Indians Basketball Coach Thrives on Emotion, Intensity

Anyone who’s seen a  High School girls varsity basketball game and looked over at the sideline can’t help but notice two things about head coach Denikwa James.

First, her booming voice is the most recognizable sound in the gym. Second, she hardly ever sits down during the game.

However, forced into wearing a walking boot after spraining her ankle while playing ball herself, a referee joked with James before a recent game that she’d have no choice but to stay off her feet while she coached.

Clearly, that official didn’t know coach D as well as he thought.

James exerts too much energy and unleashes too much emotion to stay in one spot for too long. Plus, it’s much easier to bellow at the top of your lungs from a standing position.

In her sixth year as head coach, James has established a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to tell you how she really feels if she thinks it’ll make you a better player. And while some players in the past may have struggled to fully understand her message, this year’s squad is certainly buying in.

After a 33-32 win over county power Catonsville on Wednesday night, the Indians improved to a stellar, 14-4 overall record on the season.

“I did have the reputation where when I first came to Franklin it was like, oh, she’s from the army, she’s mean, like a drill sergeant,” James said. “But [my players] got to know me and were like she’s nice, she’s just about business. They do know that when they come up to the varsity level, it’s a whole new ballgame.”  

For a person who’s lived and breathed basketball since the ninth grade, it’s tough to take her foot off the accelerator and just mellow out.

James, a native of Dallas, made it to the Baltimore area by earning a scholarship to Morgan State, where she played both basketball and volleyball. She served as an assistant coach at Randallstown High School and Baltimore City Community College before obtaining the top spot at Franklin.

With her intensity level so high during games, many of James’ first year players are surprised (and delighted) to learn that she has a caring, almost motherly, persona off the court, priding herself on being there for her girls if they need a shoulder to lean on.

Still, sometimes the younger players need that assurance that James is hardly attacking them on a personal level when she raises her voice.

“A lot of them have come up to me and Ashley [Reid], the other captain, and said ‘I’m scared to mess up’,” said senior Kim Dorsey, in her fourth year under James.  

“You just have to say, just play your game. She won’t yell at you for making a mistake. She’ll yell at you for not trying your hardest.”

During her first year on varsity, freshman Mara Izzard has already been on the receiving end of some of James’ criticism, but intent on improving her game, Izzard will gladly take the harsh critique over someone who’s just going to sugarcoat it for her.

“I would rather her tell me what I’m doing wrong so I can fix it than have somebody just say, ‘oh you’re doing fine’ and not tell me,” Izzard said.  “I used to take it so personal at the beginning of the year but now I know she just wants the best.”  

Understandably, James also wants the best for herself. While, she’s cherishing her time coaching at Franklin, James says she’s hungry to advance to the next level and one day assume a head coaching position in the college ranks.  

Wherever she is, folks won’t have a hard time finding her—just open your eyes and ears. Chances are, you’ll see James shouting instructions at her players, stomping her feet on the hardwood and swiftly pacing up and down the sideline.

She certainly has no plans to keep her emotions bottled up.

“I don’t know if I could ever change it. I am the way I am and that’s just me,” James said. “I get into the game and I’m a very competitive person. Sometimes I wish I could put on the uniform as well to get out there and show them, look, this is what you’re supposed to do.”