and score, and recorded one interception. He graduated from Tuskegee with his degree in psychology.