Jaden Uken is in his second season on the Golden Flashes coaching staff as the Director of Basketball Operations.  Uken came to the KSU program after spending the prior two seasons as an assistant coach at Chipola (Fla.) College.  
“Jaden is a great addition to our staff,” said Head Coach Geno Ford, “His previous experience at the Division I and junior college level is an asset that enable us to continue running a championship caliber program.”

The key ingredient in the Golden Flashes’ day-to-day organization, Uken oversees the multiple aspects of the program with intricate detail.  His duties include, but are not limited to film breakdown, team travel and academic monitoring.  In addition he is the Executive Camp Director for the Golden Flashes’ Team and Individual Summer Camps.  

In just his first season on staff, the Golden Flashes had five student-athletes honored at the 26th Annual Judith K. Devine Athletic Academic Honors Dinner.  The team also advanced to the postseason for the 10th time in the past 11 years with a berth in the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Tournament.  

No stranger to national success on the court, Uken helped guide Chipola to runner-up finish in the 2007 NJCAA national tournament and a 68-5 overall record.  With a school record 35-2 mark in 2008, the Indians claimed their second straight NJCAA Region VIII and Panhandle Conference championships.  In addition to his duties as an assistant coach he also held a vast range of off-the-court responsibilities that were an integral part of the program’s top five national ranking throughout his two year stint.  

During Uken’s tenure in Florida, Chipola produced 12 NCAA Division I signees, including JaMarcus Ellis (Indiana), the 2007 NJCAA National Player of the Year and Mario Little (Kansas), the 2008 State Player of the Year.  

A graduate of the University of Nebraska, the Harvard, Neb. product first joined the coaching profession as a student manager for his alma mater in 1998, spending five seasons with the Huskers program before moving on to Barton Community College in Kansas.  As an assistant coach for Barton, Uken helping his team that featured Second Team NJCAA All-American Center JP Batista (Gonzaga) to a 25-9 record.  

Following his stay in Kansas, Uken spent two seasons as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Nebraska under Barry Collier. During the 2005-06 season, the Huskers finished with a 19-14 record, a semi-final appearance in the Big XII Tournament, and earned a trip to the post-season NIT.

Uken earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska and recently completed his master’s work in instructional technology.

A graduate of Harvard Public Schools in Nebraska. He was a four-year letterwinner in the backcourt for the Cardinals.

The Jaden Uken File
Birthdate: Sept. 18, 1979
Hometown: Harvard, Neb.
Family: Single
Alma Mater: University of Nebraska, bachelor’s degree in education; master’s degree in instructional technology

Uken’s Coaching Log
Seasons    School    Position(s)    
1998-03    Nebraska    Student Manager
2003-04    Barton C.C.    Assistant Coach
2004-06    Nebraska    Graduate Assistant
2006-08    Chipola C.C.    Assistant Coach    
2008-pres.  Kent State    Director of Operations