Stetson University Athletics

Veteran college basketball coach Shawn Finney joined the Stetson men's basketball staff in April 2021, reuniting with head coach Donnie Jones… Brings more than three decades of NCAA Division I coaching experience to DeLand and has played an integral role in the continued development of the Hatters' program… His tenure at Stetson has included one of the most successful stretches in program history, highlighted by the Hatters' first ASUN Tournament Championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. Finney has helped Stetson reach new heights during his time in DeLand… The Hatters captured the program's first ASUN Tournament Championship in 2024, securing Stetson's first NCAA Tournament appearance at the Division I level… His experience and defensive knowledge have played an important role on Jones' staff as the Hatters have continued to establish themselves within the ASUN. Stetson's historic 2023-24 season included a 22-13 record, an ASUN Tournament title and the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament… The Hatters went 3-0 in the conference tournament, defeating Queens, Jacksonville and Austin Peay before advancing to face eventual national champion UConn in the NCAA Tournament. Finney's relationship with Jones dates back to Marshall, where the two coached together from 2007-10… When Jones took over the UCF program in the spring of 2010, Finney followed him to Orlando and served as associate head coach for six seasons. The two spent nine seasons together at Marshall and UCF before reuniting at Stetson in 2021… Both West Virginia natives, Finney and Jones developed a close relationship long before working together in DeLand, providing familiarity and continuity on the Hatters' staff. Finney was part of one of the most successful periods in Kentucky men's basketball history while serving as an assistant coach under Tubby Smith from 1997-2000… Helped guide the Wildcats to an 86-23 record, three NCAA Tournament appearances and the 1998 NCAA National Championship. During his time with Kentucky, Finney worked with eight future NBA players, including Scott Padgett, Keith Bogans, Michael Bradley, Jamaal Magloire, Nazr Mohammed, Tayshaun Prince, Jeff Sheppard and Wayne Turner. Finney later returned to Kentucky as Director of Basketball Operations for the 2006-07 season… Worked alongside future NBA players Randolph Morris, Jodie Meeks and Joe Crawford while helping the Wildcats return to the NCAA Tournament. Finney spent five seasons as the head coach at Tulane from 2000-05… During his tenure, he helped develop Linton Johnson into a future NBA player while placing a strong emphasis on both athletic and academic development. Every student-athlete recruited by or who played for Finney during his tenure with the Green Wave went on to graduate. Prior to Kentucky, Finney worked alongside Tubby Smith at Georgia and Tulsa… During two seasons at Georgia, the Bulldogs compiled a 45-19 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons, highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 1996… Finney also helped develop future NBA player Shandon Anderson. At Tulsa, Finney worked with future NBA player Shea Seals while helping the Golden Hurricane make consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in 1994 and 1995… His five seasons at Tulsa marked the beginning of an extended run alongside Smith that later continued at Georgia and Kentucky. Finney joined Jones' staff at Marshall in 2007 and spent three seasons with the Thundering Herd… Helped Marshall win 24 games during the 2009-10 season and advance to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. When Jones was named head coach at UCF in 2010, Finney joined him in Orlando as associate head coach… Spent six seasons with the Knights as UCF earned two postseason appearances and won 20 games in each of Jones' first three seasons… The Knights reached the CBI quarterfinals in 2011 and earned an NIT berth in 2012. Following six seasons at UCF, Finney spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Manhattan College from 2016-18… Joined Samford University in 2018 and served two seasons as associate head coach before reuniting with Jones at Stetson. Throughout his career, teams Finney has coached have advanced to the NCAA Tournament eight times… Those appearances include four trips to the Sweet 16, an Elite Eight appearance and a Final Four as part of Kentucky's run to the 1998 NCAA National Championship. Finney has also coached 15 players who went on to compete in the NBA, establishing a lengthy track record of working with high-level talent at some of college basketball's most successful programs. Finney's extensive coaching career includes stops at Stetson, Samford, Manhattan, UCF, Marshall, Kentucky, Tulane, Georgia, Tulsa, Randolph-Macon, Pikeville and Garrett Community College… His career has included roles as a Division I head coach, associate head coach, assistant coach and director of basketball operations. Finney also spent the 2005-06 season working as a color commentator for ESPN before returning to collegiate coaching. Finney began his collegiate playing career at Garrett Community College before continuing at Fairmont State University… Earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Fairmont State in 1985… Began his coaching career at Garrett Community College following graduation. Earned a Master of Science in sport management from the University of Tulsa in 1992.