James Boone - Men's Swimming and Diving Coach - Ball State University Athletics

James Boone

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
James.boone@bsu.edu
Phone:
756-285-5173

As announced by Ball State swimming & diving head coach J. Agnew, Colorado native James Boone joins the program as assistant coach for the 2025-26 season.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome James Boone to Ball State as our new assistant coach,” Agnew said. “He brings a sharp analytical mind to the sport with a unique ability to connect with and motivate his student athletes. His character and leadership traits are exactly what we look for in our Cardinals.”

Prior to Ball State, Boone coached at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo., the same school where he had been a student-athlete from 2011-15. As head coach of the girls program for two seasons from 2023-25, Boone guided six swimmers to continue their careers at the collegiate level. Boone’s leadership also aided the Wolves to achieve two all-American relays, including a top three state finish, and four school records.

While leading the girls, Boone also served as an assistant coach for the Grandview boys program. From 2021-25, he played a key role in helping five swimmers reach the collegiate level while the program earned seven individual All-American awards, four All-American relays, including a second-place state finish, and celebrated six individual state champions. Under his guidance, the boys team set new school records in every event, including four records previously held by Boone since 2015.

During this time, Boone also became a founding member of the Aspire Aquatics of Colorado staff, serving as the head senior coach from 2021-25. With his help the team saw success, growing from 70 to 140 members as he coached all 11 sectional swimmers since the team’s inception.

After his collegiate career concluded at the end of his 2018-19 campaign, Boone stayed on as an undergraduate assistant coach at Purdue during the 2019-2020 season, primarily coaching a group of eight sprint and mid-distance freestylers.

Before coaching, Boone competed in freestyle sprints and was a key contributor in relay events for the Boilermakers from 2015-19, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a minor in management. Boone was mentored by then assistant coach Agnew for three years before he took the head coach position at Ball State in 2018.

By the end of his collegiate career, Boone set three program records as anchor in the 400 free (2:52.19) and medley (3:07.70) relays, as well as the 800 free relay (6:26.91). Boone also achieved the ninth-best time in program history in the 100 free (43.61). As of present day, his program records still stand as top 10 times in the team’s history.

As team captain his senior year, Boone was a NCAA Championships qualifier in the 400 freestyle relay and was awarded by the program, being recognized as the team’s Red Mackey honoree for excellence.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of Ball State swim and dive, and I’m eager to continue to grow the excellence of the program,” Boone said. “Thank you to my long-time mentor, J., and to Ball State Athletics for the opportunity. I couldn't ask for a better community to be a part of. Thank you to my Purdue, Grandview and Aspire families for preparing me for this huge step. Go Cards! Chirp Chirp!"

Boone is married to Katherine Boone, an obstetrician-gynecologist resident physician at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, and the two have a dog, Rory. Aside from continuing to swim and compete, Boone enjoys board games, skiing, comedy and basketball.