James Ferraro

Dolby and owner Jim Ferraro professed a need for sweeping change and upgraded professionalism in the organization during the monthlong search for a coach to replace Haege, who was fired July 28 after three seasons.
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Dolby feels confident that James, with his military coaching background and respect from current Gladiators players, can present a much different look than Haege.
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Many Gladiators called Dolby to lobby for James, who served as interim head coach for one game last season when Haege was suspended for a headset-tossing tirade that ultimately contributed to his firing.
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James made changes large and small, from shifting clock control strategy down to allowing music on a stereo during practice.

The Gladiators lost that game at Arizona, 80-63, but James laid the foundation that impressed management.

"That whole week, I took that as if it was my job," James said."You also take it as an audition."

Still, when the Gladiators fired Haege after a second consecutive 8-8 season, Dolby and Ferraro did not immediately install his right-hand man as the new coach.
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"If I thought (James) was the right guy from the beginning, we wouldn't have gone through this process."

James ultimately beat out Indiana interim head coach Mike Wilpolt and New Orleans defensive coordinator Kevin Porter for the job.
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Dolby called both on Monday to inform them of the team's decision to go with James and the news did not surprise Wilpolt.
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Dolby denied that the choice of James was financially influenced, but also declined to say if James' assistant coaching position would be replaced.
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James came to the Gladiators from the Houston ThunderBears, for whom he served as line coach and director of player personnel from 1999-2001.He worked with Gladiators quarterback Clint Dolezel in Houston in 1999.

James spent the first 11 years of his coaching career in the college ranks, the last two at Army.That experience had a strong influence on his style.

"We're going to employ more discipline; obviously, that's a big issue," James said, adding that the Gladiators must cut down on penalties."We're going to instill a championship work ethic and we're going to be more physical."

James began his coaching career as a linebacker coach at Siena College, where he was a four-year starter at offensive tackle, in 1986.A native of Albany, N.Y., he and his wife, Lynn, and son, Brady, live in Henderson.

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