James Wilkes returns to Villanova for his his 16th season with the program and 15th as head coach in 2024-25.
Prior to his elevation to head coach in February 2011, Wilkes spent two seasons as VU's first assistant when he was responsible for short game instruction, fitness and scheduling.
The winningest coach in Villanova golf history, Wilkes has pushed the Wildcats to unprecedented success as the program's leader.
The 2022-23 season was a record-breaking one for Wilkes and the 'Cats, as the coach led Villanova to its best season scoring average ever at 294.39. The Wildcats also set single season records for most birdies (408) and highest win total (two) while winning the first ever consecutive team titles in program history.
The team's performance at the fall's Doc Gimmler marked the second lowest team round, 36-hole total and 54-hole total in Villanova golf history.
Wilkes guided Peter Weaver to an All-BIG EAST First Team selection as the third-ranked player in the league as well as a conference All-Tournament Team selection while breaking the individual season scoring average and setting four other single season bests.
In addition to Weaver, Wilkes coached Ryan "Coop" Pamer to Villanova's first ever BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honor as well as an all-conference second team nod and the program's second best scoring average against par and lowest average by a freshman.
In his first year at the helm in 2011, Wilkes guided Michael Kania to an individual championship at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate and mentored the team to a third place finish at the BIG EAST Championship.
In 2012-13, Wilkes led the Wildcats to a pair of team championships, including the Lehigh Invitational for his first win as head coach, as well as a team victory at the Yale Spring Invitational. Villanova recorded six top-five team finishes during that season as well as ten top-10 team finishes on the year while Kania claimed the individual championship at the Lehigh Invitational.Â
Under Wilkes' tutelage, Kania exploded for a standout senior season where he was named to the 2013 All-BIG EAST Team, earning Villanova's Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year in addition to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Men's Golf Academic All-Area Performer of the Year and American Eagle Outfitters Male Institutional Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Wilkes also oversaw a group that placed first in the Explorer Invitational and second in the Metropolitan Intercollegiate in 2018-19.Â
In 2020-21, Wilkes coached Ambrose Abbracciamento to an individual title at the ABARTA Coca-Cola Collegiate Invitational.
In a season affected heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilkes guided Weaver to an All-BIG EAST Second Team nod in addition to medalist honors at the 2022 Golden Horseshoe Invitational.
Wilkes, a 1996 Villanova alum, was elected as a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society during his years as a student. After receiving his degree in biology, Wilkes began his professional life as a lab technician at a pharmaceutical plant in Horsham, Pa., where he specialized in carbohydrate chemistry.
Deciding to follow his love for the game, Wilkes began his career as a club professional in 1998. He has served as an assistant golf pro at Twining Valley Golf and Fitness Club and has also worked at the PGA National Golf Resort and Blue Bell Country Club, where he spent four years as head golf professional.
Currently, Wilkes is an elected member of the Professional Golf Association of America and is on the golf professional staff at LuLu Country Club in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
Wilkes, who resides in North Wales, Pa., has also been involved with numerous junior golf programs at LuLu, Blue Bell and Twining Valley golf clubs and has worked as an instructor for the local LPGA chapters in addition to the Kids on the Hill charity.
In 2001, Wilkes' contributions to the community were recognized as he was honored with the prestigious Brosius Award in 2001 for his community service involvement.Â
Wilkes was also named one of the Top 50 Kid Teachers by U.S. Kids Golf from 2010-2012 and was named a Master Kids Teacher in 2013. In addition to his other involvements in the sport, Wilkes served as director of the local U.S. Kids Golf Tour and has been a tour director for several regional and world championships for the organization.
In recognition of his area contributions, the PGA Philadelphia Chapter honored Wilkes with the Junior Golf Leader award in both 2009 and 2010.
