Walla Walla High School Head Wrestling Coach:  1967-1969

Columbia River High School Head Wrestling Coach:  1969-1998

Columbia River High School and Middle School Volunteer Wrestling Coach:  1998 to present.

Born in Vancouver, Washington, James Chapman attended Fort Vancouver High School.  Chapman wrestled for Fort Vancouver High School for three years and was district champion, winning a match at state as a senior.  James continued his wrestling career at Western Washington College where he was a 4-year letterman on the wrestling team.  He was captain for his last 3 years and Evergreen Conference Champion in 1966 and 1967.  In 1967 Chapman earned All-American honors placing 3rd in the NAIA National Wrestling Championship. 

Chapman started his teaching and coaching journey in 1967 at Walla Walla High School where he taught Physical Education and was the Head Wrestling Coach.  In 1969 James moved to Columbia River High School in Vancouver as a Physical Education, Math, and Weight Training Instructor.  He also became the Head Wrestling Coach where, over the next 29 years, he had a dual meet record of 257 wins, 90 losses and 5 ties.  His teams won 10 Clark County Championships, 13 League Championships, including 8 District and 6 Regional Championships.  In 1986 his team won the State Wrestling Tournament.  Chapman coached 47 state placers including 9 state champions during his 31-year high school coaching career.  He was honored as the 3A Coach of the Year in 1997.

James also served as an assistant football coach for 6 years and Boys Tennis (27 years) and Girls Tennis (27 years) for a total of 91 seasons at Fort Vancouver High School.  After his retirement he continues to volunteer in the middle school and high school wrestling programs.

James Chapman has dedicated his life to education and inspiring young people through his career as a teacher and a coach.  Through his success in wrestling and because of his experience, James has continued to give to the sport as a mentor and a teacher.  Chapman was inducted into the Western Washington University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986; the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001; the Columbia River Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016; and received the TODAY Foundation Honor Award for Contributions to the students of the Greater St. Helens League in 2016.

James Chapman currently resides in Vancouver, Washington.  James and his wife Pamela (Deceased) have two adult daughters, Michelle and Nicole, and 4 grandchildren, Will, Eleanor (Ellie), Maile and Jackson.