On January 3, 2017, Bryant University hired of James Perry as the 3rd head coach of the Bulldog football program.

Bryant made the playoffs in its 8th season as a team, hosting the first-round game against West Chester University.

With the move to Division I, Bryant would have the ability to offer scholarships to its football players for the first time in program history.

On March 29, 2022, Bryant announced it would leave the NEC to join the America East Conference, which does not sponsor football.

Being an assistant head coach at Iowa State University, he brought the drive and expectations of a Division I program with him.

During his four-year tenure, he became the all-time leader in wins for Bryant football and has turned the program around and brought in great recruiting classes.

On January 3, 2017 Bryant University president Ronald K. Machtley and director of athletics Bill Smith announced the hiring of James Perry as the next head coach of the Bulldog football program.

An outstanding quarterback during his playing days, Perry has instilled an offensive mentality of "Fast and Physical" football to each of his coaching stops.

A 2000 graduate of Brown University, Perry is no stranger to the Ocean State, spending three years at his alma mater as an offensive assistant before joining the Princeton staff in 2010.

As a quarterback at Brown, Perry led the Bears to the 1999 Ivy League Championship, finishing the season with 3,255 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.

In addition to his numerous accolades, Perry set virtually every school and Ivy League passing record during his playing career.

On December 3, 2018, it was announced that Perry had accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater Brown University.

Merritt spent the past 18 years as the head coach at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida.

In addition, Merritt's program has produced over 100 collegiate football players in 18 seasons at the helm of Christopher Columbus.