Jason Slay has officially joined the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball program as an assistant coach, bringing a decade‑plus track record of player development and program building to the university’s storied roster.
Slay arrives after three seasons at Illinois State, where he helped the Redbirds capture 60 victories and reach the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament last year, a run that underscored his ability to translate recruiting into on‑court success.
His coaching journey includes stints on Jerrod Calhoun’s staff at Youngstown State from 2017 to 2021, a period marked by back‑to‑back winning seasons and record‑setting defensive numbers, as well as earlier roles at the University of South Florida, Virginia Military Institute, East Tennessee State, Tennessee State, and Georgia Southern.
Prior to his collegiate career, Slay honed his skills at West Virginia State, where as a student‑athlete he guided the Yellow Jackets to three Sweet Sixteen appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, laying the groundwork for his coaching philosophy.
Slay’s family ties to basketball run deep; his older brother Tamar played in the NBA for the New Jersey Nets, and his cousin Ron reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen as a freshman at Tennessee in 2000, a legacy that continues through his own work with prospects such as Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger.
The Bearcats hope Slay’s experience will translate into fresh strategies and sustained competitiveness as they aim to climb the Big 12 standings in the upcoming season.
A Fresh Coaching Addition
Slay’s appointment signals the university’s commitment to blending proven expertise with the next generation of talent, a move that could reshape the team’s dynamics both on and off the court.