James Lytal enters his second season as an assistant football coach at Illinois College. He is the father of offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator Wade Lytal. He works primarily with quarterbacks.

James Lytal earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. He is self-employed as an energy consultant.

Lytal and wife, Mary Beth, reside in Houston, Texas. They have three sons: Wade, Aaron and Mason.