James A. Usilton Sr. (June 10, 1895 â March 13, 1939) was an American college basketball coach at Temple University between 1926âÂÂ27 and 1938âÂÂ39. He won 205 games as the Owls' coach, including one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) during the 1937âÂÂ38 season. That Temple squad won the first-ever NIT. His 1937âÂÂ38 team was also retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and was retroactively listed as the top team of the season by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. His 1935âÂÂ36 team reached the finals of the 1936 Olympic Trials.