Jason Rabedeaux

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Jason Rabedeaux
Biographical details
Born(1965-04-04)April 4, 1965
Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 22, 2014(2014-09-22) (aged 49)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Playing career
1984–1988UC Davis
Coaching career (
Link Tochigi Brex
2011Al-Manama
2011Saigon Heat (asst.)
2012Sichuan Blue Whales
2012–2014Saigon Heat
Head coaching record
Overall46–46 (.500)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Bahrain Cup (2011)
Bahrain Super Cup (2011)
Awards
WAC Coach of the Year (2091)

Jason Rabedeaux (April 4, 1965 – September 22, 2014) was an American

UTEP Miners from 1999 to 2002. Rabedeaux was also a top assistant at Washington State and Oklahoma
prior to becoming UTEP's head coach.

Early life

Rabedeaux was born in Aurora, Illinois, and moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin when he was seven.[1]

Rabedeaux attended

walk on at the University of California, Davis, and was named all-conference twice. He ended his UC Davis career with 1,112 points, 15th-most in school history.[2] He holds the school record for the three-pointers in a season (80), most three-pointers in a game (six) and most free throws in a game (14). In 1995, he was inducted into the UC Davis Aggies Athletics Hall of Fame.[3] Rabedeaux held a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology, and at Washington State in 1991, earned a master's degree in athletic administration.[4]

Coaching career

Upon finishing his college career, Rabedeaux spent a season as an assistant coach with

North Adams State College, then joined Washington State, working with Kelvin Sampson as a graduate assistant (1989–1991) and eventually assistant coach (1992–1994). When Sampson went to Oklahoma, Rabedeaux followed him, working as an assistant coach. With Rabedeaux, the Sooners averaged 20.6 wins over five years, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament each year, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1999.[4]

Rabedeaux, who had served as recruiting director with North Adams, Washington State and Oklahoma, established himself as one of the top recruiters in the nation. Two of his recruits,

Wooden Award candidate.[4]

On September 10, 1999, Rabedeaux was hired by

Sporting News and Houston Chronicle. However, in 2002, UTEP struggled, finishing 10–22. Despite receiving a contract extension through 2007,[5] on October 21, he announced his resignation due to "personal reasons".[6]

In 2004, Rabedeaux was hired by

Marquette.[7] In 2007, he became the school's Director of Basketball Operations.[8]

In 2008, he joined the

uprising.[11] In late 2011, Rabedeaux was hired by the Saigon Heat of the ASEAN Basketball League as an assistant coach under Robert Newson. After seven consecutive losses, Newson was demoted,[11] and on February 23, Rabedeaux was promoted to head coach.[10] During his tenure with the Heat, he coached in China to earn more money.[11] His final game with the Heat was a 72–61 win over the Indonesia Warriors.[2]

Personal life and death

Rabedeaux and his ex-wife Stephanie had two sons, Beau and Cole,[4] and a daughter, Riley.[8]

Beginning during the final year of his coaching career at UTEP, Rabedeaux struggled with alcoholism; former assistant Bobby Champagne recalled Rabedeaux missing a flight to meet with a recruit because he was drunk at a nearby bar. After his divorce, Rabedeaux began gaining a significant amount of weight, reaching as high as 300 pounds (140 kg).[11]

In Vietnam, Rabedeaux met Hong-Nhung Nguyen, nicknamed Eva by foreigners, and the two began a relationship, with plans to marry and return to the United States. After Rabedeaux returned from a trip to Wisconsin, his behavior, which included becoming increasingly hostile and smelling of alcohol, attracted the attention of Heat owner Connor Nguyen, who warned him that should he cause another incident, he would be fired. Nguyen had hired Tony Garbelotto as an assistant and potential interim coach. During games, he appeared to be unstable and dizzy; during his final game against the Warriors, he attempted to draw a play, but was unable to, and Garbelotto had to explain the play.[11]

The day after the game, Rabedeaux was found by Eva in the kitchen with cuts on his arms and head, and died while in a local taxicab. His death certificate listed the reason of death as a traumatic brain injury. Toxicology reports revealed that Rabedeaux had been sober at the time of his death.[11]

Rabedeaux's funeral was held at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Eau Claire, with Sampson delivering the eulogy.[11]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UTEP Miners (Western Athletic Conference
) (1999–2002)
1999–00
UTEP
 13–15 4–10 7th
2000–01
UTEP
 23–9 10–6 2nd
NIT Second Round
2001–02
UTEP
 10–22 3–15 10th
UTEP: 46–46 (.500) 17–31 (.354)
Total: 46–46 (.500)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Link Tochigi Brex
 2010 20 8 12 .400 Fired - - - – -

References

  1. ^ Knight, Bill. "Jason Rabedeaux". El Paso Times. Legacy.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Watson, Phil. "Jason Rabedeaux, Eau Claire Memorial star and former Marquette assistant, dies". Dairyland Express. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Odeven, Ed. "Former Link Tochigi Brex coach Rabedeaux, 49, dies in Vietnam". The Japan Times. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Jason Rabedeaux Named Head Coach at UTEP". Oklahoma Sooners. September 10, 1999. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  5. ^ Roberts, Chris (October 22, 2002). "Rabedeaux Resigns As UTEP Coach". National Association of Basketball Coaches. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "Former UTEP Basketball Coach Jason Rabedeaux Passes Away". UTEP Miners. September 22, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Hunt, Michael (September 22, 2014). "Former Marquette assistant, Eau Claire native Jason Rabedeaux dies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Jason Rabedeaux". Marquette Golden Eagles. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  9. ^ Pastuszek, Jon (July 12, 2012). "After brawl-marred playoffs, everyone in the NBL has been suspended". NIU BBall. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Saigon Heat Welcomes Head Coach Jason Rabedeaux". ASEAN Basketball League. February 23, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Thompson, Wright (April 7, 2015). "Former UTEP coach Jason Rabedeaux' death remains a mystery". ESPN. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
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