Here’s a paraphrased version of the textThe first assistant coach from the Buffalo staff to follow Becky Burke to Arizona has been announced. James Ewing will be joining the Wildcats under Burke’s leadership in Tucson.
Ewing joined Burke’s staff at Buffalo in 2023, where he specialized in working with post players, player development, and recruiting.
“James is an elite recruiter with great character, energy, and passion for the game,” Burke said in the official press release. “He played a major role in our accomplishments at Buffalo, and I’m thrilled to continue that momentum with him at Arizona.”
During his two-year stint at Buffalo, Ewing helped lead the team to consecutive WNIT appearances. The 2024–25 season culminated in the Bulls capturing the WNIT title—now the third-tier postseason tournament after the introduction of the WBIT in 2023–24.
Before joining Buffalo, Ewing was an assistant coach and director of basketball operations at St. Bonaventure during the 2022–23 season. He also coached at Division II Daemen College (now University) in 2021–22, where he guided Katie Titus to conference Player of the Year honors and DII First Team All-American recognition.
Ewing began his coaching career at Bryant & Stratton College’s Buffalo campus during the 2020–21 season, helping the team finish as USCAA national runners-up.
The USCAA is a national collegiate athletic organization made up of smaller two- and four-year institutions that typically don’t offer athletic scholarships. Like the NCAA and NAIA, it governs competition rather than being a conference.
A Buffalo, NY native, Ewing started his collegiate playing career at Toledo before transferring to Mercyhurst, where he earned a degree in business and hospitality in 2015. He went on to play professionally with the Buffalo 716ers in the Premier Basketball League and spent three seasons in Belize’s National Elite Basketball League.
Ewing is the second official addition to Burke’s Arizona staff, following general manager Michelle Marciniak’s announcement on Thursday. While not yet officially confirmed, reports suggest that former Arizona player and longtime Phoenix Mercury assistant Julie Brase-Hairgrove will also be joining. She would bring significant experience from the western U.S., primarily at the pro level.
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