Shane Oakley enters his 19th season at Northwest and his seventh as head coach of the men’s basketball program in 2024-25.
Through six years at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Oakley has compiled a 67-72 overall record (.571) and a 35-45 mark against conference opponents (.438), a total that includes his stint as the team’s interim head coach in the 2018-19 season.
Northwest finished 8-18 during the 2023-24 campaign and just 4-10 within the MACCC, although one of those victories came on the home floor against conference powerhouse Pearl River.
One member of last season’s squad signed to the four-year level, Darren Davis (Delta State). Since taking over the head coaching reins prior to the 2018-19 season, 10 of Oakley’s players have signed or walked-on at four-year programs. Eight of those 10 student-athletes have joined Division I programs, such as Memphis, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.
The 2022-23 season brought forth several challenges for Oakley’s squad, as the Rangers won just five games. The injury bug bit hard and often, although the Rangers managed to compete well throughout conference play, earning wins against Holmes, Mississippi Delta and Pearl River. Six conference losses were within 10 points or less.
The 2021-22 season resulted in an 18-8 overall record for Oakley, marking the most victories in a single season during his tenure. The Rangers sported a 9-5 record against conference opponents, also a milestone for Oakley, and made the NJCAA Region 23 Playoffs.
Although his third season may have been the most challenging yet, Oakley still managed to guide his team to an 8-8 overall mark during the 2020-21 campaign, yielding the Rangers’ second straight postseason appearance. Northwest earned a gritty, hard-fought victory at Jones College in the second round of the Region 23 Tournament, before falling to top-seeded Pearl River in the quarterfinal round.
Oakley compiled a 16-10 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the MACJC North Division during the 2019-20 campaign, guiding the Rangers to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Transfer guard Jakobi Pearson garnered first team All-MACJC honors and Duhart signed with Appalachian State.
As the Rangers’ interim coach during the 2018-19 season, Oakley led the Rangers to a 12-10 overall record and a 5-7 mark in the north division with a short-handed roster.
This is Oakley’s second stint at Northwest, briefly stepping away in 2011-12 to coach at Jones County JC for a season. Oakley worked with both the men’s and women’s programs during the 2004-11 seasons and spent the last six as the men’s assistant.
Northwest had a breakout 2017-18 season, going 22-4 overall and 11-1 in division play. The Rangers won the MACJC north division and hosted the conference tournament, finished as conference runner-up and closed the year with a No. 12 NJCAA national ranking.
The eight-year tandem of Oakley and former head coach Bubba Skelton (2004-06, 2012-18) provided a combined 155-59 overall record and 71-25 north division record, including an MACJC championship, two region championships and two trips to the NJCAA national tournament.
In his 19 seasons, Oakley has coached 20 all-conference selections, including 13 first team selections and seven second teamers, and four NJCAA All-Americans. Troy University signee Jitaurious Gordon became the Rangers’ first two-time all-conference nod in two decades in 2019.
Prior to his one year stint at Jones in 2011-12, Oakley was the women’s and men’s basketball assistant from 2004-11 at Northwest where he enjoyed success with both programs. The men posted a 95-75 mark and the women were 115-75 during his previous seven seasons in Senatobia.
Oakley helped the men’s team to a state championship during the 2004-05 season and back-to-back Region 23 Championships and NJCAA Tournament appearances from 2004-06 with Skelton, and on the women’s side, captured another region title and NJCAA Tournament appearance in 2004-05 alongside Don Edwards.
Prior to Northwest, Oakley spent one season as the men’s and women’s assistant at Mississippi Delta. His first coaching job came as a graduate assistant at Delta State during the 2002-03 season.
A Senatobia native, Oakley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education from Delta State. He is the twin brother of longtime Ranger football assistant coach, Scott Oakley, and his older brother, Brian, serves as the assistant sports information director.
Oakley is married to the former Alison Smith of Sardis.
