Jason Shay Assistant Coach Iowa, 1995 Fifth Season at UT Jason Shay is in his ninth season on Bruce Pearl’s staff and his fifth year at Tennessee. “I’ve known Jason since he was a player at the University of Iowa,” Pearl said. “He has played in this system and believes in this style of basketball. He was an overachiever as a player and has continued to work hard as an assistant coach. His experiences have helped him make tremendous contributions to our players’ individual development. “Jason is my lead scout. He’s been able to take good players and make them better. He knows how to teach the game—both from an individual and a team standpoint.” Shay, who is responsible for recruiting and scouting in addition to administrative duties, came to Tennessee after spending four years on Pearl’s staff at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). He was an assistant coach for UWM’s two NCAA Tournament appearances after spending his first two seasons as the director of basketball operations for the Panthers. Scouting reports put together by Shay have helped lead the Vols to an average of 24.5 wins per season, an outright SEC championship in 2008, three SEC Eastern Division crowns and four straight NCAA Tournament appearances— including back-to-back Sweet 16s in 1007 and 2008. Shay drew the scouting assignment against top-ranked Memphis in 2007-08, and Tennessee’s 66-62 victory over the Tigers vaulted the Vols into the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA TODAY polls for the first time in school history. Having handled the Florida scout since joining the UT staff, Shay has helped the Vols post a 7-1 record against the Gators over the last four seasons. Shay served as an assistant basketball coach and assistant sports information director at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., before rejoining Pearl at UWM. He helped lead Mercyhurst to a top-five ranking in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region while assisting with on-court coaching strategies. Shay also was responsible for individual workouts, the team’s strength program, film exchange, scouting reports and monitoring the academic progress of the student-athletes. Shay played four seasons at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Tom Davis. During that time, the Hawkeyes advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and won the 1992 San Juan Shootout. It was in Iowa City where Shay and Pearl first crossed paths, as Pearl was an assistant coach at Iowa from 1986-92. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion at Iowa and a master’s degree in Sports Management in 1998 from Western Illinois University. Shay and his wife, Jana, have a daughter, Peija, and a son, Joah.
Ken Johnson Dir. of Basketball Operations College of Idaho, 1993 Fifth Season at UT Ken Johnson is in his fifth season at Tennessee and his 11th year as a member of Bruce Pearl’s staff. Johnson and Pearl first joined forces in 1999 when Johnson came to the University of Southern Indiana as an assistant coach, and the relationship continued when Pearl moved to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In the 11 seasons Johnson has assisted Pearl, their teams have combined to post a 240-78 record. “It is really important to surround young people with good role models,” Pearl said. “Ken is a very hard worker who genuinely cares about these kids. He has been with me longer than anyone on my staff and he knows how I expect things to be done. He sets the bar high for our student-athletes and provides them with the guidance and support they require to be successful.” Johnson has seen the Vols succeed both on the court and in the classroom. In 2006-07, UT won the third-most games in school history while advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, seven Vols were named to the 2006-07 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for their work in the classroom. During the 2007-08 season, Johnson kept the Vols focused in the classroom and the community while they compiled the best record in school history (31-5) on the court and placed six players on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll. In total during his four years in Knoxville, Tennessee has garnered 18 Academic All-SEC awards. At UWM, Johnson was responsible for working with the Panthers post players while also scouting opponents. During those four seasons, the Panthers posted an 86-38 record and received three postseason invitations, including a trip to the 2005 NCAA Tournament in which they advanced to the Sweet 16. Johnson spent two seasons at USI as an assistant coach where he was responsible for video breakdown, scouting of opposing teams and individual player development. During those two seasons, the Screaming Eagles posted a 51-10 record, won a Great Lakes Valley Conference championship and made two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. USI earned No. 1 rankings in both of Johnson’s seasons and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Prior to joining Pearl’s coaching staff at USI, Johnson spent two seasons as an assistant coach of the Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association. Johnson began his collegiate playing career at Southwestern Oregon Community College where he was named to the All-Freshman Team in his rookie season. He later earned All-Region honors as a sophomore at Salt Lake Community College. He then moved to College of Idaho where he garnered NAIA District II All-Conference honors. A 1993 graduate of College of Idaho with a degree in physical education, he helped lead the Coyotes to an NAIA District II championship and played for the 1991 NAIA National Championship. Johnson and his wife, Amber, have two daughters, Makenzee Ruth and Kenley Jade.