James Roland Kitts (June 14, 1900 â December 13, 1952) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as head football coach at the University of Dallas from 1924 to 1925, Rice InstituteâÂÂnow known as Rice UniversityâÂÂfrom 1934 to 1939, and at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI)âÂÂnow known as Virginia TechâÂÂin 1941 and from 1946 to 1947. Kitts was also the head basketball coach at Rice from 1932 to 1938, tallying a mark of 58âÂÂ56, and the head baseball coach at Dallas from 1924 to 1926 amassing a record of 26âÂÂ15. Kitts was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1956.
Kitts was hired as the head football coach at the University of Dallas in December 1923.
From 1934 to 1939, Kitts coached at Rice, and compiled a 33âÂÂ29âÂÂ4 record. His 1934 team went 9âÂÂ1âÂÂ1, however his 1939 team went 1âÂÂ9âÂÂ1.
Kitts died on December 13, 1952, in El Paso, Texas.