The first holdover from the Buffalo coaching staff has been announced as an assistant at Arizona. New Wildcats head coach Becky Burke is bringing James Ewing with her to Tucson.
Ewing has been on Burke’s staff since 2023. His focus has been on post players, player development, and recruiting.
“He is a high-level recruiter, high-character man, and brings exceptional energy and passion for the game,” Burke was quoted in the program’s press release. “James was a large part of the success we had at Buffalo, and I am so excited for us to continue that success together here at Arizona.”
Ewing spent the last two seasons at Buffalo where the Bulls made appearances in the WNIT, which became the tertiary postseason tournament for Division I women’s basketball when the WBIT was introduced following the 2023-24 season. The 2024-25 appearance ended with the WNIT title.
Prior to his stint at Buffalo, Ewing spent the 2022-23 season at St. Bonaventure as an assistant coach and director of basketball operations. He landed with the Bonnies after serving as an assistant coach at DII Daemen College (now Daemen University) during the 2021-22 season. At Daemen, he coached conference player of the year and DII First Team All-American Katie Titus.
Ewing got his start in college coaching at the Buffalo campus of Bryant & Stratton College, which plays in the USCAA. Ewing spent the 2020-21 season with the Bobcats, helping them to a USCAA runner-up finish.
The USCAA is a national organization of primarily small two and four-year schools that do not offer athletic scholarships. It is not a conference but an organization akin to the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA.
Ewing is a native of Buffalo, NY. He started his college playing career at Toledo and finished at Mercyhurst. He graduated from Mercyhurst with a degree in business and hospitality in 2015.
After college, Ewing played in the Premier Basketball League for the Buffalo 716ers. He also spent three seasons in Belize playing in the National Elite Basketball League.
Ewing becomes the second member of Burke’s staff to be formally announced. General manager Michelle Marciniak was introduced on Thursday. While not formally announced, reports indicate that former Wildcat player and long-time Phoenix Mercury assistant coach Julie Brase-Hairgrove will also be on the staff. She would become the first staff member with extensive ties to the Western part of the country, albeit primarily at the professional level.