James graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School in 1992. While at McDevitt, he was a member of the 1991 and 1992 Track & Field teams. He went onto Cabrini College where he graduated after a stellar college track career. He was named team MVP in 1995 and 1996. He was named NCAA Div Mid East All Regional in 1995, 1996, and 1997. During his senior year in college - at only 23 years old - he was hired as the inaugural Head Coach at Gwynedd Mercy College.

From 1999-2015, Coach Williams was the Head Track & Field Coach at Gwynedd Mercy University, Cabrini College, West Chester University, and Cheyney University.

While at Cabrini College, he was named USTFCCCA Division III Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008. He was named ECAC Coach of the Year in 2007. His teams finished in the Top 15 Nationally in Division III, in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. During his tenure at Cabrini College, he has coached over twenty-five Division III All Americans and one individual National Champion.

During his tenure at West Chester & Cheyney University, he coached over 30 All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference athletes and 10 conference champions.

In Coach Williams' first year as Head Boys Coach at McDevitt, his team captured the 2019 PIAA District 12 AA Outdoor Track & Field Championship. On June 21, 2021 he became the last coach in McDevitt history to win a championship by winning the 2021 PIAA District 12 AA Championships

Before coming to Bishop McDevitt, he also spent two years serving as the head coach for Girls Track & Field and Cross Country at Cardinal O’Hara High School. In 2017, his team won the PIAA District 12 Championship in Cross Country and Track & Field, the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships in Track and Cross Country. In addition, he was named PCL Coach of the Year for 2017. 

He was honored in 2017 by the Philadelphia City Council for successfully winning the PIAA District Championships in Cross Country and Track & Field and the PCL Championship in the same year.

Outside of Track & Field James has always worked to make a difference in his community. He worked in the office of Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh, where he created the Blue Chip initiative, which helped inner city high school students receive free tutoring for SAT prep through local non-profits. 

He was an elected Philadelphia Republican Ward Leader of the 50th Ward from 2014-2020, representing 19,000 residents. He was successfully elected to two terms. In addition, he served as the campaign manager for several high profile Republican political campaigns like the 2017 Philadelphia District Attorney race, the 2015 City Council race, and the 2014 US Congress race.

In 2018 he joined Bishop McDevitt High School as Director of Institutional Advancement. Where he was responsible for managing the annual campaign, managing events, creating the development plan, internal and external communications, implementing the school strategic plan, overseeing alumni relations, and all marketing and branding.

He and his wife Sheena Harris-Williams reside in the Cedarbrook section of Philadelphia, where they are members of St. Raymond of Penafort parish. Sheena is also a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School.