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Monday, July 28, 2025

A Look at LU's New Men's Basketball Coach Jayson Gee

On Wednesday, April 3, former Associate Head Coach at Cleveland State University Jayson Gee was named the new men’s basketball head coach at Longwood. With 24 years of coaching at the collegiate level, Gee became the eighth head coach in the 37-year history of Longwood’s men’s basketball program. With Longwood looking to rebuild after an eight-win season in 2012-13, Gee’s determination and outstanding resume made him the perfect selection to be the new head coach.

“I am attracted to rebuilding programs, and the challenge to come here and develop the program from the transition from Division I to the Big South Conference was great timing,” said Gee.

Gee is from Springfield, Ohio and played four years of basketball at the University of Charleston. He earned his B.S. degree from Charleston in 1988 and was inducted into the Charleston Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. Later, he earned a Master’s of Science in Sport Science and Administration from Ohio University in 2003.

Gee began his collegiate coaching career at Youngstown State University in Ohio and was there from 1989- 93. During his time at Youngstown State University, he became one of the youngest Division I assistant coaches in the country at age 23. Soon after, Gee served as the associate head coach at Ohio University during the 1995-96 season after two years as an assistant coach from 1993-95, and during this time, the team won the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship, which advanced them to the NCAA Tournament.

After his time at Ohio University, he became the head coach and assistant Athletic Director at his alma mater, the University of Charleston. During his time there, he led the Division II program to a seven-year record of 160-55 that involved six 20-win campaigns and four NCAA Tournament appearances.

From 1998-99, while still serving as a coach at the University of Charleston, the team finished 26-6, earned the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth and he became a finalist for National Coach of the Year.

After, he spent three years at St. Bonaventure University (2003-06), before being named the associate head coach at Cleveland State University. During his time at Cleveland State University, Gee helped the program to an overall record of 136-100, including four 20-win seasons. The team also won their league and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they upset Wake Forest in the first round. The Wake Forest upset, according to him, gave him a blueprint for success and of what is required to create a champion.

“Experiences teach you how to build something of a great caliber to where you can get to an NCAA tournament, win a game in the NCAA tournament and turn a program around. I am looking forward to the opportunity and the time at Longwood to do those same things.”

In 2008, Gee was one of 18 selected for the 2008 Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) Program in Indianapolis, and CollegeInsider.com also ranked him as the No. 5 mid-major assistant coach in the country following the 2008-09 season.

Gee has coached notable NBA players and first round draft picks like Norris Cole of the Miami Heat and helped develop Gary Trent, who went on to play a combined nine seasons in league.

Gee has experience with skill development, the media, scouting and community relations. With all of these skills, Director of Athletics Troy Austin researched and reached out to other athletic directors to find a head coach who would be a quality fit for Longwood University.

When asked what made Gee stand out from other candidates, Austin said, “It was his energy, which you can see right away. He is energetic, confident and has the ability to work with a great group of people to build winners.”

After years of being the associate head coach at Cleveland State University, Gee knew he wanted to be a head coach; it was a calling for him, so when that opportunity came he wanted to take advantage of it. He was intrigued by not only Austin and the vision of the school, but also the challenge of rebuilding.

Gee was formally introduced on campus on Wednesday, April 10, and he is anxious to become an important part of the community. Coming from urban Cleveland, the move to Farmville has been an adjustment for Gee and his family. However, despite the tremendous difference between the two cities, he believes this community is a small, college town that his family will enjoy.

“It has been a crazy transition since becoming the new coach but also an exciting one. We have got a lot of press and positivity from the basketball community, and I am looking to fulfill expectations,” Gee said.

Gee’s main focus at Longwood is to teach. He has a plan for his players and the program already. He is going to help turn this program around by recruiting his own players and making sure the current team has everyone intact. Then he wants to add two or three pieces that will complement the guys that finished very strong last year and then develop, work and establish an identity and culture. He also wants to teach his players how to control their minds and play hard quality defense by being competitive every day and incorporating a punishment/reward system.

“One thing I can promise the Longwood nation is that you will have a team that plays hard and that competes for 40 minutes, and I think that equals success.”