Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced a pair of promotions to his coaching staff as Jermaine Henderson has been elevated to assistant coach and former Wildcat Shane Southwell has been selected as the director of student-athlete development.
Henderson, who served as the director of student-athlete development the past two seasons (2017-19), has 20 years of experience as a Division I assistant coach at Miami [Ohio] (1997-2012), Missouri State (2012-15) and Cleveland State (2015-17). A four-year standout for the Wildcats from 2010-14, Southwell recently finished his second year as one of the program’s two graduate student managers.
“We are excited to promote Jermaine and Shane into these new roles,” said Weber. “They have both played a huge part in all the success we have had the past two seasons with back-to-back 25-win seasons and a Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. Continuity is always important especially when you have success and to get two individuals who know our system and the type of player that will help us be successful at K-State.”
Henderson returns to an on-the-court coaching role after serving the past two seasons as director of student-athlete development, where he was responsible for a variety of duties, including academic development, community service and Life Skills. In addition to helping the Wildcats to consecutive 25-win seasons, a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2018-19 Big 12 regular-season title, he has mentored six Academic All-Big 12 selections, including standouts Barry Brown, Jr. (2018), and Xavier Sneed (2018, 2019)
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Henderson has 20 years of experience as a Division I assistant coach, most recently at Cleveland State (2015-17) under head coach Gary Waters, who retired following the 2016-17 season. Prior to CSU, Henderson spent three seasons as an assistant coach under Paul Lusk at Missouri State (2012-15), where he coached alongside current Wildcat assistant coach Brad Korn.
“It’s been a blessing coming to K-State and it’s hard to put into words what this opportunity means to me,” said Henderson. “I’m thankful for the chance that Coach Weber gave me a couple of years ago to join this program and now the vote of confidence to be promoted to assistant coach. I’m looking forward to getting to work and contributing wherever I can to help push this program forward.”
Henderson was a mainstay in the Miami (Ohio) program for 19 years, including a 15-year stint as an assistant coach (1997-2012) after a standout four-year playing career (1993-97) for head coaches Herb Sendek and Charlie Coles.
During his tenure as a player and coach at Miami, Henderson was part of 329 wins and 10 postseason tournament teams, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament (1995, 1997, 1999, 2007) and a Sweet 16 appearance in 1999. In addition, the RedHawks played in the NIT four times (1994, 1996, 2005, 2006) and the CBI in 2008 and 2011. The team also won four Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season titles (1995, 1997, 1999, 2005) and two tournament championships (1997, 2007).
Henderson helped tutor a pair of All-Americans (Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Bramos), 33 All-MAC selections, including 11 first team picks, and two MAC Player of the Year (Szczerbiak, Bramos) during his time as an assistant (1997-2005) and associate head coach (2005-12) at Miami. The first Miami assistant to ever be promoted to associate head coach in 2005, he served in the position for seven seasons (2005-12), serving as interim head coach during a five-game stint (3-2) in 2008 while the late Charlie Coles dealt with health issues.
As a four-year letterman (1993-97), Henderson became one of just eight players in school history to participate in four postseason tournaments (1994 NIT, 1995 NCAA Tournament, 1996 NIT and 1997 NCAA Tournament). As a senior on Coles’ first Miami team in 1996-97, he helped the RedHawks advance to the NCAA Tournament after winning the MAC Championship. He averaged 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a co-captain his senior season. He was the inaugural recipient as well as a two-time honoree of the Jamie Mercurio Award, which is presented annually to the Miami player who best demonstrates courage and perseverance.
A two-time Street and Smith’s High School All-American, Henderson averaged 22.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists as a senior at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ohio. Born on December 19, 1974, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Miami in 1997.
“Jermaine brings not only many years of experience both in recruiting and coaching, but he also has great people skills,” said Weber. “He does an excellent job of communicating and relating to our players and their parents. He also bring great energy and enthusiasm on a daily basis.”
A native of Harlem, New York, Southwell has spent the past two seasons (2017-19) as a graduate student manager during which the Wildcats have posted consecutive 25-win campaigns for the first time in school history. K-State recorded its first 25-win season in five years and made its 12th trip to the Elite Eight in 2017-18 then followed it with another 25-win campaign and a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. His primary duties included the initial breakdown of video, the gathering of scouting information and coordinating film exchange.
In his position as the director of student-athlete development, Southwell will be responsible for a variety of areas, including basketball-related matters, handling special projects for the coaching staff and assisting with community service projects and the Life Skills program. He will also be involved in student-athlete academic development as well as career planning and goal setting.
“I’m obviously blessed for the opportunity to continue my coaching career at my alma mater,” said Southwell. “It has been a rewarding experience the past two years as a graduate assistant and I’m exciting about taking this next step as the director of student-athlete development and helping our players off the court.”
A four-year standout from 2010-14, Southwell helped the Wildcats advance to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and capture the school’s first-ever Big 12 Championship in 2012-13. He finished his career with 92 wins, which ties him for ninth all-time in school history. A 2013 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, he started 26 of 33 games for the Big 12 champions, averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game as a junior. He finished his career ranking in the Top 10 in three categories in school history and currently ranks just outside the career Top 10 in games played (126) and assists (271).
Southwell is one of just six players in school history to be part of conference championship teams as both a player (2012-13) and as a member of the coaching staff (2018-19), joining the likes of Ernie Barrett, Bill Guthridge, Lon Kruger, Howard Shannon and Darryl Winston.
A member of the Rivals150 as a high school senior at famed Rice High School in New York City, Southwell helped the Raiders to 21-6 overall record and a final No. 4 ranking in the city by the New York Post in 2009-10. He guided Rice to 46 wins as a junior and senior, including the 2009 Class AA State Championship.
Upon his graduation from K-State, Southwell played professionally in Mexico, Australia and Switzerland. Most recently, he played for Winterthur in the Swiss LNA in 2017, averaging 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Born February 12, 1992, he earned his bachelor’s degree in communications studies in 2014, while he will earn a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel and Intercollegiate Athletics later today (May 17).
“As a player, you knew that Shane had the potential to be an excellent coach,” said Weber. “He had a great feel and IQ for the game of basketball. He did an excellent job as a graduate assistant relating to our players and learning the game. There is no doubt that he is a true student of the game of basketball. It is always good to have a former player on your staff who not only can relate to the current players, but also has a special pride for Kansas State and our basketball program.”
Kansas State Basketball Staff Update
