Deacon Sports Xtra: Five Questions with James Adams
7/22/2022 12:30:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
“The way coach Clawson runs this program, with the standard and the pace he sets, everybody is all in and on the same page.” - James Adams
With a dozen years of coaching experience now under his belt, former Wake Forest linebacker James Adams has returned to Winston-Salem to coach safeties; following defensive coordinator Brad Lambert in making the jump from Purdue.
Adams started his coaching career as a graduate assistant on Jim Grobe's staff in 2009, then had stints at Wofford, Charlotte, Western Michigan, Navy and Purdue. The charismatic coach spent some time with Deacon Sports Xtra for this Five Questions feature.
How will the defense change this season?
Adams: "We're going to be a little more aggressive in what we're doing up front. We're going to attack the offense, try to give them as many looks as we can and create some confusion, both up front and on the second level. This defense was really good last year at taking the ball away, finishing in the top-six, but we want to lead the country. We want to create as many opportunities as possible for the guys to take the ball away and give it to our offense. Our offense is high-powered, unique and hard to stop. The more chances we have to give them the ball back, the better.
"It's going to look a little different up front. We're going to make sure we're getting after them up front. But on the back end, we're going to tighten down the coverage a little bit, all in the effort of creating turnovers."
In past seasons, it's been a bit of a battle of attrition in the secondary. How do you best combat that?
Adams: "It's about developing depth. You want to continue to bring along those second-and-third string guys. You want to create opportunities for young guys to get in early. With off-season training and spring ball, we want to create a mentality where everybody has to be ready. There are no young guys in the building. Everybody in the building right now has to be ready to play and has to be ready to compete and hold the standard. We want the young guys to understand the time is now. We're going to get you ready to play so we can play as many guys as we can and keep our legs under us on Saturdays."
What are your thoughts on the recent success of the Wake Forest Football program?
Adams: "This is so cool. I knew it was coming. I had a chance to work a camp six-or-seven years ago when we were at Charlotte. Coach grabbed Napoleon Sykes and I. He was awesome with his insights, process and recruiting strategy. I knew then with the details he had this process set up that success was going to happen. I knew they were going to find Wake Forest guys and it was going to take off. It was just a matter of time. The way coach Clawson runs this program, with the standard and the pace he sets, everybody is all in and on the same page. There's no confusion. It's just ready. I'm excited and happy to see this program make it to six straight bowl games and compete for an ACC Championship. And now, it's great to be a part of it on the staff with an opportunity to pick up the standard and continue to run with it. My phone has been blowing up. It's been a whirlwind, but exciting."
What is your best memory of being at Wake Forest as a player?
Adams: "Graduation day. Just sitting there and soaking up that moment, realizing how important that moment was for me, my family and people I didn't know at the time who would come after me. There were a lot of thoughts going through my mind. I was appreciative of the opportunity to be here and the sacrifice that people made for me to be here. The staff here took a chance on me. By all accounts, they didn't have to, but they did. I'm so grateful for that opportunity."
What is it like working with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert?
Adams: "Being in his room and seeing how he dealt with the players and spoke with the players, there was no question there's a standard to be held to, but coach Lambert wasn't afraid to tell you he loved you or show you how much he cared. He showed love by his time and his words. I was with him for eight years (at Charlotte) and he allowed me to be the coach I needed to be. I wanted to be high energy , chase guys around while also teaching guys in the classroom. I wanted to be creative, bring juice, play music and do all those things.
"The Xs and Os have basically been the same for 100 years, but understanding relationships with the players looks a little different. What these kids want more than anything is access and the answer to the question 'why.' For me as a coach, that's what I'm going to give them. I'm going to give them access to me, my family and any resource I have. I'm going to spend most if not all of my time helping them find the answer to the question 'why.'
"I understand what his expectations are in terms of how to treat people, how to show up for work everyday and do the job. We don't focus on the noise or what's going on in the periphery, but instead focus on developing the players, protecting the program and doing things the right way. I know that's his expectation and his standard. Coach Lambert knows that's my expectation and standard. I've spent time as a player and now have been with him for several years as a coach at a couple of different stops. He's seen that's how I operate as well. It's not about me or my own personal success. It's about how I can elevate the team and the standard we value. He gets me and I get him."
