Jai Steadman


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.

Early life

Jason Steadman was born in Geneva, Nebraska. He went to college at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he was an administrative assistant.

International career

After having coached Tyler Junior College and TCU [Horned Frogs men's basketball|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.

D-League stint

Fort Worth Flyers

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.

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

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. The next year, lead by All D-League first teamer Jeff Adrien, made it to the finals, but lost to the Iowa Energy.
Steadman returned to the Vipers in 2022.

Later career

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

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.

Maine Black Bears

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.

Independence CC

Steadman was named head coach of the Pirates in 2023.

Personal life

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.