James Kubiak (born May 12, 1972) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player and coach. He is currently the director of the WNY Quarterback Academy, and he was most recently the head football coach at Hilbert College for their first season in 2022. Kubiak was the director of football operations and

offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator (OC) is a Coach (sport), coach responsible for a gridiron football team's offense (American football), offense. Generally, the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator represent the second ...

for the

Georgia Force The Georgia Force was an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States (part of suburban Atlanta) that played in the South Division of the American Conference. The team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn ...

of the

Arena Football League The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...

(AFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Navy Midshipmen The Navy Midshipmen are the athletic teams that represent the United States Naval Academy. The academy sponsors 36 varsity sports teams and 12 club sport teams.Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

, Barcelona Dragons,

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

, Buffalo Destroyers,

Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional arena football team based in Dallas, Texas. They played in the Eastern Division of the Arena Football League from to . The franchise began as an expansion team and posted a winning record in all but o ...

Detroit Fury The Detroit Fury were an arena football team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were a member of the original Arena Football League from 2001 to 2004 and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The ...

, and Georgia Force.

College career

After a successful prep career at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, New York, Kubiak attended the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

, where he was a four-year

letterman Letterman may refer to: * Letterman (sports), a classification of high school or college athlete in the United States People * David Letterman (born 1947), American television talk show host ** ''Late Night with David Letterman'', talk show that ...

and three-year starter. In 1991, Kubiak started the season on the JV team and earned a spot on the Midshipmen's final roster. He earned the starting job in the fifth week of the season and finished the season 93-of-154 for 957 yards, two

touchdown A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Scoring a touchdown grants the team that scored it 6 points. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchd ...

s and 11

interception In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...

s, having led the Midshipmen to their sole victory of the season over archrival Army. In 1992, he passed for 35 yards, completing 6-of-15 passes before dislocating his

shoulder The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder m ...

in the season opener against

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. As a result, he underwent season-ending surgery. In 1993, as a junior, he returned to set school records for passing yards (2,628), attempts (401) and completions (248), while throwing 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. In his career, Kubiak set 22 school records and left as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (6,008) and pass completions (558), while throwing 23 touchdowns.

Professional career

National Football League (1996–2000, 2003)

Kubiak signed with the

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

as an

undrafted In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

rookie A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year). In contrast with a veteran who has experience, a rookie is typically considered needing more tra ...

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

. He was also on active military duty during the season. He was then out of football in

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

. In

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, he signed with the

, where he went to

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

but missed the season to fulfill his naval commitment. He was then re-signed by the Colts in

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, and was then allocated to the Barcelona Dragons of

NFL Europe NFL Europe League (simply called NFL Europe and known in its final season as NFL Europa) was a professional American football league that functioned as the List of developmental and minor sports leagues, developmental minor league of the Nati ...

. In December

, he signed with the

, he was then allocated to the

Amsterdam Admirals The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, playing in the NFL Europe. History The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, t ...

of NFL Europe. He finished the season 76-of-129 for 817 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was then released by the Jets following training camp. In

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

, he attended training camp with the Colts, however, he was released after camp.

Arena Football League (2001–2005)

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, Kubiak signed with the Buffalo Destroyers of the

. As a rookie in AFL. Kubiak finished the season 295-of-484 for 3,787 yards, 64 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His attempts, completions and yardage totals all set new league rookie records. In his debut on the road against the Toronto Phantoms, he completed 29-of-38 passes for a season-high 365 yards and six touchdowns. In his home debut against the New Jersey Gladiators, he was 20-of-35 for 253 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He also recorded his first rushing touchdown. In a game against the

Carolina Cobras The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was formed prior to the 2000 season, which endured a player strike. The team was originally based in Raleigh, North Carolina, but moved to Charlotte followin ...

, he threw a season-high seven touchdown passes. In

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

, he served as the back-up to

Quarterback The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...

Andy Kelly. Kubiak saw most of his playing time as a holder for

field goal A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. Consequently, ...

and extra point attempts. His only playing time with the offense occurred on the road against the

Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush were a professional arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. The team was founded in 2001 and played in the Arena Football League's Central Division. The Rush qualified for the playoffs in 11 of 12 AFL seasons, during w ...

when Kelly went down with a strained hip flexor early in the second quarter. Kubiak finished the overtime loss 29-of-38 for 264 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. In

, Kubiak joined the

. He also put together one of the best seasons in league history. He finished the season 388-of-557 for 4,762 yards, 97 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, all career-highs, while leading the top ranked offense in the league. His 4,762 passing yards and 69.7% completion percentage each league records. He had nine-of-16 games with a completion percentage of 70.0% or higher. For that seasons performance, he earned Second-team All-Arena honors. In

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, Kubiak signed with the

on February 6. However, he was placed on

Injured Reserve The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...

on February 9, after having surgery in January for a cervical disk herniation between the C-6 and C-7

vertebrae Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...

in the base of his

neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...

. In

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

he signed with the

, on the first day of the AFL's free agency signing period, where he rejoined former teammates and coaches from Dallas,

Offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator (OC) is a Coach (sport), coach responsible for a gridiron football team's offense (American football), offense. Generally, the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator represent the second ...

Steve Thonn, WR/ LB Dialleo Burks and WR/ DB Luke Leverson. However, Kubiak injured his

knee In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia (tibiofemoral joint), and one between the femur and patella (patellofemoral joint). It is the largest joint in the hu ...

during Week 5, and missed the rest of the season.

Coaching career

In 2005, Kubiak was hired as the quarterbacks coach for Erie Community College. He was also hired as the

Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia soul, sometimes called Philly soul, the Philadelphia sound, Phillysound, or The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP), is a genre of late 1960s–1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements. The ...

's offensive coordinator. In 2006, he was the Force's Director of Player Personnel, followed by becoming the team's Director of Football Operations in 2007. The following season, he became the team's offensive coordinator. Kubiak also served as color commentator for the

Buffalo Bulls football The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a membe ...

team, alongside play-by-play man Paul Peck, sideline reporter Scott Wilson and in-game host Brad Riter. On November 8, 2021, Kubiak was named the inaugural head football coach for the new football program established at Hilbert College.

Head coaching record

References

External links

Mansfield profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kubiak, Jim 1972 births Living people American football quarterbacks Amsterdam Admirals players Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe) players Buffalo Destroyers players Carolina Panthers players Erie Kats football coaches Hilbert Hawks football coaches Indianapolis Colts players Dallas Desperados players Detroit Fury players Georgia Force coaches Georgia Force players Mansfield Mounties football coaches Navy Midshipmen football players New York Jets players Philadelphia Soul coaches United States Navy officers Sportspeople from Hamburg, New York Players of American football from Erie County, New York Coaches of American football from New York (state)