2016 - Present

James Colzie III has been proving himself in the college football world for the last 16 seasons. He has worked and played with some of the best coaches in the business, which includes Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews, Romeo Crennel, Emmitt Thomas, Blake Nill and Kevin Steele. His career has included stops at elite Division I, Division II, CIS and NJCAA football programs around the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. As a collegiate player and coach he has been a part of 3 National Championships, 6 Conference Titles, and 13 Bowl Games.

James Colzie III became Saint Mary’s 8th Head Football Coach on February 17th, 2016.

Colzie left the UBC Thunderbird as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach in 2016. In 2015 Colzie led UBC to its first Vanier Cup since 1997. The UBC defense was ranked 2nd in the Canada West Conference in rushing defense, pass defense, scoring defense, and 2nd down conversions. UBC’s defense held #1 Calgary, #2 Montreal, #3 Laval, and #8 Manitoba to at least 21 points below their yearly average.

In Colzie’s lone season at Coffeyville he coached 2nd Team All-American Cornerback Jamarcus King, three 1st Team All Jayhawk selections at both Cornerback positions in Jalen Roundtree, King and Punt Returner Darnell Walker Jr. He coached 2nd Team All-Conference Safety Mikal Cromartie, and two Honorable selections in Safety Devonte Foster and Placekicker Michael Pursley. The defense at Coffeyville finished 1st in the Nation with 7 interceptions for touchdowns, and 1st in the Nation with 10 total defensive touchdowns, and 3rd down percentage (22%). Coffeyville also led the Jayhawk Conference in interceptions (19) and pass yards per game (180). Also, Coach Colzie led the Special Teams to the most Special Teams touchdowns in the country with 6. Since 2007, Colzie’s Special Teams have scored 30 touchdowns.

Colzie enjoyed success during the 2013 season when at Simon Fraser University. There he took over a defense that had finished dead last in all major conference defensive categories during the 2012 season and under his defense that finished 2nd in Pass Defense, 2nd in Opponents 1st down, 3rd in third down and fourth down conversions. As the Special Teams Coordinator his unit finished 1st “nationally” in Punt Returns, and 2nd in the conference in Kick-off Returns. Colzie had 3 1st team All-Conference players and an All-Region player. Also, during the 2012 season Coach Colzie was granted the opportunity to work as a CFL defensive guest coach with the Toronto Argonauts who went on to win the 2013 Grey Cup and worked alongside current Edmonton Eskimos Head Coach Chris Jones and current Hamilton Tiger-Cats Defensive Coordinator Orlando Steinauer.

From 2007 to 2012, Colzie had success in multiple Division II football programs where he coached 6 All-Americans and had 10 All-Conference players. Three of those years, his Special Teams were 1st in the nation in Punt Return yards and touchdowns. In 2012 Colzie was the Recruiting Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and Defensive Backs Coach at Southern Arkansas where he coached All-American Don Unamba at Cornerback. From 2008 to 2011, Colzie coached at the University of West Georgia as an Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator, and Defensive Backs Coach while developing 9 All Gulf-South Conference Players and had 1 All-American at Punt Returner in 2012. In 2007, Coach Colzie was the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Valdosta State University while the team won the Division II National Championship. That same year the defense led the nation in interceptions and his Special Teams led the nation in touchdowns. During that year Colzie had 2 All-Americans and 3 All-Conference selections. Also, during the 2010 season Coach Colzie was granted the Bill Walsh Minority Internship with the Kansas City Chiefs and worked with Romeo Crennel and Hall-of-Fame Coach Emmitt Thomas.

During the 2004-2006 seasons, Coach Colzie worked as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at Florida State. where he coached the cornerbacks that included 1st Round Picks Antonio Cromartie (2006), Patrick Robinson (2010), and 2nd Round Pick Bryant McFadden (2005). During those seasons, Colzie had a 1st team All-ACC cornerback every year of his campaign.

James Colzie III began his coaching career in 2000 at Florida International University coaching the cornerbacks and was the Co-Special Team’s Coordinator working with returners. Before Florida International, in his playing days, he enjoyed the success of being a two-sport athlete at Florida State University. He played four seasons on the FSU football team and started his junior and senior years at corner. James Colzie III earned All-Conference as a senior and helped win the 1993 National Championship. He was also a one-year contributor on the 1994 FSU baseball team playing outfield. His athletic bloodlines run deep. His father, James Jr., is in the Florida High School Athletics Association Hall of Fame and uncle, Neil Colzie, is in the Ohio State University football Hall of Fame and had an 11 year NFL career with the Raiders (1st round pick), Dolphins, and the Bucs.