Jai Steadman
{{Short description|College basketball coach}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jai Steadman
| current_team = Independence CC
| current_conference = KJCCC
| current_record = 0-0
| alma_mater = University of Nebraska
| coach_years2 = 1999-2002
| coach_team2 = Tyler JC
| coach_years15 = 2002-2003
| coach_team15 = TCU (asst)
| coach_years16 = 2002-2003
| coach_team16 = McNeese State (asst)
| coach_years17 = 2005-2006
| coach_team17 = North Texas (asst)
| coach_years18 = 2006-2007
| coach_team18 = Fort Worth Flyers
| coach_years19 = 2007-2009
| coach_team19 = Louisiana-Lafayette (asst)
| coach_years20 = 2009-2012
| coach_team20 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers (asst)
| coach_years21 = 2012-2013
| coach_team21 = Belleuve University (asst)
| coach_years22 = 2014-2021
| coach_years23 = 2021
| coach_team23 = UTRGV (interim)
| coach_years24 = 2021-2022
| coach_team24 = Maine (asst)
| coach_years25 = 2022
| coach_team25 = Maine (interim)
| coach_years26 = 2022-2023
| coach_team26 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers (asst)
| coach_years27 = 2023-present
| coach_team27 = 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.{{Cite web |title=Independence CC |url=https://www.indypirates.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Jason_-Jai-_Steadman |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=Independence CC |language=en}}
Early life
Jason Steadman was born in Geneva, Nebraska. He went to college at the University of Nebraska, where he was an administrative assistant.{{Cite web |title=Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches |url=https://goutrgv.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jai-steadman/2437 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=UTRGV Athletics |language=en}}
International career
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.{{Cite web |title=BasketLigaen Basketball 2003-2004, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - eurobasket |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Denmark/basketball-BasketLigaen_2003-2004.aspx |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.eurobasket.com}}
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.{{Cite web |title=NBA Development League Basketball 2005-2006, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket |url=https://www.usbasket.com/NBA-G-League/basketball_2005-2006.aspx |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.usbasket.com}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=NBA Development League Basketball 2009-2010, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket |url=https://www.usbasket.com/NBA-G-League/basketball_2009-2010.aspx |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.usbasket.com}} The next year, lead by All D-League first teamer Jeff Adrien, made it to the finals, but lost to the Iowa Energy.{{Cite web |title=NBA Development League Basketball 2010-2011, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards - usbasket |url=https://www.usbasket.com/NBA-G-League/basketball_2010-2011.aspx |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=www.usbasket.com}}
Steadman returned to the Vipers in 2022.{{Cite web |title=VIPERS ANNOUNCE 2022-2023 BASKETBALL OPERATIONS STAFF |url=https://riograndevalley.gleague.nba.com/news/vipers-announce-2022-2023-basketball-operations-staff |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=RGV Vipers |language=en}}
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. 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.{{Cite web |title=Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches |url=https://goutrgv.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jai-steadman/2437 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=UTRGV Athletics |language=en}}
= 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.{{Cite web |title=Jason Steadman - Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://goblackbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jason-steadman/641 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=University of Maine Athletics |language=en}}
= Independence CC =
Steadman was named head coach of the Pirates in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Independence CC |url=https://www.indypirates.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Jason_-Jai-_Steadman |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Independence CC |language=en}}
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 (meaning victory in a native language).{{Cite web |last=Laskaris |first=Sam |date=2011-07-16 |title=Basketball Coach Jai Steadman Reconnects With his Native Roots |url=http://ictnews.org/archive/basketball-coach-jai-steadman-reconnects-with-his-native-roots/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=ICT News |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Jai Steadman - Assistant Coach - Men's Basketball Coaches |url=https://goutrgv.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jai-steadman/2437 |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=UTRGV Athletics |language=en}}
Head coaching record
{{CBB yearly record start}}
{{CBB yearly record subhead|name=Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros|conference=Western Athletic Conference|startyear=2021|endyear=single|hiddencols=}}{{CBB yearly record entry|season=2021-2022|name=Texas–Rio Grande Valley|overall=1-6|conference=Western Athletic Conference|confstanding=8th|postseason=}}{{CBB yearly record subhead|name=Maine Black Bears|conference=America East Conference|startyear=2022|endyear=single}}{{CBB yearly record entry|season=2020-2021|name=Maine|overall=1-3|confstanding=10th|conference=America East Conference}}{{CBB yearly record end|overall={{Winning percentage|2|9|record=y}}}}