About Coach Richard James | Brooklyn Speed and Power
Brooklyn Speed and Power · Meet the Coach

Coach
Richard James.

2004 Olympian. World Indoor Champion. Master of Exercise Physiology. And the man behind every Brooklyn Speed and Power session.
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2004
Olympian — Athens, Greece
1x
World Indoor Champion
4
Olympians Produced at LIU
25+
NEC Championship Teams
M.S.
Exercise Physiology, LIU Brooklyn
Coach Richard James — 2004 Olympian and Founder of Brooklyn Speed and Power

Photo credit: Ashley Barker

The Coach

From the Track to Brooklyn.

Few coaches possess the athletic credentials of the Jamaican-born Richard James. An All-American runner at Southwestern Christian College and LIU Brooklyn, he competed with Jamaica's 2004 Olympic 4x400 relay team and won the World Indoor Championship in the mile relay that same year — training alongside 11-time world champion Usain Bolt.

After earning his Master's in Exercise Physiology from LIU Brooklyn in 2007, Richard became the university's Sports Performance Director and adjunct Sports Science professor, where he helped develop four Division I Olympians and led more than 25 Northeast Conference championship teams across basketball, volleyball, and track and field.

In 2018, James joined Poly Prep Country Day School as their Director of High Performance, developing what he describes as a "college model" training program for student-athletes. That same dedication and rigor drives every session at Brooklyn Speed and Power.

"We hold high standards here, not because we're hard on kids, but because we believe in what they're capable of."
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Career Highlights

A record built at the highest levels of track and field — internationally and in the college weight room.

2004
World Indoor Champion
Won the IAAF World Indoor Championship in the 4x400m mile relay for Team Jamaica in Budapest, recording a world-leading 3:05.21.
2004
2004 Olympian — Athens, Greece
Represented Jamaica in the 4x400m relay at the Athens Summer Olympics, training alongside Usain Bolt and the Jamaican national squad.
2003
NCAA All-American
LIU Brooklyn's first male All-American in the 400m dash at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
2007–2018
LIU Brooklyn Sports Performance Director
Led Division I strength and conditioning at LIU, producing 4 Olympians and over 25 NEC championship teams across multiple sports.
2018–Present
Director of High Performance, Poly Prep
Heads the sports performance program at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, implementing a college-model training framework for student-athletes.
2022–Present
Founder, Brooklyn Speed and Power
Launched BSP to bring Olympic-level athletic development to youth athletes across Brooklyn and the NYC metro area.
The Approach

Coaching Built on Principles of Motion

1
Evidence-Based Training
Every drill and program is grounded in exercise physiology and sports science — not guesswork. Coach James applies the same methodology used at the Olympic level.
2
Athlete-Centered Development
Training is tailored to each athlete's age, sport, and development stage. The goal is long-term performance — not short-term results at the expense of injury.
3
Speed as a Skill
Speed is teachable. Coach James breaks down the mechanics of acceleration, top-end velocity, and change of direction so athletes can systematically get faster.
4
Nurturing but Demanding
High standards in a supportive environment. Athletes are pushed past their perceived limits within a culture that prioritizes growth, respect, and accountability.
"Speed is not a gift, it's a skill. Every athlete can get faster. My job is to show them how." — Coach Richard James, Olympian & Co-Founder, Brooklyn Speed and Power
What Athletes Get

Olympic-Level Coaching.
Youth-Focused Results.

Coach James brings the same evidence-based rigor he applied at the Division I level to every Brooklyn Speed and Power session.

⚡
Measurable Speed Gains
Athletes see real, trackable improvements in sprint times, acceleration, and top-end velocity through systematic mechanical coaching.
🛡️
Injury Prevention
Training protocols are designed to build resilient, injury-resistant bodies — reducing the risk that sidelines young athletes during critical development years.
🏀
Multi-Sport Transfer
Speed, agility, and power development transfers directly to basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, and every sport that rewards athleticism.
🧠
Athletic IQ
Athletes learn the why behind the work — building body awareness, movement literacy, and the mental tools to self-correct and improve independently.
💪
Functional Strength
Age-appropriate strength training builds explosive power and stability without sacrificing mobility or creating imbalances common in youth programs.
🎯
Recruitment Readiness
Athletes who train consistently develop the physical profile and competitive mindset that college coaches look for in high school recruits.
Zero Risk

Train With an Olympian.
First Session Free.

Experience a full Brooklyn Speed and Power session coached by Richard James. See the difference that Olympic-level instruction makes.

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Valid for new athletes only. Open enrollment year-round.

Run Right. Run Fast.
Run Long.

We apply evidence-based Olympic-level training strategies in a nurturing environment to help young athletes effectively increase their performance, well-being, and minimize injury risk.

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