Northwestern State, 1989 - Third Year
The 2016-17 campaign is the third at Northeastern State for Jason Tinsley. He was hired in April 2014 as the ninth head men’s basketball coach in school history, and he owns a 15-38 record leading the RiverHawks.
Tinsley took the reins from Larry Gipson, who retired following a 17-year run that included the only NCAA Division II National Championship in school history (2003) and five appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament (2000-03, 2013).
The RiverHawks put together an 8-18 overall record in 2015-16, while compiling a 7-15 league mark. Northeastern State narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs, but did feature three double-digit scorers and two All-MIAA performers.
Northeastern State posted a 7-20 record in 2014-15, Tinsley's first at the helm. The RiverHawks finished 5-14 in the MIAA and qualified for the MIAA Championship as the No. 12 seed. They were also featured live on CBS as the Division II National Game of the Week on December 20 when they took on Central Missouri. The team was led by all-conference performer Trey Mohair.
During his time at NSU, Tinsley has coached three All-MIAA performers and nine MIAA Academic Honor Roll members.
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Tinsley came to Tahlequah following a highly-successful run as head women’s basketball coach from 2010-14 at NCAA Division III Louisiana College in Pineville, La. During his four-year stint with the Lady Cats, he led the program to an 89-25 record and three berths in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament. The team advanced to the Round of 32 in 2011, which included the first NCAA tournament victory in school history.
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He also led LC to three American Southwest Conference regular-season division championships and three ASC Conference Tournament finals appearances. Â
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At Louisiana College, Tinsley guided two NCAA Division III All-Americans, 11 all-conference performers, seven All-ASC Defensive Team members, two ASC Defensive Players of the Year, and two ASC Freshmen of the Year.
Prior to his stint at LC, Tinsley served as head men’s coach at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (NCAA D-II, Pembroke, N.C.) from 2003-08. His other head coaching stop came at Bossier Parish Community College (NJCAA D-I, Bossier City, La.) from 1999-02.
He owns a career collegiate coaching record of 170-171.
Tinsley was an assistant at three schools, most notably serving at Northwestern State University (NCAA D-I, Natchitoches, La.) under former University of Tulsa head coach J.D. Barnett. Barnett spent six years at TU from 1985-91, then coached at Northwestern State from 1994-99. Tinsley was on staff for his final three years at NSU. Barnett led seven teams to the NCAA tournament, with two of those appearances coming with TU (1986-87). His other five came at VCU (1980-81, 1983-85).
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Tinsley was also an assistant at Missouri State University-West Plains (NJCAA D-I, West Plains, Mo.) from 1993-96. He received his first collegiate coaching job as an assistant at Georgia Southwestern State University (NAIA in 1992-93, current NCAA D-II, Americus, Ga.) from 1992-93.
At MSU-WP, he helped start the men’s basketball program and coached three years under the tutelage of legendary high school and junior college coach Tom Barr.
During his time as a junior college coach, Tinsley helped groom two NJCAA All-Americans, one NJCAA Academic All-American, seven all-region players, four all-conference players, 13 NCAA Division I signees, and seven NCAA Division II signees.
Tinsley received a master of education degree in health and physical education from Northwestern State University in 1997. He also earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Northwestern State in 1989.
Tinsley and his wife, Dr. Sonia Tinsley, have one son, Landon.
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| Tinsley’s Year-By-Year Record as a collegiate head coach |
| Year |
School |
W-L |
NCAA Postseason |
| 2015-16 |
Northeastern State |
8-18 |
|
| 2014-15 |
Northeastern State |
7-20 |
|
| 2013-14 |
Louisiana College (W) |
16-11 |
|
| 2012-13 |
Louisiana College (W) |
24-5 |
NCAA First Round |
| 2011-12 |
Louisiana College (W) |
24-5 |
NCAA First Round |
| 2010-11 |
Louisiana College (W) |
25-4 |
NCAA Second Round |
| 2007-08 |
UNC Pembroke |
8-20 |
|
| 2006-07 |
UNC Pembroke |
6-22 |
|
| 2005-06 |
UNC Pembroke |
5-24 |
|
| 2004-05 |
UNC Pembroke |
3-25 |
|
| 2001-02 |
Bossier Parrish |
23-10 |
|
| 2000-01 |
Bossier Parish |
17-10 |
|
| 1999-00 |
Bossier Parish |
12-15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tinsley’s Career Records entering 2016-17 |
|
|
Record |
Percentage |
|
| at NSU |
15-38 (three years) |
.283 |
|
| at LC |
89-25 (four years) |
.781 |
|
| at UNCP |
22-91 (four years) |
.195 |
|
| at BPCC |
52-35 (three years) |
.598 |
|
| All-Time |
178-189 (14 years) |
.485 |
|
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THE TINSLEY FILE
Birthdate: March 9, 1964
Birthplace: Shreveport, La.
Family: wife Sonia, Ph.D.; son Landon
Education: master of education in health & physical education from Northwestern State University (1997), bachelor of science in physical education from Northwestern State University (1989)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Head Men's Basketball Coach – Northeastern State University (2014-P) – NCAA Division II
Head Women's Basketball Coach – Louisiana College (2010-14) – NCAA Division III
Head Men's Basketball Coach – University of North Carolina at Pembroke (2003-08) – NCAA Division II
Head Men's Basketball Coach – Bossier Parish Community College (1999-02) – NJCAA Division I
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach – Northwestern State University (1996-99) – NCAA Division I
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach – Missouri State University-West Plains (1993-96) – NJCAA Division I
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach – Georgia Southwestern State University (1992-93) – Current NCAA Division II, was NAIA in 1992-93
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What others say about NSU men's basketball coach Jason Tinsley
Gene Rushing, Louisiana College Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Jason will work very hard to develop an outstanding program. He will teach the basic fundamentals of the game. His teams will play extremely hard on the defensive end of the court. He will also recruit student-athletes expecting them to perform at high level in the classroom."
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Greg Burke, Northwestern State University Director of Athletics
"I'm happy for Jason's move to Northeastern State and have no doubt that he will make the most of the opportunity. Jason's passion, work ethic and love of the game of basketball will come through very quickly to everyone with whom he comes in contact. He is a student of the game and as such, has taken away bits of knowledge from every stop of his coaching career which has positioned him for success in this job. Basketball aside, his best asset and someone who will be an asset to their new home and university in Oklahoma is his wife, Sonia, who was a basketball student-athlete at Northwestern State. They're both great people and will be good additions to the university and community."
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Tom Barr, retired JUCO and high school coach
"Coach Tinsley's team will play hard and be well-disciplined. His style of basketball will be fast-paced and one that fans will enjoy watching."
