Promoted to assistant coach in August 2015, Shenton Wai is in his seventh season at UTSA, the last six of which have been as the team's operations coordinator, where he was responsible for film exchange and assisting with recruiting coordination and on-campus visits, team travel, academics and compliance.
In his six years on the Roadrunners’ bench, UTSA has registered the school’s first-ever NCAA postseason victory in any sport, captured one league championship, made four conference tournament appearances and recorded the most successful three-year stretch (57 wins) in two decades. Eight players have earned all-conference honors and two have been tabbed league freshman of the year (Melvin Johnson III, 2010; Jeromie Hill, 2011).
The 2010-11 season arguably was the most successful in 20 years, as UTSA captured the Southland Tournament Championship for the first time since 2004 and made the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. There the Roadrunners registered the first NCAA postseason victory in any sport in the department’s history with a 70-61 first-round victory over Alabama State during the First Four on March 16 in Dayton, Ohio. That outcome gave UTSA its first 20-win season in 19 years and was part of the 76-win stretch from the 2008-09 through 2011-12 campaigns.The Roadrunners also have taken care of business in the classroom. UTSA has collected six league all-academic certificates, including Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year honorees in Devin Gibson (2010, ’11) and Hill (2012).
Wai joined the Roadrunners after spending the 2008-09 season as a basketball operations intern with the San Antonio Spurs. While with the NBA franchise, Wai scouted, built and maintained the 2009 draft prospect and free agent DVD library for NCAA, NBDL and international players. Wai also coordinated travel for draft workouts, mini camps, training camps and open gym summer workouts, as well as assisting in the day-to-day operations of the front office.
Prior to joining the Spurs, Wai was a marketing and communications executive with the National Basketball League in Australia from 2004-08. He was responsible for the management of the NBL licensing program and official team gear and merchandise. Wai also managed multi-million dollar sponsorships for several companies and organized corporate events such as golf outings, trade show exhibits, dinners, press conferences and tournaments.
Wai served as marketing coordinator for the Sydney Kings from 2003-04, managing promotions and marketing activities, developing a membership loyalty program for season ticket holders and initiating relationships with community and corporate clients.
From 2001-04, Wai was an assistant coach and advance and talent scout for Sydney, helping the Kings win back-to-back NBL Championships in 2003-04.
Wai also coached a junior boys team, Nunawading Spectres, in 2000, a representative-level (highest level) club that produced Olympian and former NBA player Shane Heal. In 2003, he served as head coach for the Australian team that participated in the Maccabi Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
A former player, Wai was a member of the Melbourne Tigers junior squad from 1991-93. He began playing club basketball in 1989 for Ashwood and began coaching the team one year later at the age of 13.
Wai earned a bachelor of business management degree in human resource and manufacturing from Victoria University in 1999. The Melbourne native graduated from Victoria with an associate degree in business operations management in 1996 and holds a Victorian Certificate of Education from Swinburne Secondary College in 1994.
Wai is married to the former Lisa Garza and the couple is expecting its first child this fall.
The Shenton Wai File
Experience
· 2015-present: assistant coach, UTSA
· 2009-15: team operations coordinator, UTSA
· 2008-09: operations intern, San Antonio Spurs
· 2004-08: marketing and communications executive, National Basketball League (Australia)
· 2003-04: marketing coordinator, Sydney Kings
· 2001-04: assistant coach, Sydney Kings
· 2000: head coach, Nunawading Spectres (junior)
Playing Experience
Club
· 1991-93: Melbourne Tigers (junior)
· 1989-90: Ashwood
Education
· Earned bachelor of business management degree in human resource and manufacturing from Victoria (Australia) University in 1999
· Earned associate degree in business operations management from Victoria University in 1996
· Earned Victorian Certificate of Education from Swinburne Secondary College in 1994
Personal
· Wife: Lisa
In his six years on the Roadrunners’ bench, UTSA has registered the school’s first-ever NCAA postseason victory in any sport, captured one league championship, made four conference tournament appearances and recorded the most successful three-year stretch (57 wins) in two decades. Eight players have earned all-conference honors and two have been tabbed league freshman of the year (Melvin Johnson III, 2010; Jeromie Hill, 2011).
The 2010-11 season arguably was the most successful in 20 years, as UTSA captured the Southland Tournament Championship for the first time since 2004 and made the program’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. There the Roadrunners registered the first NCAA postseason victory in any sport in the department’s history with a 70-61 first-round victory over Alabama State during the First Four on March 16 in Dayton, Ohio. That outcome gave UTSA its first 20-win season in 19 years and was part of the 76-win stretch from the 2008-09 through 2011-12 campaigns.The Roadrunners also have taken care of business in the classroom. UTSA has collected six league all-academic certificates, including Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year honorees in Devin Gibson (2010, ’11) and Hill (2012).
Wai joined the Roadrunners after spending the 2008-09 season as a basketball operations intern with the San Antonio Spurs. While with the NBA franchise, Wai scouted, built and maintained the 2009 draft prospect and free agent DVD library for NCAA, NBDL and international players. Wai also coordinated travel for draft workouts, mini camps, training camps and open gym summer workouts, as well as assisting in the day-to-day operations of the front office.
Prior to joining the Spurs, Wai was a marketing and communications executive with the National Basketball League in Australia from 2004-08. He was responsible for the management of the NBL licensing program and official team gear and merchandise. Wai also managed multi-million dollar sponsorships for several companies and organized corporate events such as golf outings, trade show exhibits, dinners, press conferences and tournaments.
Wai served as marketing coordinator for the Sydney Kings from 2003-04, managing promotions and marketing activities, developing a membership loyalty program for season ticket holders and initiating relationships with community and corporate clients.
From 2001-04, Wai was an assistant coach and advance and talent scout for Sydney, helping the Kings win back-to-back NBL Championships in 2003-04.
Wai also coached a junior boys team, Nunawading Spectres, in 2000, a representative-level (highest level) club that produced Olympian and former NBA player Shane Heal. In 2003, he served as head coach for the Australian team that participated in the Maccabi Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
A former player, Wai was a member of the Melbourne Tigers junior squad from 1991-93. He began playing club basketball in 1989 for Ashwood and began coaching the team one year later at the age of 13.
Wai earned a bachelor of business management degree in human resource and manufacturing from Victoria University in 1999. The Melbourne native graduated from Victoria with an associate degree in business operations management in 1996 and holds a Victorian Certificate of Education from Swinburne Secondary College in 1994.
Wai is married to the former Lisa Garza and the couple is expecting its first child this fall.
The Shenton Wai File
Experience
· 2015-present: assistant coach, UTSA
· 2009-15: team operations coordinator, UTSA
· 2008-09: operations intern, San Antonio Spurs
· 2004-08: marketing and communications executive, National Basketball League (Australia)
· 2003-04: marketing coordinator, Sydney Kings
· 2001-04: assistant coach, Sydney Kings
· 2000: head coach, Nunawading Spectres (junior)
Playing Experience
Club
· 1991-93: Melbourne Tigers (junior)
· 1989-90: Ashwood
Education
· Earned bachelor of business management degree in human resource and manufacturing from Victoria (Australia) University in 1999
· Earned associate degree in business operations management from Victoria University in 1996
· Earned Victorian Certificate of Education from Swinburne Secondary College in 1994
Personal
· Wife: Lisa