James E. Lance (April 21, 1931 – February 25, 2016) was an American football coach.

He was the 16th head football coach at Kansas State Teachers College—now known as Emporia State University—in Emporia, Kansas, serving for two seasons, from 1969 to 1970, and compiling a record of record of 7–11.

After serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War, Lance graduated from Murray State University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science.

Lance died on February 25, 2016, after suffering from Parkinson's disease.

This biographical article relating to a college football coach first appointed in the 1960s is a stub.