An Affiliate of The Arena Basketball Club




The Iowa Lakes Basketball Club is based out of Estherville, Iowa and is an affiliate program to The Arena Basketball Club whose home base is Sioux City.  The Arena Basketball Program has quickly become one of the largest club basketball programs in the state of Iowa.

The objective of The Iowa Lakes Basketball Club to help basketball players grow on and off of the court by providing experienced coaching, a competitive/organized atmosphere and progressive opportunities for player skill development.







MEET OUR STAFF

 

TROY LARSON
Director of Iowa Lakes Basketball Club

Coach Troy Larson has been the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Iowa Lakes Community College for 16 seasons. In his time at Iowa Lakes he has compiled over 330 wins including eleven 20 win seasons. Iowa Lakes has won the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference regular season championship twice. They have played in four ICCAC Tournament Finals winning it twice. They have made two National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament Appearances once in 2013 and once in 2021 finishing 3rd. Coach Larson has had 89 players named to All- Academic All-Region teams by the ICCAC, 56 players have been named to All-Conference teams and seven Lakers have been named All-Americans. Former Lakers Kyle Beisch, Cornelius Vines, Akeem Vargas, Mark Rangely, Manny Golong, and Deondre Parks have all played professional basketball overseas. Before coming to Iowa Lakes he was an assistant men’s basketball coach at South Dakota State University (NCAA Division I and II), Morningside College (NCAA Division II), and Iowa Lakes Community College(NJCAA).  Coach Larson played his College Basketball at Morningside College(NCAA Division II) and Iowa Lakes Community College (NJCAA).
____________________________________________________________________________




JASON MCKINNEY
Program Coordinator, Iowa Lakes Basketball Club

Coach Jason McKinney has been an assistant men’s basketball coach at Iowa Lakes Community College(NJCAA) for the last 13 seasons. In his time as an assistant at Iowa Lakes he has helped the Lakers to over 280 wins including ten 20 win seasons. Iowa Lakes has won the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference regular season championship twice. They have played in four ICCAC Tournament Finals winning it twice. They have made two National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament Appearances once in 2013 and once in 2021 finishing 3rd. Coach McKinney has coached or recruited 49 players that have been named to All-Conference teams, 2 players named ICCAC player of the year, seven Lakers have been named All-Americans, and 83 players have been named to All- Academic All-Region teams by the ICCAC. Coach McKinney has coached 4 Former Lakers who are overseas. Including  Kyle Beisch, Akeem Vargas, Mark Rangely, Manny Golong, and Deondre Parks. Before coming to Iowa Lakes Community College he was an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at St. Ambrose University (NAIA), and the Head Boys’ Basketball at Calamus-Wheatland High School. Coach McKinney lives in Estherville with his wife Kayla, son Braxton(15), and twin daughters Elsie and Mary (2). 

____________________________________________________________


TEAM COACHES: 

Coach Stephen Tjaden

is currently in his 11th season as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Sioux Central High School in Sioux Rapids.  In his time there he has led the Rebels to the most consecutive winning seasons in school history, led the school to the district finals three straight years, and they made the school's first ever state tournament berth in 2019, while setting a Sioux Central record with 22 wins.  He has been named Area Coach of the Year, and was selected to coach the 2020 and 2021 Iowa High School Basketball All-Star Games.  In addition he has coached numerous all-conference, and all-state players.  Prior to his time at Sioux Central, Coach Tjaden served as a manager for the University of Iowa under head coaches Steve Alford and Todd Lickliter, and was a member of the 2006 Big Ten Tournament Championship team.  Following his time in Iowa City he spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at Division 1 Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.  Coach Tjaden lives in Sioux Rapids with his wife Kayla, and two sons, Rush (8), and Pres (3).

Khalil Robinson

, is entering his first year as the Graduate Assistant for the Iowa Lakes Men's Basketball Team. Khalil graduated from HBCU Texas Southern University in Houston, TX with a Bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism from the School of Communications. While at Texas Southern University, Coach was a Trainer/Skill developer in the city of Houston.

Coach Robinson brings knowledge of the game and a high-energy work ethic to the program, with the goal to win and succeed. He has 4 years of coaching experience, coaching at St Cecilia Middle School in Memorial City, TX as the Head Coach for the boys' basketball program, and has played basketball from elementary to the college level. Khalil played at Houston Community College. 

Khalil has no wife or kids, he has a dog (Border Terrier) named Pancake and is married to basketball. 

Shaun Bryant

, is entering her first year as Assistant Coach for the Iowa Lakes Women's Basketball Team. Shaun graduated from HBCU, University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD with a Bacherlors in Criminal Justice. While at UMES Bryant competed in 3 years of Division 1 collegiate level basketball. 

After college Shaun served as an Assistant Coach at the Girls Varsity level. Bringing a wide variety of knowledge and skill to this program is what Coach Bryant is looking to do. 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE & ROSTERS COMING SOON...