Senderoff Adds Familiar Face to Coaching Staff
4/29/2024 1:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio - A familiar face to Kent State Basketball fans is set to return to the bench this fall, as a coach instead of a player. Head coach Rob Senderoff announced that Jalen Avery is returning to the program as an assistant coach.
"I am extremely excited to bring Jalen back," Senderoff said. "As a former student-athlete here at Kent State, Avery was one of the elite leaders. We are excited to help Jalen continue his coaching journey. We want to welcome back Jalen and Harvonne to Kent State."
A four-year standout athlete at Kent State, Avery played in 127 games and made 89 starts with the Golden Flashes. A two-year team captain, Avery averaged 7.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 37.6% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.
Avery was awarded the Walter Sage Athletic Memorial Endowed Scholarship before the 2018-19 campaign. He led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at Kent State during his junior season (5.04) and posted team-highs in assists (121) and 3-point field goal percentage (.374) on the 22-win Golden Flashes.
Avery has spent the last three seasons on the bench as an assistant coach at Stony Brook. He served as a player development coach and was responsible for the development of the Seawolves' guards and wings. Under his guidance, Tykei Greene (2021-22), Anthony Roberts (2021-22), and Tyler Stephenson-Moore (2022-23) have picked up all-conference nods since Avery's arrival. After graduating from Kent State in 2019, Avery also made stops at Northwest State and East Tennessee State where he served as the graduate assistant.
Additionally, Avery was appointed as the program's offensive coordinator and was responsible for designing and implementing offensive schemes. He also assisted in the planning and implementation of daily practice plans, identified and evaluated potential recruits, compiled scouting reports, and served as a liaison between student-athletes and the academic advising staff.
He will join a Flashes' staff including Julian Sullinger, Randal Holt, and Jon Fleming- all of whom played for Kent State.
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