James Day, a native of Alachua, Florida, has been a leading figure in high school track and field for over three decades, setting the gold standard of excellence across the state. As the legendary head coach at William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville from 1965 to 1997, Coach Day built the Vikings into a powerhouse, mentoring generations of student-athletes and leading them to championships, scholarships, and lifelong success.

Under his leadership, Raines compiled an outstanding record of 612 wins, 82 losses, and nine  ties, capturing two state championships, six state runner-up finishes, 37 regional titles, and 36 district championships.

Coach Day was also the driving force behind the Bob Hayes Invitational Track and Field Meet, which he began leading in 1967. Through his vision and leadership, the event grew into the nation’s largest single-day high school track meet, attracting top talent from across the southeastern United States. He also introduced a middle school division in 1996 and developed the event into a training ground and clinic for young athletes. Even after retiring in 1997, he continued serving as Meet Director, overseeing an event that welcomed over 215 schools, 4,500 athletes, and 300 volunteers annually.

Beyond coaching, Day served as Athletic Director at Raines for 20 years. His accolades include being named Track Coach of the Year ten times by local newspapers, Coach of the Year by the Jacksonville Track Club (1976), and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) (1976). He received a Life Membership Award from FACA in 1980, became its first African American President in 1989, and was honored as the National High School Track Coach of the Year the same year.

Coach Day was inducted into the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1985, the Florida Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987, the Raines High School Boosters Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, the Bob Hayes Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2002 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015.

In 2011, Raines High School named its athletic field house in his honor: the James (Coach) Day Field House. Coach Day passed away on February 26, 22, at the age of 89, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership, mentorship, and athletic excellence.