Saint James names Larry Ware as their new Athletic Director
High School Sports
The Saint James School announces that Larry Ware will take over as Athletic Director effective May 1st, 2024. Ware brings 30 years of coaching experience to the position and has spent more than ten of those as an assistant coach of the Trojans Football Team and the head coach of the Track Team.
In the Athletic Director role Ware will lead and manage all aspects of the Saint James School athletic department, promoting the school’s core values, fostering a positive and supportive student-focused culture, integrating athletics into all levels of the school, and developing student-athletes into the best version of themselves. In addition to these responsibilities, Ware will continue to serve on the football coaching staff as an assistant coach.
“I love being part of the Saint James School family, and my ‘why’ is aligned with the school’s vision and focus on character, commitment, courage, and community. I believe character is the first quality anyone will recognize about you, and when we ask for it, God grants us opportunities to become courageous. To do anything you believe in, you must be committed to seeing it through, and community is the vessel that makes anything worthwhile,” Ware said. “STJ has a strong reputation as one of the best schools and athletic programs in the state. I am committed to helping our student-athletes achieve excellence in the classroom while developing physically, mentally, and socially on and off the playing fields and courts.”
Ware began his coaching career in 1994 at Cottonwood High School. In 1996 he began coaching at JAG High School as the assistant football coach and offensive coordinator, head track coach, and also served as a career technology teacher. Then in 2002, Ware made the move to George Washington Carver High School serving as both the head football coach, head track coach, and taught career technology. From 2008 to 2012 Ware served as the athletic director and head football coach at Percy L. Julian High School.
Ware began coaching at Saint James back in 2012 and continued teaching at Capital Heights Middle School until 2017. After that, he began a full time role with the in the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, where he currently serves as a deputy commissioner and agriculture marketing specialist.
“Coach Ware is a proven leader of character who understands what it means to be a Saint James Trojan and to be part of our supportive school family,” said Head of School Dr. Larry McLemore. “He lives out our Trojan core values of character, commitment, courage, and community in all he does and will provide strong leadership for Saint James athletics. I am confident he will continue to elevate our athletic programs and advance our school in many ways, and I look forward to working alongside him in this endeavor.”
Ware will take over the role from Katie Barton who has served as athletic director since 2020. Barton will remain on staff at Saint James serving as the head girls volleyball coach, the head girls basketball coach, and the chair of the physical education department.
(Information from Saint James School)
