Coach James Barnes is welcomed as the new head coach of Union City’s James Logan Colts varsity football team this season with the highest of expectations. “I’m excited to start coaching here at James Logan because this is Division 1 and we play all the best schools playing top level football,” said Coach Barnes. “James Logan only plays for one thing – that’s playoffs or state titles – anything else is unacceptable.”
After receiving multiple coaching offers from various schools, Barnes said he chose James Logan because of the tradition it brings, its resources and the support of the administration of the entire athletic program.
Bringing in extensive experience and proven success at the highest level, Coach Barnes’s resume speaks for itself. He started coaching in 2002 at Grand Valley State University as a defensive coach. The Oakland native won the 6-AA California State Title as an assistant coach with St. Vincent De Paul last season and hopes to do the same in Division 1 with James Logan. Barnes was also Castlemont High’s head coach from 2018-2021. Prior to that he also coached at Arroyo where he had two North Coast Section (NCS) bids, Berkeley High where he also had two NCS bids, and also Contra Costa College where they won a bowl game.
Barnes says his two most memorable moments of his career thus far was the state title he won with St. Vincent De Paul last season and also winning the 2009 Silver Bowl as coach at Castlemont High for the first time in school history with a 9-2 record.
“The goal is to take James Logan to the state championship and lead us to a title,” added Coach Barnes. “We have a wealth of talent that we can build off of and we’ve been practicing since May getting in the gym, going to camps, passing leagues and having team dinners to gel this team together.”
He takes over the James Logan program after the previous coach Eddie Smith stepped down last year at the end of a season. Smith led James Logan’s undefeated Western Alameda County Conference Foothill Division record last season at 5-0 that won the league championship.
“Over the summer we’ve been practicing and working to get our program back to the great level that it used to be,” said Colts’ senior Denzel Labog.
The Colts are hopeful to recreate the performance Coach Barnes has proven in his years past to bring in a state title to James Logan. The Colts have a young team this season with a sophomore starting quarterback and only eight seniors on the current team. There is much anticipation to see what this season holds for the newly led team.
“The moment when I walk onto our field with this team for the home opener this season is going to be exciting,” said Coach Barnes.
James Logan plays their first game of this season on August 30 in a neutral non-league matchup against Archbishop Mitty at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. The Colts’ home opener is September 13 against Antioch in a non-league game.
For James Logan football’s full schedule visit MaxPreps.com.
