Jason Kemp - Men's Basketball Coach - University of Minnesota Athletics

Jason Kemp

Title:
Assistant Coach

Jason Kemp joined the Minnesota basketball staff as an assistant coach in April 2021. Kemp, who started his coaching career at Minnesota State University Moorhead, spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as an assistant at William & Mary. He has also served as an assistant coach at North Dakota State, Toledo and Ohio.

William & Mary posted 28-21 record with Kemp on staff, which included a 21-11 record and a second-place finish in the CAA in 2019-20. The 21 wins marked the fourth most in school history and the most in the regular season for a Tribe team since 1950. William & Mary posted a school record for conference (13) and road wins (10). Kemp also helped mentor a pair of All-CAA big men in Nathan Knight (first team) and Andy Van Vliet (third team). Knight, who is a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, went on to take home a massive haul of awards, including the Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year, CAA Player of the Year, CAA Defensive Player of the Year and VaSID State Player of the Year.

Prior to his time at William & Mary, Kemp spent time at Ohio, Toledo and North Dakota State. Throughout his career as an assistant, Kemp has helped lead programs to four post-season appearances, including an NCAA Tournament bid, and two regular-season conference championships. He has recruited and mentored four league players of the year and eight all-conference first-team selections.

Kemp spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio. The Bobcats compiled an 81-77 record during his tenure. Kemp helped to mentor eight players who earned All-MAC selections, including two first-team members, five MAC All-Freshman Team picks, a MAC Player of the Year and a MAC Rookie of the Year (Ben Vander Plas in 2019). Kemp also aided in the development of two-time All-MAC selection Maurice Ndour, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks and played in the NBA with the New York Knicks. Kemp also aided in the recruitment and development of current Los Angeles Clippers guard Jason Preston.

In just his second season at Ohio, the Bobcats enjoyed the biggest turnaround in school history. Ohio also had one of the top improvements in the country, finishing with a 23-12 record and a 13-game improvement over the prior season. The Bobcats took part in the 2016 CBI and advanced to the semifinals. Kemp mentored MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell, who also earned Associated Press All-America honors. The 23 wins ranked sixth in Ohio history, and the CBI marked the program’s 22nd all-time post-season appearance.

Kemp spent one season at Toledo, helping the Rockets to a school-record 27 wins and a regular-season MAC Championship in 2013-14. Included in UT’s win total was a victory at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College. The Rockets ended the season competing in the National Invitation Tournament and had a trio of players named to the All-MAC Team.

Kemp’s first Division I coaching stop came at North Dakota State, where he spent eight seasons, including the final six as an assistant coach. After getting his coaching start at Minnesota State University-Moorhead in 2004-05, Kemp moved to North Dakota State and served as a graduate manager in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

During North Dakota State's transition to the Division I level, Kemp was promoted to assistant coach prior to the 2007-08 season. During his eight seasons in Fargo, the Bison finished with a 144-97 record, including a 108-77 mark during his six years as an assistant. He mentored 12 All-Summit League players, including six first-team selections.

North Dakota State joined the Summit League in Kemp’s first season as an assistant coach, and the Bison compiled a 63-43 league record. In the program’s first season of eligibility in 2009, Kemp helped NDSU to a Summit League Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Bison finished the year with a 26-7 record and claimed the conference’s regular-season crown as well thanks to a 16-2 mark. Kemp helped to mentor Summit League Player of the Year Ben Woodside, who was an AP All-American and ended his career as North Dakota State's career leading scorer.

During his final two seasons at North Dakota State, Kemp helped the program to post-season appearances in the CBI. In 2012-13, the Bison advanced to the Summit League Championship Game and ended the year at 24-10 overall and 12-4 in league play.

Along with Woodside, Kemp recruited and developed 2014 Summit League Player of the Year and AP All-American Taylor Braun. Also, during his tenure at North Dakota State, Lawrence Alexander, who went on to be named player of the year in 2015, was named the Summit League Rookie of the Year in 2012, while Mike Felt was selected as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year a season later.

North Dakota State enjoyed success academically during Kemp’s time in Fargo. The program achieved the top overall Academic Progress Rating in the Summer League during his tenure. A total of 37 Bison players were named to the Summit League Academic Honor Roll from 2008-13, including seven distinguished scholars, and Brett Winkelman was twice named the Summit League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the 2008 and 2009.

During his time as a graduate manager under Tim Miles, the Bison compiled a 36-20 record. Included in North Dakota State's wins were nationally-ranked victories against No. 13 Wisconsin in 2005-06 and No. 9 Marquette a season later. Kemp coordinated summer camps and video editing projects, while serving as the Director of NDSU Hardcourt Hustler ballboy program and the Director of NDSU Bison Buddies youth clinic.

A native of Madison, Wis., Kemp played four years at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise sport science in 2004. He also received a master’s degree in sports management from North Dakota State in 2007. Kemp is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

He and his Wife Michelyn have two children, Violet and Zander.