James Madison Head Coach Preston Spradlin has announced the hire of Dionte Ferguson as the program’s new assistant coach/director of operations for the 2024-25 season.
Ferguson has previous ties to Spradlin’s program at Morehead State and joins the Dukes after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant at the University of Indianapolis.
“I am excited to add Dionte to our staff at JMU! He began his coaching career with us years ago at Morehead State and not only brings familiarity, but a wealth of valuable experience from the past four years,” Spradlin said. “His organization, demeanor and work ethic will serve our program and players well as we work to compete at a championship level!”
During his time in Indianapolis, Ferguson helped the Greyhounds to a 49-14 overall record, which included a 34-6 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, as the program claimed back-to-back GLVC regular-season titles. UIndy competed in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional as the top seed in both seasons, reaching the regional semifinals in the 2023-24 campaign.
He coached three players to a combined All-Grand Lakes Valley status, including Kendrick Tchoua, who was voted 2023 Player of the Year. He and Jesse Bingham were First Team All-GLVC honorees in each of his seasons with the program.
On the floor, he was the primary player development coach for forwards and centers. Additionally, Ferguson assisted with all on- and off-campus recruiting efforts and was the primary academics liaison.
Prior to UIndy, Ferguson was an assistant coach for two seasons at Tusculum (2020-22). He helped TU to a 33-14 record and 31-9 ledger in the South Atlantic Conference, recording consecutive SAC tournament appearances and one berth in the NCAA Division II Championship.
He aided Tusculum in ranking top 25 nationally in opponent field goal percentage, opponent three-point percentage, steals, blocks and offensive rebounds. The 2021-22 squad recorded 19 conference victories, setting a single-season program record, and the 2020-21 team reached the NABC Top 25 for the first time in 12 years. Two players earned All-SAC honors, including 2021 Player of the Year Trenton Gibson.
Ferguson began his coaching career with Spradlin at Morehead State, where he served as a graduate assistant coach (2018-20). He helped coach a pair of Ohio Valley Conference all-conference selections. While on Spradlin’s staff, Ferguson oversaw day-to-day operations, including scheduling, practices, weights and meetings. He also coordinated academic development initiatives and led summer camps and community service events.
Ferguson is no stranger to the Sun Belt Conference, having played his final three seasons at South Alabama (2012-15), where he was a 2015 Third Team All-Sun Belt selection. He also began his career at Morehead State (2010-12).
After USA, he spent two years playing overseas in Spain and the Philippines. In 2016, he was named to the All-EBA League second team while playing for Fundacion Lucentum, Agustinos Eras in Spain and was named the 2017 recipient of the MCBL Best Import Award with FEU-NRMF in the Philippines.
A native of Prattville, Ala., Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree in sport management from South Alabama in 2015 and his master’s degree in sport management from Morehead State in 2020.
Dionte Ferguson Coaching File:
- University of Indianapolis Assistant Coach – 2022-24
- Tusculum University Assistant Coach – 2020-22
- Morehead State Graduate Assistant – 2018-20
