James H. “Blue” Earley

Phenix High, Hampton

As a youth Coach James Earley was an all-around athlete at Dunbar High (Lynchburg) where he played on VIA Group I State Championship Basketball Teams in 1937 and 1938. From 1943 to 1946 he served in the U. S. Army. At North Carolina A & T State University he played baseball, basketball and football, and graduated in 1948 with a B. A. degree in French. Coach Earley was an All-CIAA football player. He later earned a Master’s Degree from New York University. Before service at Phenix High in Hampton, he taught and coached at Southside High (Danville), J. E. J. Moore High (Prince George County) and Virginia Seminary and College (Lynchburg). He coached and taught at Phenix High from 1957 until its closing in 1968. Coach Earley then became the boys’ basketball coach at Bethel High until 1970. His teaching career continued until he retired in 1983. He also became the first African American to be appointed as an Athletic Director at the onset of integration in the city of Hampton. His basketball teams at Phenix won several VIA Group I Eastern District Championships and advanced to the VIA State Tournament four times. Coach Earley was also an assistant football coach and was the first coach to start a baseball team at Phenix. In addition to teaching French, history and physical education, he was an enthusiastic, supportive and respected mentor, counselor and father figure in the community. Revered by all who came in contact with him, whether students or adults, he was an advocate for high ethical standards, sportsmanship and high moral character. Coach Earley was elected to the North Carolina A & T State University Hall of Fame in 1974.