James “Jimmy” Joe was an out-standing football player and a successful football coach.

Jimmy was a three-year All Ches-Mont selection in football as a fullback and linebacker at Coatesville High School. He was the Maxwell Club Award recipient, First Team All-Philadelphia Area as a fullback, and U. S. Magazine high school All-American. He was selected by the AP Poll as one of the top 100 football players in America. He also excelled in Track & Field and finished fourth in the PIAA Shot Put his senior year.

Joe matriculated at Morgan State where he earned All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) honors as a Running Back, (1970-1973). Jimmy played professionally with the Philadelphia Bell in the World Football League (WFL) (1974 -75). He signed with the NFL’s New York Jets in 1976.

In 1976 Jimmy turned to coaching and joined his older brother Billy’s staff as the assistant head football coach/offensive coordinator. Coach Jimmy and his offensive staff experienced unparalleled success at Central State University (1983-1993) as CSU won five Black College National Championships (1986-1990). He later joined Billy’s staff at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida (1995-2001).