James Jurries

Height:
6-0
Weight:
195
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Lake Jackson, Texas
High School:
Brazoswood HS

E-mail Coach Jurries

James Jurries rejoined the Tulane baseball program as an assistant coach in 2011 and enters his second season as the outfielders and assistant hitting coach. He also continues to work with the programs base runners and will act as the first base coach on game days. In his first season back in the Olive and Blue, Jurries was able to help the Green Wave reach the Conference USA Tournament and capture 31 victories. Under his watch, Jeremy Schaffer was among the top offensive producers in Conference USA, ranking among the top-ten in seven categories. His outfielders produced 12 outfield assists and boasted a fielding percentage of .983. Jurries returned to the Uptown campus after playing five seasons in the Atlanta Braves organization, reaching the Triple A level, from 2002 until 2006 and had spent the last two seasons teaching and coaching at Brazoswood High School, his alma mater. Jurries had a stellar career for the Green Wave, completing his four years on campus by becoming the first player in Tulane history (any sport) to earn All-American and Academic All-American honors in the same season. Jurries completed his career at Tulane with more than just his Bachelor[apos]s degree in business, he still ranks among the top-ten in school history in 27 categories and is tied for the career lead in runs scored (284). He played in 239 career games and helped the Olive and Blue to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Regional, along with the 2001 NCAA Super Regional and College World Series. In his first season at Tulane, Jurries earned Freshman All-American and All-American honors from a number of publications and was named the National Freshman of the Year by Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball and College Baseball Insider. He was the first player in school history to earn the Freshman of the Year honor, starting all 65 games at second base and leading the team in hits (104), runs scored (90), doubles (22), triples (4) and total bases (194). That season he earned First Team All-Conference USA honors, Conference USA Freshman of the Year accolades and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman squad. Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Magazine, College Baseball Insider, Baseball Weekly and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association all tabbed Jurries as an All-American. His freshman season saw him set a pair of single season records that still stand. The right-handed hitter scored 90 runs and churned out 194 total bases, while also being a part of a triple play. As a sophomore, Jurries once again led the squad in runs scored (69) and repeated as a First Team All-Conference USA performer. That season, Jurries boasted a .338 batting average in 61 games played, while posting 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 51 RBI[apos]s. He walked a team-best 51 times and owned a .465 on-base percentage while stealing 17 bases. His junior season was one to remember for the Tulane faithful as he helped guide the Green Wave to their first ever appearance in the College World Series. That season, Jurries played in 50 games - missing 19 contests due to an injured wrist - and batted .324 with ten home runs and 53 RBI[apos]s. He again earned All-Conference USA First Team honors and helped the Olive and Blue to the Conference USA Regular Season and Tournament titles. His senior season was his finest season at Tulane, becoming the first player since 1985 to post a batting average of .400 or better and earning the Conference USA Player of the Year honor. That season, he posted twenty home runs, stole 30 bases and drove in 74 runs to repeat as a First Team All-Conference honoree. Jurries churned out 96 hits and batted an even .400 on the season. Forty of those hits went for extra bases, accounting for a .750 slugging percentage, and he walked 43 times to own a .493 on-base percentage. The honors for his senior season would once again stand alone in Tulane laurels, earning All-American honors from Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Magazine and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was named the NCBWA District VII Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Louisiana honors before being drafted in the 6th Round by the Atlanta Braves. Jurries spent the next five seasons as a member of the Braves organization, with his final season coming in 2006 with the Triple-A Richmond Braves. Jurries ascended through the minor league ranks quickly and reached the Triple-A level in just his third season of professional baseball. He carried a career batting average of .269, smacked 69 home runs, posted 101 doubles and drove in 257 RBI[apos]s in 496 career games played. Jurries was named the Greenville Braves (AA) Player of the Year in 2003 and again earned that honor with the Richmond Braves (AAA) in 2005. While at Brazoswood, Jurries helped the squad reach the regional semifinals in 2010 and the regional finals in 2009. The Bucs had a pair of players earn All-State honors during his time with the program and the team started the 2009 season ranked 42nd nationally by Perfect Game USA. In two seasons the Bucs posted a 62-14 overall mark, with a 33-8 record in 2010 and a 29-6 mark in 2009. Jurries is married to the former Kim Murrell.