Justin Bailey joined the Lamar University men’s basketball coaching staff in June 2016 after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant at Arkansas-Fort Smith. He is entering his second season with the team, and his first as recruiting coordinator.
Bailey’s first season with the Cardinals will be one to remember. The Cards made their first postseason appearance last season since the 2012 NCAA Championship run. Bailey helped coach the Cardinals to an eight-game turnaround last season, finishing just short of a 20-win campaign.
Bailey’s time at UAFS helped place the Lions in the national spotlight. UAFS posted 23 wins in 2015-16 while advancing to the NCAA Championship tournament. It marked the second time in the past three years Fort Smith had advanced to the postseason.
UAFS won back-to-back Heartland Conference Championships (2012-13 and 2013-14) while Bailey was on staff. The Lions entered the 2014 NCAA tournament ranked 16th nationally.
During his time with the Lions, he helped recruit and produce seven all-conference selections – including two first-team picks – two freshmen of the year, a defensive player of the year and an All-American.
In addition to his time on the court, Bailey also coached the Lions cross country teams at Fort Smith.
Prior to his stay with UAFS, Bailey spent two seasons in Tempe, Ariz., as a graduate assistant coach at Arizona State. He assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program which included overseeing the preseason and postseason individual player workouts. During that time, Bailey worked with five Sun Devils who went on to play professionally.
Bailey’s coaching career began at the club level where he served as an assistant coach for the Arkansas Sleepers for two seasons before being promoted to head coach in 2006. Bailey joined the college ranks in 2010 when he served as an intern at Texas-Permian Basin for head coach Dwaine Osborne.
Bailey was also a standout on the court during his collegiate career. After helping lead the Lions to the NJCAA title, he transferred to UT-Permian Basin where he garnered All-Heartland Conference honors.
Bailey received his bachelor’s from UTPB in May 2010. He graduated with a master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State in May 2012.
