Jai Steadman, former University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Men’s Basketball interim head coach, is now assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers professional basketball team, NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets.
Steadman, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, previously worked as an assistant coach for the Vipers from 2009 to 2012. During his first season, the Vipers won their first championship in 2010. The team currently has the most championships in league history, with four titles and the most trips to the title series.
From Feb. 11 to April 2021, Steadman served as interim head coach for the Vaqueros following the death of former head coach Lew Hill, a friend of his since 1999.
Asked what it feels like to coach for the Vipers, Steadman replied it feels like a fun and renewed energy.
“This is my second time coming back to the Vipers,” he said. “You know, 12 years ago, when I was at the Vipers, we did win the first championship. … I coached [Vipers head coach Kevin Burleson], when I was D league, when I was with the Dallas Mavericks.”
He said it is exciting to be around former players and notes Burleson was one of the best he has coached.
Steadman said he was waiting on some coaching opportunities at the college level when he met with Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, who mentioned the job.
“Of course, I’ve known Travis [Stockbridge, RGV Vipers general manager],” Steadman said. “… I’ve kept in contact with all these guys so, of course, I was really interested.
“So when the college opportunities didn’t work out, I was blessed and fortunate that I had an opportunity to speak with Travis. I was really excited to come back.”
Steadman said being a part of the Rio Grande Valley for 12 years and being part of two winning programs has been great.
“My heart is always with UTRGV,” he said. “We’ve built something special there.”
He said he was really appreciative of everybody at UTRGV, from the students to staff and administration.
“I love UTRGV,” Steadman said. “They helped build myself, my family. … I just want to thank UTRGV for all they did for me and my family, former student athletes, current student athletes and staff. I love and miss them.”
Jonah Goldberg, UTRGV senior associate athletic director of Communications & Championships, has known Steadman for years.
“Jai and I go back to about October 2009,” Goldberg said. “When he first got hired with the Vipers, I was the director of communications there at the time.”
He said he could tell Steadman was a good person right away.
“In 2010 was the first time I couldn’t get home for Thanksgiving,” Goldberg said. “I just figured I wasn’t going to have anything and hadn’t really told anybody.”
Steadman, Goldberg and some of the Vipers players had a community service event to help feed the less fortunate that year.
“He looks at me as we’re finishing up, and says, ‘You’re coming over to the house for Thanksgiving dinner,’” Goldberg said. “And I said, ‘Really?’ ‘Absolutely, you’re like family. Let’s go.’”
Asked how he would describe Steadman, Goldberg replied he is the “glue guy” because he keeps it all together when he’s on staff. He said he is good at managing people and a “people person” in general.
“You have guys from all over, all different walks,” he said. “And he’s able to bring them all together and get them to jell.”
Goldberg said Steadman, along with Hill, turned the UTRGV program around.
“We made the postseason in 2018 for the first time since 1981,” Goldberg said. “Then we made it again in 2019. … Jai was here throughout that success.”
Asked how he felt when he found out Steadman was going to be working with him at UTRGV, Goldberg replied he was happy and excited.
“Oh, I was so happy,” he said. “I was so happy when I found out. … I think I screamed. I called him right away and let him know how excited I was that he was coming here.”
After working with UTRGV since 2014, Steadman was hired as an assistant coach for the Vipers under head coach Burleson.
Burleson said working with Steadman has been a good experience.
“He has a calming influence on everybody,” he said. “I knew he had a lot of experience. So I wanted somebody that I can kind of lean on and talk things through.”
Burleson said, with Steadman, what you see is what you get.
“He’s got a personality that’s genuine,” he said. “I think from the staff to the players, they feel that. That’s something that’s valuable.”
Burleson said he had a feeling Steadman was going to have a smooth transition back with the Vipers.
“I think the staff really like him,” he said. “He’s really helpful and anyone can just go up to him and talk to him.”
Burleson said he is excited to have him and thinks he’s a valuable asset to the program.
Even though Steadman has moved to the Vipers, who recently won the 2022 NBA G League title, he is still supportive of UTRGV Athletics.
Asked what advice he has for students looking to become coaches, Steadman replied that even though some might not be able to play anymore, they can still become student managers or join programs, such as UTRGV or the Vipers, and work their way up.
“Continue working hard and just always ask if you have to start off not getting paid much, or volunteering,” he said. “… One thing about the kids in the Valley is they work so hard. Other companies will see that and hire you eventually.”
