SENATOBIA – After a one-year hiatus, Shane Oakley is returning to the Northwest basketball program. 

Oakley will rejoin his familiar counterpart in head coach Bubba Skelton and will be the Rangers' new assistant men's basketball coach. Unlike his previous stint, Oakley will only work with the men's team instead of his old duties of serving as an assistant for both programs.

"It's good to be back," Oakley said. "Last time Bubba and I were together at Northwest, we had a really good run and hope we can do that again. We know it won't be easy, but we look forward to the challenge ahead."

Oakley coached last season alongside Skelton at Jones County, taking the Bobcats to a 12-13 overall mark and appearance in both the state and region tournaments.

Prior to his one year at Jones, 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 Ranger football and softball assistant coach, Scott Oakley.