Shawn Finney
Shawn Finney (born September 20, 1962)
Current position: Assistant men’s basketball coach
Current team: Stetson Hatters (Head coach: Donnie Jones)
Current conference: ASUN Conference
Teams coached: Tulane Green Wave
Tulane record: 60-86 (.411)
Overall record: 60-86 (.411)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
2021-present | Stetson (asst) |
2018-2020 | Samford (assoc. HC) |
2016-2018 | Manhattan (asst) |
2010-2016 | UCF (assoc. HC) |
2007-2010 | Marshall (asst) |
2006-2007 | Kentucky (DBO) |
2000-2005 | Tulane |
1997-2000 | Kentucky (asst) |
1995-1997 | Georgia (asst) |
1990-1995 | Tulsa (asst) |
1987-1990 | Randolph-Macon (asst) |
1986-1987 | Pikeville (asst) |
1985-1986 | Garrett CC (asst) |
Shawn Finney Facts
- David Shawn Finney
- Born September 20, 1962
- Hometown: Mullens, West Virginia
- Alma Mater: Fairmont State College (BA, 1985) / University of Tulsa (MS, 1992)
- Started his career at Garrett CC (MD) before finishing out playing for Dave Cooper at D-II Fairmont State (WV)
- Returned to Garrett CC to begin his coaching career, then spent one year as an assistant under Greg White (also a native of Mullens, WV) at Pikeville (KY) and three under Hal Nunnally at Randolph-Macon (VA)
- Hired in 1990 to be an assistant at Tulsa under Tubby Smith, and later followed him to UGA in 1995 and UK in 1997
- Over ten years on Smith‘s staff, Finney was part of four conference titles, seven NCAA Tournaments and in was an assistant with the 1997-98 Kentucky squad that won the NCAA National Championship
- Became the head coach at Tulane in 2000, leading the Green Wave for the next five seasons
- Went 60-86 overall but only had one season above .500 and never reached the postseason; was let go in 2005
- After a year working at ESPN, Finney rejoined Smith for his final season at Kentucky as his director of basketball ops
- Hired by fellow West Virginian Donnie Jones in 2007 as an assistant at Marshall; left with Jones for UCF in 2010 and worked as his associate head coach with the Knights for six seasons
- Next were two-year stints at Manhattan under Steve Masiello, who had been on Finney’s staff during his first season at Tulane, and as Scott Padgett‘s associate head coach at Samford
- Reunited with Jones in 2021, becoming an assistant at Stetson; part of the 2023-24 Hatters’ squad that won the ASUN Tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history
Shawn Finney Coaching Tree
- Steve Masiello (Manhattan)
- Jeff Reynolds (Air Force)
- Pooh Williamson (Tulsa)