RJ Allen

R.J. Allen is entering his eighth season as the head coach of the Newman men’s basketball program in 2023-24, his thirteenth season overall as a member of the Newman staff.

During the 2022-2023 season, Allen led the Jets to a 9-19 record. Under Allen, Stevie Strong was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention..

During the 2021-2022 season, Allen led the Jets to a 6-21 record. The 2021-2022 campaign was capped off with a 73-63 win on senior day against the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Under Allen, Israel Barnes was named All-MIAA Honorable mention.

During the 2020-21 season, Allen led the Jets to a 4-18 record. The season was condensed to conference only because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2020-21 season, under Allen, Joel Boyce earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention.

During the 2019-20 season, Allen led the Jets to an 9-19 record, with a 3-16 conference record in their first year in the MIAA. During the 2019-20 season under Allen, Marshawn Blackmon earned third team All-Conference.

During the 2018-19 season, Allen led the Jets to an impressive 20-9 record overall, the Jets finished tied for 3rd place in the Heartland Conference standings with an 11-5 record. The 20 win total ties the school record for most wins in a single season in the NCAA DII era. The Jets also reached the double digit win total in conference play. It was the first time the Jets have had consecutive seasons with double digit win total in Heartland Conference play since joining the league in 2006. During the 2018-19 season under Allen, Marshawn Blackmon and Ben Ayre earned Second Team All-Heartland Conference honors. Juwan Davenport was named Honorable Mention All-Conference. During the 2017-18 season, Allen in his first year as Head Coach lead the Jets to a third place finish with a 10-6 record in conference play and a 14-14 record overall. It was the Jets highest finish in conference play since the 2012-13 season. Allen was selected Heartland Conference Coach of the Year. He was the first coach in Heartland Conference history to earn the honor as a first-year Head Coach. At the helm Allen developed two All-Heartland Conference performers. Kevin Bryant was Second Team All-Heartland Conference while Dametrius Walker was named Honorable Mention All-Heartland Conference.

Prior to taking over the helm, Allen was the Associate Head Coach for the Jets. In those six years, the Jets put together 88 Wins and 52 in Heartland Conference play, including four trips to the conference postseason, and the team’s first NCAA berth after a 20-8 campaign in 2012-13.

A 17-13 overall record in 2015-16 was the Jets’ fourth winning record in five years with Allen, and the team returned to the postseason for the first time in three years, toppling second-seeded Lubbock Christian for its first playoff win as an NCAA school.

Prior to Newman, Allen spent five years as a Assistant coach at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Allen started working as a graduate assistant for two seasons, then filling out the staff as Assistant for Head Coach Kelly Boe. Allen assisted in guiding the Golden Bears to their first 20-win season in 2006-07, earning a 21-8 record and a third-place finish in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, still the Bears' best conference finish in 20 years as a member of Division II. Allen was also responsible for recruiting and developing five NSIC All-Conference players at CU. Prior to that Allen was a two year starter and captain for the Golden Bears.

While in Minnesota, Allen also coached at Woodbury High School for one year, and worked with the 43 Hoops AAU basketball club for one season.

A Wichita native, Allen played basketball for his dad, Ron, at Wichita East High School. He was a two time all-city and all-state selection, leading the Aces to a 6A state championship in 2002. He began his college career at Hutchinson Community College and was named team captain on the Blue Dragons’ 2003-04 team that won the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference with a 30-3 record.

Allen and his wife, Tia, reside in Wichita. They have two sons, Cameron and Kendall.