Justin Tucek enters his first season on the men’s basketball staff at Southern Arkansas University.
Tucek has progressed quickly through the coaching ranks from student assistant to assistant at Emporia State University, where he spent five seasons, in addition to spending the 2020-21 season as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I member Northwestern State University (LA).
This past year, the Hornets posted a 19-12 record with a berth in the MIAA Tournament. ESU was led by All-MIAA first team selection Alijah Comithier with Owen Long (Second Team), Darius Yohe (All-Defensive Team) and Atavian Butler (Honorable Mention) rounding out the honorees. Comithier earned NABC All-Central District honors and represented ESU as a member of the East Team in the 2024 Reese's Division II College All-Star Game.
The 2022-23 season featured a 23-win season, which is the highest in the 32-year NCAA Division II era of Emporia State Men’s Basketball. The Hornets also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Emporia State knocked off #17 Northern State 72-51 in Maryville, MO. The Hornet defense held Northern State 28 points under their season average. This performance marked the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The Hornets earned back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in over 30 years.
The 2021-22 season set the tone for future Hornet success. Led by Second-Team All-American Tray Buchanan, the Hornets recorded 20 wins for the first time since 2007 and recorded the most program conference wins (15) in school history. ESU received votes in the national poll for the second consecutive season. Prior to the 2020-21 season, he was named “50 Most Impactful Assistant Coaches in NCAA Division II” by Silver Waves Media.
Prior to his time at Emporia State, Tucek spent one season at Rock Valley College (IL) as a student assistant coach. Known for his charisma and energy, Tucek also specializes in player development working with both perimeter players and posts. He holds memberships with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Small College Basketball Alumni Association (SCBAA).
Tucek, a Madison, South Dakota native, holds both a Bachelors degree (2020) and Masters degree (2022) from Emporia State University.
