Washington’s James retiring from administration

CEDAR RAPIDS — Paul James looks forward to some time with his wife, some time on his bike.

'I'm eager to get out and get some exercise,' he said Wednesday, announcing his retirement as athletics director at Cedar Rapids Washington, effective June 30.

'With this job, sometimes it's hard to get out and do something for yourself. All the work nights throughout the week ... I'm ready to move on to some other things.'

James, 61, has been a member of the Washington faculty for the past 40 years. He began his career at Washington in 1976 as a math teacher and assistant football coach.

Since then, he spent 22 years in the math department, eight years teaching driver's education, and the last 10 as associate principal/activities director.

'No one has had a bigger positive impact on the Washington High School community during the past 40 years than Paul James,' Washington principal Ralph Plagman said in a release. 'His contributions have been enormous.'

James hopes to coach football in the fall, but as part of the IPERS retirement plan, he must resign from the position, reapply and go through the hiring process.

'I hope to do some coaching next year,' James said.

Karen James, Paul's wife of 42 years, will be retiring from the Cedar Rapids Community School District on March 31, 2016; she is a food and nutrition secretary.

James was an assistant football coach for 19 years, assistant girls' track coach for nine years, assistant boys' basketball coach for one year, head girls' track coach for two years, head girls' basketball coach for 24 years and head football coach for 14 years. As head coach, he coached two state championship and one runner-up girls' basketball teams and two state runner-up football teams.

Mike Johnson, currently an associate principal at Washington, will succeed James as AD. Johnson has been a faculty member at Washington for the past 26 years, the last 21 as associate principal. Before coming to Washington, he was a teacher and coach in Iowa and Texas.

'Paul James leaves big shoes to fill, but Mike Johnson is the perfect fit to replace him,' Plagman said.

James said he plans to remain active in the Iowa High School Athletics Directors Association. He also intends to remain on the executive board as an historian.