Justin Mann was named as the fifth head coach in men’s basketball history, announced Associate Vice President for Athletics, Dave Scott on Monday, January 8th, 2024.
“We are pleased to announce Justin Mann as the next head basketball coach at the University of West Florida”, said Scott. “We feel given the opportunity to recruit, he will be successful in following our vision of “Building Champions For Life”.
“I want to thank President Dr. Martha Saunders, Dave Scott, and the administration for this opportunity”, Mann said. “Since my arrival in August, I have valued the relationships that I have built with individuals on campus and in the community. These relationships have allowed my wife Daley and I to feel welcome by everyone.
“I would also like to thank the men’s basketball players for their effort each day as I have made this transition. I look forward to building a program that our administration and the UWF community will be proud of. Go Argos!”
Mann assumed the full-time duties for the Argonauts on January 8, 2024 and immediately provided a spark as UWF won in Huntsville for the first time in 20 years over UAH, 83-72. UWF also tied season-highs in points under Mann's watch, scoring 93 points each in wins over Delta State and Auburn Montgomery. UWF capped off the season by defeating West Alabama, the fourth-best team in the GSC, 69-67 on a last-second jumper by Rodney Bryant.
Forwards, Xavier Washington and Le'Tarion White, had tremendous first season's under Mann, as Washington led the team in scoring (13.4) and rebounding (7.4), while White closed the season with four-straight double-digit scoring performances including a season-high 22 points in the a win over AUM. Guards, Sterling White III and Bryant also benefitted from Mann's up-tempo coaching style, as White III was second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.11) while Bryant had four or more assists in four games and four games with 10 or more points. Both White III and Bryant also led the team with 26 steals.
Before joining UWF as an assistant coach last August, Mann spent the previous two seasons as the head coach at Independence (Kan.) Community College and the previous three as an assistant coach. He recruited and developed All-Jayhawk Conference performers during his five years with the program.
In the 2022-23 season, ICC defeated three top-25 programs and had four players move on to Division I programs. They won 10 games, including a victory over Garden City Community College in the postseason, while playing the 13th toughest schedule in the NJCAA.
Justin served as the associate head coach in the previous two seasons, where the Pirates advanced to the Region IV quarterfinals twice and held a top-20 rankings in those seasons.
Prior to his time at Independence, Justin was an assistant coach at Daytona State from 2018-2019, Thomas University from 2015-2018, Eastern Nazarene University from 2013-2015 and Meridian Community College from 2010-2011.
Mann, a native of Peoria, Illinois, was a two-year starting forward at Lander University from 2007-2009. He received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Lander in 2009 before earning his master’s in business administration from Thomas University in 2017. He and his wife, Daley, were married in 2023.
What Others Are Saying About Coach Mann
“Coach Mann’s energy is contagious. Going into games, it makes his players want to play harder, not just for him but for others as well. Coach Mann builds great relationships with the players and recruits, doing what he can to help them succeed on the court as well as off it.”
--Kam Parker, Texas A&M Corpus Christi (played under Mann at Independence CC)
“Justin Mann has quietly proven himself to be one of the best coaches in the country at any level. He’s the perfect blend of what every coach should strive to be in today’s collegiate athletics climate. He is a tireless worker, a tenacious recruiter, a brilliant tactician, and a genuine connector who builds real bonds with his players, institution and community. UWF made a terrific hire in Coach Mann!”
--Bill Morosco, Head Coach at Indian River State College
“I always loved the way Justin pushed our players to their limit and helped them reach their full potential. I appreciated his honesty and constructive feedback, which helped me to improve and grow as the head coach. His dedication to his craft and his athletes are truly remarkable, and I feel privileged to have worked with Justin. He has grown over the years and has been a successful coach at all levels. He is a true team player and UWF is getting a phenomenal coach and human being.”
--Brent Crews, Assistant Coach at Drake University
“Justin Mann is a relentless worker, dedicated family man as well as a servant leader. He will pour his heart into West Florida and the Pensacola community. His passion for teaching the game, developing young men, and creating a great culture will have West Florida competing for championships. Justin is a fantastic hire.”
--Brock Morris, Assistant Coach, University of Oklahoma
