Passion and Hardwork: What Winning Means To This Head Coach
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During the 2025-26 season, Rutgers-Camden’s Head Coach, James Boney, reflects on his potential first winning record as the Women’s Basketball head coach. The chance to finish off the season with a 13-12 overall record, the third-best record in program history, last seen in the 2011-12 season.
Coach Boney entered the season with a winner’s mindset as he was on the cusp of making Rutgers history by tying the record of most wins in a single season in Women’s Basketball, with fifteen. A record that was accomplished in both the 2015-16 and 2018-19 seasons.
When asked about the potential record-tying achievement, the fourth-year head coach had this to say, “I’m a in the moment kind of coach. I always tell my kids, ‘Whatever game is the next game or tonight’s game, that’s the biggest game, and then once that game is over, it’s just another game.’”
Evidently, his mentality was shown throughout the season when the Scarlet Raptors held two out of three winning records in the past three months. They held a 4-3 record in November, a 2-2 record in December, and a 5-4 record in January. Adding up to an 11-9 overall record with five games left in the season.
However, February has not been fortunate enough to warrant a program tying record as the team dropped to a 1-3 record so far. The team now holds a 12-12 overall record as they look to win one last game of the season.
Compared to Coach Boney’s first three seasons, he has found more success this season. His wins since becoming Head Coach started from four wins in his first season, to one win in his second season, to nine wins in his third season, and now twelve wins as of this season.
Now, while the record itself is not something that he dwells on. The record is proof of his commitment to winning every game of the season with his players. When asked about his newfound success this season as compared to before he shared, “My goal when I got here is to build a successful program, and we talk in business terms, not just pro. Build a successful business. So nothing has changed from what I’ve done.”
Looking back on his coaching career, how exactly did he get to that point? Coach Boney credits many people for his initial success. Starting with giving his parents crucial respect and admiration for who he is today.
On the other hand, according to Coach Boney, approximately 40% of his coaching style he attributes to coaches he has worked alongside and against during his tenure at Kean, St. Peter’s, and Cumberland County College. Naming specifically Former Head Coaches Michele Sharp, Mike Tomlin, and Pat Summitt, to current Head Coaches Marc Mitchell and Dawn Staley.
For the rest of the percentages, Coach Boney says, “If we could break it down in percentage, I’m probably 60% Jamie Hoffman.” Coach Boney credits the majority of his coaching ability and successful program-building skills to former Head Coach Jaime Hoffman at his alma mater, Montclair State.
Coach Boney skillset will be put to the test as the team competes to qualify for the upcoming 2025-26 NJAC tournament. A final win over NJCU, on February 18th, will push the roster to a 13-12 overall record and a 10-8 conference record. That kind of record could give the Scarlet Raptors legitimacy as a contender in the NJAC tournament.
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