Adams started his coaching career as a graduate assistant on Jim Grobe's staff in 2009, then had stints at Wofford, Charlotte, Western Michigan, Navy and Purdue. The charismatic coach spent some time with Deacon Sports Xtra for this Five Questions feature.
How will the defense change this season?
Adams: "We're going to be a little more aggressive in what we're doing up front. We're going to attack the offense, try to give them as many looks as we can and create some confusion, both up front and on the second level. This defense was really good last year at taking the ball away, finishing in the top-six, but we want to lead the country. We want to create as many opportunities as possible for the guys to take the ball away and give it to our offense. Our offense is high-powered, unique and hard to stop. The more chances we have to give them the ball back, the better.
"It's going to look a little different up front. We're going to make sure we're getting after them up front. But on the back end, we're going to tighten down the coverage a little bit, all in the effort of creating turnovers."
In past seasons, it's been a bit of a battle of attrition in the secondary. How do you best combat that?
Adams: "It's about developing depth. You want to continue to bring along those second-and-third string guys. You want to create opportunities for young guys to get in early. With off-season training and spring ball, we want to create a mentality where everybody has to be ready. There are no young guys in the building. Everybody in the building right now has to be ready to play and has to be ready to compete and hold the standard. We want the young guys to understand the time is now. We're going to get you ready to play so we can play as many guys as we can and keep our legs under us on Saturdays."
What are your thoughts on the recent success of the Wake Forest Football program?
Adams: "This is so cool. I knew it was coming. I had a chance to work a camp six-or-seven years ago when we were at Charlotte. Coach grabbed Napoleon Sykes and I. He was awesome with his insights, process and recruiting strategy. I knew then with the details he had this process set up that success was going to happen. I knew they were going to find Wake Forest guys and it was going to take off. It was just a matter of time. The way coach Clawson runs this program, with the standard and the pace he sets, everybody is all in and on the same page. There's no confusion. It's just ready. I'm excited and happy to see this program make it to six straight bowl games and compete for an ACC Championship. And now, it's great to be a part of it on the staff with an opportunity to pick up the standard and continue to run with it. My phone has been blowing up. It's been a whirlwind, but exciting."
What is your best memory of being at Wake Forest as a player?
Adams: "Graduation day. Just sitting there and soaking up that moment, realizing how important that moment was for me, my family and people I didn't know at the time who would come after me. There were a lot of thoughts going through my mind. I was appreciative of the opportunity to be here and the sacrifice that people made for me to be here. The staff here took a chance on me. By all accounts, they didn't have to, but they did. I'm so grateful for that opportunity."
What is it like working with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert?
Adams: "Being in his room and seeing how he dealt with the players and spoke with the players, there was no question there's a standard to be held to, but coach Lambert wasn't afraid to tell you he loved you or show you how much he cared. He showed love by his time and his words. I was with him for eight years (at Charlotte) and he allowed me to be the coach I needed to be. I wanted to be high energy , chase guys around while also teaching guys in the classroom. I wanted to be creative, bring juice, play music and do all those things.
"The Xs and Os have basically been the same for 100 years, but understanding relationships with the players looks a little different. What these kids want more than anything is access and the answer to the question 'why.' For me as a coach, that's what I'm going to give them. I'm going to give them access to me, my family and any resource I have. I'm going to spend most if not all of my time helping them find the answer to the question 'why.'
"I understand what his expectations are in terms of how to treat people, how to show up for work everyday and do the job. We don't focus on the noise or what's going on in the periphery, but instead focus on developing the players, protecting the program and doing things the right way. I know that's his expectation and his standard. Coach Lambert knows that's my expectation and standard. I've spent time as a player and now have been with him for several years as a coach at a couple of different stops. He's seen that's how I operate as well. It's not about me or my own personal success. It's about how I can elevate the team and the standard we value. He gets me and I get him."
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