James Guest is in his third season at UVa-Wise and his second as the program’s wide receivers and special teams coach. Guest’s schemes led to some big plays for the Cavaliers in the return game as the unit led the league and ranked 10th nationally in kickoff return average at 25.56 yards per return. Last fall, UVa-Wise returned three kicks for touchdowns to lead the league and rank second nationally.
Seventeen different receivers caught a pass in 2017, led by Kaian Duverger who earned All-MEC Honorable Mention honors working with Guest. In total, the unit hauled 18 touchdown catches as UVa-Wise passed for 227 yards per game.
In his first season, Guest served as running backs and tight ends coach and saw the Cavaliers improve their rushing yards by 42.4 yards per game. Tailback Carlton Griffith flourished under Guest’s coaching as he posted career highs in rushing yardage (714) and touchdowns (9) while earning All-MEC honors.
Guest came to the College after most recently serving on the University of Tennessee Martin staff.
While at UT-Martin, the coach spent time as the running backs and quarterbacks coach. While serving as running backs coach, Guest was integral in the development of Abou Toure. Toure received all-conference accolades before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2015, the Skyhawks finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring offense at 35.5 points per game while also ranking second in passing offense per game (293.5) and total offense at 466.1 yards per game.
In both capacities, the coach coordinated blitz pick-up and blocking protections while assisting in run and pass game installation. Guest also assisted in off-season strength and conditioning programs while coordinating opponent breakdowns.
Prior to his time at UT-Martin, Guest spent the previous six seasons coaching high school football in the state of Florida. His final stop was at Oviedo High School where he was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Guest also served as an offensive assistant at Oviedo from 2009-11.
Guest also spent two seasons (2012-13) at his alma mater Cocoa Beach Senior High School in Cocoa Beach, Fla. The coach served as the team’s offensive coordinator and aided the 2012 squad to the best record in school history (9-2). His offense set school records in total yards, passing touchdowns and scoring that season while the coach helped develop an all-state player at quarterback and wide receiver.
As a player, Guest was a three-year letterman for Cocoa Beach High School. The quarterback led the school to its first postseason victory with a win in the 2005 Scholarship Bowl.
Born in Houston, Texas, Guest graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in science kinesiology and exercise science in 2012.
