R.J. Allen has been promoted to associate head coach of the Newman men’s basketball team, head men’s basketball coach Mark Potter announced.
Allen enters his fifth season on the Newman staff and ninth at the NCAA Division II level. Allen will be involved with the day-to-day operations on and off the floor involving every aspect of the men’s basketball program.
“Coach Allen works so hard and he has helped our program make so much progress in his time here at Newman,” Potter said. “This is a great way to show the value he brings to the Newman men’s basketball program. He’s very deserving, and I have complete and total trust in him.”
The Jets went 15-11 this past season with two All-Heartland Conference selections and one All-Region selection. Junior Reggie Baker was named the Heartland Conference Newcomer of the Year.
In Allen’s second season, the Jets had their best season in NCAA Division II history, going 20-8, the most wins in NU’s NCAA Division II history. NU earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Jets were ranked in the NABC top 25 for the first time, moving as high as No. 14 in their five times appearing in the poll. NU knocked off No. 2 Washburn, 86-69, which is the highest-ranked opponent Newman has defeated all-time.
In Allen’s first season at NU, the Jets went 19-8 with a second place finish in the Heartland Conference.
“It’s a great opportunity, and I’m thankful to Coach Potter and Newman University for the opportunity,” Allen said. “I look forward to continuing to build one of the top NCAA Division II programs, and to teach young men the Newman University mission and core values.”
During Allen’s time at NU, he has coached eight All-Heartland Conference selections, two all-region selections, two Heartland Conference Newcomers of the Year, one Reese’s Division II College All-Star and one CoSIDA Academic All-District selection. The Jets have gone 62-45 over the four seasons with Allen on the bench.
Prior to Newman, Allen was an assistant at NCAA Davison II Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. Allen assisted in guiding the Bears to their first 20 win season in 2006-07 and their best finish in the NSIC. Allen was also responsible for recruiting and developing five NSIC All-Conference players at CU.
While in Minnesota, Allen coached at Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minn. for one season.
A Wichita native, Allen played basketball for his dad, Ron Allen, at Wichita East High School. Allen was a two-time All-City and All-State selection, as he led the Aces to a state championship in 2002. He then continued his playing career at Hutchinson Community College. In his second season, Allen was named team captain to a 2003-04 team that finished first in the Jayhawk Conference with a 30-3 record. After Hutch, Allen transferred to Concordia University where he was a two-year starter.
