James A. Stevens

James A. Stevens
Stevens pictured in The Eagle 1966, NCC yearbook
Biographical details
Bornc. 1907
Died(1983-08-05)August 5, 1983
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1937–1941Bishop
1947–1948Prairie View A&M (assistant)
1949–1951Prairie View A&M
1952–1953North Carolina A&T (assistant)
1954–1964North Carolina College (assistant)
1965–1967North Carolina College
Basketball
c. 1949–1952Prairie View A&M
Track and field
c. 1949–1952Prairie View A&M
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1937–1942Bishop
1949–1952Prairie View A&M
Head coaching record
Overall48–44–7 (college football)
Bowls2–0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
1 SWAC (1951)

James Alexander Stevens (c. 1907 – August 5, 1983) was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach, athletics administrator, and educator. He coached at Prairie View A&M University, where he was credited for building the program's "dynasty" in its "glory years."[1] He later went on to coach at North Carolina College at Durham—now known as North Carolina Central University.

Early life and education

A native of St. Louis, Stevens earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg—now known as Pittsburg State University—and a Master of Science at the University of Southern California (USC).[2][3]

Coaching career

Prairie View A&M

Stevens was the seventh head football coach at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas, holding that position for three seasons, from 1949 until 1951. His record at Prairie View was 24–7.[4]

North Carolina College

In 1965, Stevens was named the tenth head football coach at North Carolina College at Durham—now known as North Carolina Central University. He held that position for three seasons, from 1965 to 1967, compiling a record of 10–15–2.

Later life, family, and death

After retiring from coaching, Steven's remained a member of the faculty at North Carolina College until 1981. He died at the age of 76, on August 5, 1983, at Durham County General Hospital.[5][6]

Stevens was married to Jocelyn Cain, who died in 1980, and had two sons.[7][8]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Bishop Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1937–1941)
1937 Bishop 1–6–10–67th
1938 Bishop 4–5–11–4–17th
1939 Bishop 3–2–22–2–2T–4th
1940 Bishop 4–42–45th
1941 Bishop 3–43–35th
Bishop: 15–21–48–19–3
Prairie View A&M Panthers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1949–1951)
1949 Prairie View A&M 8–35–23rdW Prairie View
1950 Prairie View A&M 6–4–14–34thT Prairie View
1951 Prairie View A&M 9–16–11stW Prairie View
Prairie View A&M: 23–8–115–6
North Carolina College Eagles (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1965–1967)
1965 North Carolina College 3–5–13–4–19th
1966 North Carolina College 6–36–12nd
1967 North Carolina College 1–7–11–5–114th
North Carolina College: 10–15–210–10–2
Total:48–44–7
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[9]

References

  1. ↑ BlackAthlete Sports Network-www.blackathlete.net[link removed], "Can Prairie View A&M University Restore Its Football Program Back To The Glory Years?" by Joe Booker, Apr 15, 2006
  2. ↑ "James Stevens Arrives For Work at Bishop". The Call. Kansas City, Missouri. September 10, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ↑ "Stevens Becomes NCC Grid Coach". New York Age. New York, New York. September 4, 1954. p. 16. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ↑ "Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University Directory". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Former NCCU coach Stevens Dies at 76". The Durham Sun. Durham, North Carolina. August 5, 1983. p. 1. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ↑ "J. A. Stevens, Former NCCU Grid Coach". Durham Morning Herald. Durham, North Carolina. August 6, 1983. p. 7B. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ↑ "News Of The Negro Community". Waco Tribune-Herald. Waco, Texas. August 1, 1954. p. 27. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ↑ "The Eagle". 1980.
  9. ↑ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; James Stevens". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
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