Northern Illinois University men’s basketball head coach Rashon Burno announced the addition of Shane Southwell to the Huskie staff as associate head coach. Southwell comes to NIU following two seasons as an assistant coach at Kansas State.
“I am extremely excited to welcome Shane to DeKalb,” said Burno. “He is an up-and-coming star in this business and will bring a tremendous amount of experience as both a player and coach to our staff. Shane has experienced playing and coaching at the highest levels and even represented our country as a member of USA Basketball in 2019. Shane will also be able to provide an instant impact for our program on the recruiting trail.”
In 2021-22, Southwell helped mentor three All-Big 12 honorees, including Nijel Pack, who was named to the all-conference first team and selected as the league’s Most Improved Player.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to work alongside a well-respected and connected figure in the profession,” said Southwell. “Coach Burno is extremely passionate and driven in his vision for NIU Basketball, I’m ecstatic to be joining Huskie Nation!”
The last two seasons at Kansas State marked Southwell’s second stint on the Wildcat staff, he was previously a graduate assistant for two years from 2017-19. During that time, Kansas State made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight during the 2017-18 season while winning 25 games. The following season, the Wildcats were the regular season champions of the Big 12, again posting 25 victories, including a 14-4 league mark.
Southwell then joined the staff at Robert Morris as an assistant coach in 2019-20, where he helped the Colonials to a 20-win season. Robert Morris won both the regular season and tournament titles in the Northeast Conference, claiming the conference tournament crown before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season. Southwell coached a pair of All-NEC honorees, Josh Williams and A.J. Bramah, as well as conference tournament MVP Dante Treacy.
Prior to joining the Robert Morris staff, Southwell was part of the USA Basketball staff for the 2019 U19 World Cup, helping Team USA win a gold medal. Southwell served as video coordinator on the staff of head coach Bruce Weber’s team that posted a perfect 7-0 record.
As a player, the Harlem, N.Y., native spent four seasons playing for Weber at Kansas State (2010-14), helping the Wildcats earn four NCAA Tournament bids as well as the program’s first Big 12 regular season crown in 2012-13. Southwell’s 92 wins as a player is tied for the ninth-most in Kansas State history and he is one of just eight Wildcats to reach the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons as a player.
A 2013 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, Southwell appeared in 126 career games at Kansas State, making 68 starts. Following his collegiate career, Southwell played three seasons professionally around the world, including Mexico, Australia and Switzerland.
Southwell earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State in communications studies in 2014 and a master’s in college student personnel and intercollegiate athletics from Kansas State in 2019.
