Born in Colorado Springs and raised in southeastern Colorado, James Waddles grew up in the small town of La Junta, Colorado. He graduated from high school in 2019, where he excelled in football, winning two state championships, and earned a state placement in track and field.
After graduating high school, James chose to attend Adams State University to play football while pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports and Exercise Science. After three years as a football student-athlete, he decided to become a dual-sport athlete by joining the Adams State University track and field team as a thrower. Following the 2022 season, Waddles made the decision to focus solely on track and field, concluding his football career. Upon graduating from Adams State University in 2024 with an Associate of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports and Exercise Studies, he accepted the role of Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach in the fall of 2024.
During the 2024–2025 athletic year, Waddles worked with multiple teams, including Men's Wrestling, Women's Wrestling, Men's Lacrosse, Cross Country, Women's Soccer, and Football. He contributed to the development of six men's wrestling national tournament qualifiers, three regional champions, four All-Americans, and four national placers. He also worked with 10 Cross Country All-Americans during the season.
