Basketball

Jason Slay Joins Cincinnati Bearcats as Assistant Coach

Former Illinois State associate head coach brings a winning pedigree to the Bearcats' bench

The University of Cincinnati announced this week that Jason Slay will join the Bearcats' basketball staff as an assistant coach under head coach Jerrod Calhoun.

A New Chapter for the Bearcats

Slay comes to Cincinnati after two seasons as associate head coach at Illinois State, where the Redbirds compiled a 60‑win record and reached the NIT semifinals in 2026.

His tenure at Illinois State follows a five‑year stretch from 2017 to 2021 at Youngstown State, where he worked alongside Calhoun and helped shape the program’s recent trajectory.

Calhoun, who previously guided teams at Fairmont State, Youngstown State and Utah State, says he is eager to blend those experiences into a competitive Cincinnati roster.

The Bearcats are slated to open their season in early November at Fifth Third Arena, a venue that promises a lively atmosphere for the new coaching duo.

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