James’ playing background involves growing up in SE Calgary playing Minor Hockey with Lake Bonavista & Calgary Buffaloes where he went on to play NCAA hockey at Lake Forest College in Illinois.  After graduating college, James moved back to Calgary & immediately got into coaching with his old association the Calgary Buffaloes.  From 2007 onwards, James has been Head Coach at the Midget AAA (U18 AAA) or Junior A level (Calgary Buffaloes AMHL 2007-2010, Okotoks Oilers AJHL 2010-2016, Calgary Canucks AJHL 2016-2017, Edge School U18 Prep CSSHL (2017-2024).  Every season, Coach Poole’s teams have had winning records (467-204-68) & contended for Championships including winning the AMHL Midget AAA Provincial & Pacific Regional Championships (2008 & 2009), Mac’s Midget Championships (2009) and U18 Prep CSSHL Championship (2023 & 2024).  In addition, Coach Poole has been recognized many times as finalist for Coach of the Year awards in the AMHL & AJHL including winning the 2010 AEHL Coach of the Year & 2009 Mac’s Midget Outstanding Coach.   More importantly, James has developed hundreds of players from his teams to the WHL, NCAA, AHL & NHL. 

From 2006 to 2010 James worked for National Sports Development as Director of Hockey Development as lead instructor working with Timbits to NHL players.  In recent years, Coach Poole has worked with Hockey Alberta in the Team Alberta program on the U16 coaching staffs that competed at WHL Cups & Canada Winter Games including the Team Alberta Head Coach in 2023 WHL Cup (Silver).