James Lancaster became the Head Coach of the Aurora University men's basketball program for the 1994-1995 season. Prior to becoming the men's coach, Lancaster coached AU's women's program for four seasons.
During his tenure as the men's head coach, Lancaster has amassed a composite record of 404-188 (.682), which is the most wins in AU men's basketball history and the highest winning percentage of any Men's Basketball Coach at AU. He is a 10-time Conference Coach of the Year. Lancaster surpassed the 400 win plateau on January 30, 2016.
His Spartans won back-to-back titles in the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference twice: 1996-1997 and 1998-1999 and again in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. In the six of the first nine seasons in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Lancaster's Spartans have captured the men's basketball conference championships, while advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships five times.
He also led the men's program to their first ever NCAA Division III playoff appearance in 1998 and his team once again repeated that performance in 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. In 2005, AU hosted their first NCAA men's basketball tournament game. Lancaster was named NIIC "Coach of the Year" a total of five times, back-to-back twice in 1997-1998 and 1998-1999, and 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. In his first season as AU's men's head coach in 1994-95, he was tabbed as the NIIC's "Coach of the Year." That gave him the unusual distinction of winning that award back-to-back as women's coach in (1993-1994) and as a men's coach.
In addition to success in terms of won-lost records, Lancaster has built the Aurora program into one recognized for being competitive with an annually strong schedule, boasting top-flight opponents. One of the biggest highlights for the men's basketball team was a first round victory at Trinity (TX) University in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. AU dominated the former Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference under Lancaster, going 103-34 in the past 12 years, for a .752 winning percentage.
A 1986 graduate of Aurora University (with a bachelor's degree in physical education), Lancaster was an assistant coach for the AU men's team from 1986-90. Lancaster played two seasons for Aurora (1984-86). As a senior, he was named All Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference and AU's male "Athlete of the Year." Lancaster was also the Spartans' "MVP." Lancaster went on to earn his Master's Degree from Chicago State University in 1999.
Prior to attending Aurora, Lancaster attended Wabash Community College, where he played for one of the nation's top junior college programs. While at WCC, Lancaster was teammates with former NBA star Kenny Norman. Lancaster also enjoyed a stand-out prep career at Taylorville High School.
As head coach of AU's women's program, Lancaster was a composite 58-42, including a 32-8 record in the NIIC. During this time his teams had a pair of second-place finishes (1991 & 1992), and won back-to-back NIIC titles in 1993 and 1994. The 1993-94 team qualified for the NCAA post-season playoffs for the first time in the school's history. In 1997-98 they made the NCAA Tournament.
Lancaster and his wife, Michele, have four daughters, Baylee, Kelsey, Jenna and Delaney. In addition to his duties as men's basketball coach, Lancaster is also the Dean of Freshman Admission.
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AURORA UNIVERSITY COACHING RECORD - MEN'S BASKETBALL
| YEAR | OVERALL | CONFERENCE (Place) |
| 1994-1995 | 14-11 | 8-2 |
| 1995-1996 | 13-12 | 5-5 |
| 1996-1997 | 18-7 | 8-2 (1st) |
| 1997-1998 | 21-5* | 10-0 (1st) |
| 1998-1999 | 16-9 | 8-2 |
| 1999-2000 | 15-10 | 6-4 |
| 2000-2001 | 18-8* | 9-3 |
| 2001-2002 | 18-7 | 9-3 |
| 2002-2003 | 24-6* | 10-2 |
| 2003-2004 | 19-8 | 10-2 (1st) |
| 2004-2005 | 23-5* | 11-1 (1st) |
| 2005-2006 | 16-11 | 9-3 |
| 2006-2007 | 25-3* | 16-2 (1st) |
| 2007-2008 | 22-7* | 16-2 (1st) |
| 2008-2009 | 16-13* | 10-6 (1st) |
| 2009-2010 | 18-11* | 11-5 (1st) |
| 2010-2011 | 15-12 | 9-7 (6th) |
| 2011-2012 | 13-13 | 8-8 (7th) |
| 2012-2013 | 22-7* | 14-2 (1st) |
| 2013-2014 | 18-9 | 14-6 (4th) |
| 2014-2015 | 20-8 | 15-5 (1st) |
| 2015-2016 | 20-6 | 16-4 (2nd) |
| 22 Years | 404-188 (.682) | 232-76 (.753) |
*NCAA Appearance
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AURORA UNIVERSITY COACHING RECORD - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
| YEAR | OVERALL | CONFERENCE (Place) |
| 1990-1991 | 8-14 | 6-4 (2nd) |
| 1991-1992 | 12-14 | 8-2 (2nd) |
| 1992-1993 | 16-9 | 9-1 (1st) |
| 1993-1994 | 22-5* | 9-1 (1st) |
| 4 Years | 58-42 (.580) | 32-8 (.800) |
*NCAA Appearance
