Jai Steadman
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Team | Independence CC |
| Conference | KJCCC |
| Record | 0-0 |
| Biographical details | |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1999-2002 | Tyler JC |
| 2002-2003 | TCU (asst) |
| 2002-2003 | McNeese State (asst) |
| 2005-2006 | North Texas (asst) |
| 2006-2007 | Fort Worth Flyers |
| 2007-2009 | Louisiana-Lafayette (asst) |
| 2009-2012 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (asst) |
| 2012-2013 | Belleuve University (asst) |
| 2014-2021 | UTPA/UTRGV |
| 2021 | UTRGV (interim) |
| 2021-2022 | Maine (asst) |
| 2022 | Maine (interim) |
| 2022-2023 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (asst) |
| 2023-present | Independence Community College |
Jai Steadman is an American college basketball coach. He is the current coach of Independence Community College in Lawrence, Kansas, a position he has held since 2023.[1]
Early life
[edit]Jason Steadman was born in Geneva, Nebraska. He went to college at the University of Nebraska, where he was an administrative assistant.[2]
International career
[edit]After having coached Tyler Junior College and TCU in 2002, Steadman coached the Randers Cimbria in Denmark, where he went 8th in the Basketligaen, lost in the league semi finals, and coached all league second teamer Mark Collins.[3]
D-League stint
[edit]Fort Worth Flyers
[edit]In 2006, Steadman was named assistant coach for the Fort Worth Flyers. There, they made the D-League finals, but lost to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and coached future Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.[4]
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
[edit]In 2009, Steadman was named assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston Rockets D-League affiliate. That year, lead by D-League MVP Mike Harris, and D-League Coach of the Year Chris Finch, the Vipers won their first D-League championship off of a last-second buzzer-beater.[5] The next year, lead by All D-League first teamer Jeff Adrien, made it to the finals, but lost to the Iowa Energy.[6]
Steadman returned to the Vipers in 2022.[7]
Later career
[edit]University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
[edit]After parting ways with Bellevue University, Steadman was named assistant head coach of the Vaqueros on Sept. 24, 2014. In the 20-21 season, Steadman was named the best assistant coach of the Western Athletic Conference. Following the death of head coach Lew Hill midway through the season, Steadman became the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. That year the team broke 4 program records, fewest field goals allowed (436), fewest three-pointers allowed (105), lowest opponent three-point shooting percentage (29.9%), fewest rebounds allowed (757). In Steadman first game as head coach, the Vaqueros broke the program record for steals (27) in Steadman's only win with the Vaqueros.[8]
Maine Black Bears
[edit]Steadman was announced assistant head coach on Feb. 17, 2022. When head coach Richard Barron parted ways with the team midway through the season, he was elevated to interim head coach.[9]
Independence CC
[edit]Steadman was named head coach of the Pirates in 2023.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Steadman was adopted early in his life to Caucasian parents. They knew he was Native American, but did not know his tribe. Steadman tried to find out his roots in 2009. There, he found his mother was Ponca, and her brother was first chairman of the restored Ponca tribe. Steadman decided to change his name from Jason to Jai (meaning victory in a native language).[11]
While working with the Vipers, Steadman met Sally, to whom he is now married. They reside in McAllen and have three children, Malik, Bryan and Sydney. Jai Steadman also has a daughter, Morgan.[12]
Head coaching record
[edit]| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (Western Athletic Conference) (2021) | |||||||||
| 2021-2022 | Texas–Rio Grande Valley | 1-6 | Western Athletic Conference | 8th | |||||
| Maine Black Bears (America East Conference) (2022) | |||||||||
| 2020-2021 | Maine | 1-3 | America East Conference | 10th | |||||
| Total: | 2–9 (.182) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "Independence CC". Independence CC. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ^ "Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches". UTRGV Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "BasketLigaen Basketball 2003-2004, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "NBA Development League Basketball 2005-2006, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket". www.usbasket.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "NBA Development League Basketball 2009-2010, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket". www.usbasket.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "NBA Development League Basketball 2010-2011, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket". www.usbasket.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "VIPERS ANNOUNCE 2022-2023 BASKETBALL OPERATIONS STAFF". RGV Vipers. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches". UTRGV Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "Jason Steadman - Men's Basketball Coach". University of Maine Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "Independence CC". Independence CC. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ Laskaris, Sam (2011-07-16). "Basketball Coach Jai Steadman Reconnects With his Native Roots". ICT News. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ "Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches". UTRGV Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-17.