The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Wednesday that former Rio Grande Valley Vipers assistant coach Jai Steadman, who helped coach the Vipers to the 2010 NBA Development League Championship, is now an assistant coach for the Broncs men’s basketball team.
Steadman spent three seasons with the Houston Rockets’ NBA D-League affiliate, from 2009-12, not only helping the Vipers to their first championship, but a runner-up finish in 2011 as well. He was also an assistant coach for the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game, and the NBA D-League Select team during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. His coaching responsibilities included on-floor coaching, individual player development, scouting all upcoming opponents and personnel, and serving as a liaison to the Rockets regarding player development. Additionally, Steadman ran most of the Vipers’ youth camps and clinics and was an integral part of the Vipers’ community engagement efforts.
Steadman departed the Vipers to become an assistant coach at Bellevue University in 2012-13, where he helped to lead the team to a conference championship and a berth in the NAIA Sweet 16. He spent last season as the head coach at Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Ariz.
"We are happy to have Jai join our staff. He is a veteran coach and teacher with a wide range of experiences and philosophies enabling him to assist in many areas of our program. He has been an integral part of success at all his stops while developing recruiting ties in a number of regions," Hipsher said. "Jai has a home here in the Valley stemming from his time with the Vipers and he and his family are excited to return. Jai is a great fit and will be able to hit the ground running, which really helps with the season beginning shortly."
The Lincoln, Neb.-native graduated from the University of Nebraska, where he began his coaching career as an administrative assistant from 1992-through-1997. While he was there, Nebraska won the 1995 National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and the 1994 Big 8 Tournament while going to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1993 and 1994, and making an additional NIT appearance in 1996.
After working for three seasons as an assistant coach at Tyler Junior College, Steadman returned to the NCAA Division I level as an assistant coach at TCU in 2002-03, where he helped to produce the No. 32 ranked recruiting class in the nation.
Steadman spent the next two seasons in professional basketball, first as the head coach of Rander Cimbria in Denmark, where he led the team to their first playoff appearance, and then as an assistant coach with the Michigan Mayhem of the Continental Basketball Association.
Steadman returned to college basketball in 2004-05 as an assistant coach at McNeese State before joining the staff at North Texas the following season. At each stop, Steadman was the recruiting coordinator, helping to produce the No. 64 and No. 29 ranked recruiting classes in the nation, respectively.
Following a stint as an assistant coach with the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA D-League in 2006-07, Steadman became an assistant coach at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2007-09. While there, he helped to bring in the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference.
"I want to thank Coach Hipsher for hiring me. It is an honor and privilege to become a member of Bronc Country," Steadman said. "Returning home to the Valley means the world to me and my family. There are so many wonderful people here that I met during my time with the Vipers. I can’t wait to get started and help Coach Hipsher get the Broncs get atop the WAC and become champions both on and off the court."
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