Head Coach James Boney (4th season)
College: Montclair State University (1999)
Major: Physical Education and Health
James Boney returns for his fourth season in 2025-26 after his team showed vast improvement during his third year at the helm in 2024-25. Boney continued to build the Rutgers-Camden program, posting a 9-16 overall record which nearly doubled the total victories the Scarlet Raptors compiled during his first two years at the helm. The nine wins were the most since Rutgers-Camden went 12-13 during the 2019-20 season.
Rutgers-Camden’s success was built around a young team which featured two of the top rookies in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Hope Goodwine earned NJAC Honorable Mention and was the NJAC Rookie of the Week on Jan. 27, while Courtney Edmundo was a four-time NJAC Rookie of the Week.
Senior Rahzirah Blocker ended her stellar career with 1,394 points, fifth on the program’s all-time list, while also setting a career mark by making 75 percent of her free throws.
With an influx of new talent, couple with six returning letterwinners, Boney’s program will be striving to become the Raptors’ first team since the 2018-19 Scarlet Raptors to post a winning record. That team finished at 15-11, capping a four-year run over .500.
Inheriting a team that went 2-18 the year before, Boney’s first club posted a 4-21 record during a season that was highlighted by Jalissa Pitts joining the 1,000-point club for her illustrious career. Pitts became Boney’s first all-conference player, earning NJAC Second Team honors. She also was one of five Scarlet Raptors to capture NJAC Academic Honorable Mention.
Boney saw his team produce another 1,000-point scorer during the 2023-24 campaign, as Blocker reached the milestone on her way to NJAC Second Team recognition. Both Blocker and Jania Pitts earned NJAC Academic Honorable Mention, but a small, inexperienced roster and several injuries led to a 1-24 season.
During his three seasons, Boney’s Scarlet Raptors have produced 10 NJAC All-Academic honorees, including three during the 2024-25 campaign.
Boney’s Rutgers-Camden record
Boney has coached women’s basketball at numerous schools in New Jersey, including a pair of NJAC programs prior to joining Rutgers-Camden. He was named the Scarlet Raptors’ head coach in September 2022, after serving as an assistant coach with the Saint Peter’s University women’s basketball team for four years. He helped the Peacocks reach the 2021 MAAC Tournament finals and the 2022 MAAC Tournament quarterfinals. He recruited and developed seven All-MAAC selections and his duties included scouting and player development.
Prior to his time at Saint Peter’s, Boney served as the head coach of the Cumberland County College (CCC) women’s basketball program from 2011-2017. He won over 100 games at CCC, while leading his team to four straight Region XIX playoff appearances and a Region XIX Championship in 2015. During the 2015 season, the Dukes finished with a 25-32 record and were ranked No. 4 nationally. Boney was named Region XIX and District E Coach of the Year in 2015. He produced eight All-Region XIX selections, 12 all-conference honorees, one All-American – Alicia Cox in 2012 – and three academic All-Americans.
Boney started his coaching career in the NJAC at Montclair State University in 2001. He spent four years with the Red Hawks as an assistant coach to his mentor, Jaime Hoffman. He also spent two years as an assistant coach at Kean University (2006-07 and 2007-08), helping the Cougars post a combined 55-8 record, win two conference titles and earn two NCAA Elite Eight appearances.
Originally from Egg Harbor Township, Boney attended Montclair State University, earning his degree in Physical Education and Health in 1999.
