After a 30-28 loss to Morehouse College on Saturday, Tuskegee University has announced the firing of Aaron James. The university announced the firing Sunday afternoon.
In the statement, Reginald Ruffin commended Aaron James for his tenure as head coach.
“We are extremely grateful to Coach James for his leadership, dedication, and service to Tuskegee University. Aaron is a proud Tuskegee alumnus who has represented his alma mater with tremendous pride. We thank him for his commitment to our student-athletes, our football program, and the Tuskegee community. We wish Coach James and his family nothing but success in the next chapter of their journey.”
He also announced a national search.
Article Continues Below“Tuskegee Football has a proud championship tradition, and our expectations remain high. Our commitment is to academic excellence, developing young men, competing for championships, graduating our student-athletes, and representing Tuskegee University with distinction. We will conduct a comprehensive national search to identify a leader who embraces those expectations and understands The Standard associated with wearing the Crimson and Old Gold.”
James was Tuskegee's quarterback from 1998 to 2001, going 42-5 as a starter and guiding the Golden Tigers to a perfect 12-0 season and the HBCU national championship in 2000. He ultimately served as the offensive coordinator for Tuskegee in 2022 under then-head coach Reginald Ruffin. As offensive coordinator, the team ultimately made the SIAC championship but lost to Benedict College, which was then led by Chennis Berry.
James went 7-4 in his first season in 2023, including a 6-2 record in the SIAC, but they then dropped to a 5-6 record in 2024 and a 4-7 record in 2025. James did find a level of success prior to the Morris College game, beating Fort Valley State in the Port City Classic 24-23 and then pulling off a victory over Division 2 powerhouse Benedict College, 20-17, on September 24. Ultimately, the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic, one of the oldest classics in HBCU football, was the determinant of his dismissal.
Now, Tuskegee hands the reins to Keith Higdon, who serves as assistant head coach and offensive line coach.