Jason McKinney enters his 1^st season as head coach at Iowa Lakes. McKinney was introduced as the ninth head men’s basketball coach in Iowa Lakes Community College history on April 28, 2023. In addition to his coaching duties, McKinney serves as Housing Manager, and Student Senate Coordinator. He spent the previous 12 years as the lead assistant for the Lakers and the two years prior to that as a graduate assistant.

McKinney’s time as an assistant coach at Iowa Lakes was highly successful, winning 68% of all games to go along with three NJCAA Tournament Appearances, eleven 20-win seasons, fifty-eight All-Academic honorees, forty-three All-Region Players, six All-Americans, six professionals, three league MVPs, and the school’s first ever # 1 NJCAA National Ranking.

The 2022-23 Lakers finished 24-10 and 13-3 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). The Lakers would win the ICCAC regular season title and would advance to the NJCAA National Tournament after winning the ICCAC Region 11 tournament. Four Lakers were honored by the ICCAC Coaches including NJCAA First Team All-American and ICCAC player of the year Jeremiah Burke. Jeremiah Burke and Creighton Morish were named First Team All-Region, Anthony Holden was named Second Team All-Region, and Isaiah Williams was named Honorable Mention All-Region. Six sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The 2021-22 campaign saw the Lakers have another successful season finishing with a 21-10 overall and 11-5 in ICCAC play. The Lakers would fall to DMACC in the semifinals of the Region 11 Tournament.  Four Lakers would earn post season honors. Caleb Johnson would be named an NJCAA Third Team All-American, and First Team All-Region 11. Ryan Hall would be named First Team All-Region 11, Xzavier Jones would be named Second Team All-Region 11, and Johnathan Oden would be named Honorable Mention All-Region 11. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The 2020-21 season would see the Lakers finish with a 21-8 overall record, and 15-7 in ICCAC play. They would earn a Region 11 Tournament Championship, NJCAA National Tournament 3rd place finish, and 5 Lakers being named to All-Region Team's. Xzavier Jones was named First team NJCAA All-American and First Team All-Region 11. Kevin Cook and Dillon Carlson were named Second team All-Region 11, and Caleb Johnson and Ryan Hall were named Honorable Mention All-Region 11. Four sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

In 2019-2020 McKinney helped the Lakers to a 26-6 record and an 11-3 ICCAC finish, which was good enough for a runner-up in the conference. Their 25 regular season wins tied a school record. Justin Brookens was named ICCAC Co-Player of the Year, First Team NJCAA All-American, and First Team All-Region 11. Brookens was also named ICCAC Athlete of the Year. Keshawn Pegues was also named First Team All-Region 11, Malcolm Clayton was named Second Team All-Region 11, and Boston Grimes was named Honorable Mention All-Region 11. Four sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

2018-2019 saw the Lakers finish 22-10 overall and 10-4 in ICCAC play and a 3^rd place ICCAC finish. The Lakers would lose in the Region 11 Semifinals. The Lakers had 4 All-Region Players with Kevin Jennings and Solomon Clayton being named First Team All-Region 11, Equan Ards and Boston Grimes would be named Honorable Mention All-Region 11. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The 2017-18 season was a standout season for the Lakers where they finished with a 23 - 9 overall record while going 9 - 3 in ICCAC play, good enough for second place in the conference standings. The Lakers ended the season in the conference semifinals. Six Lakers received All-Region awards, highlighted by Kyle Beisch and Dennis Joiner being named First Team All-Region 11, Streeter Mcilravy was named to the Second Team All-Region 11, and Christian Kyles, Solomon Clayton, and Nick Wagner were named Honorable Mention All-Region 11. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The Lakers had a successful 2016 – 2017 campaign in which the Lakers finished 22 – 9 overall and 8-4 in ICCAC play and advanced to the regional semi-final game. Kyle Beisch was named a First Team All-Region 11 performer, Mitchell Keller and Denis Joiner were named to the Second team, and Jaylon Tapplar and Streeter Mcilravy were named Honorable Mention. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The 2015 – 2016 season was very successful for the Lakers. They would finish 25 – 8 overall and 10-2 in ICCAC Play. The Lakers would win the regular season ICCAC title while advancing to the regional championship game. Chris Jones was named a Second Team NJCAA All-American and First Team All-Region 11.  Cody Cox and Blake Wilder were named Second Team All-Region 11, and Tywon Bressler JR, and Demetrius Woodley were named to the Region 11 Honorable Mention Team. Tywon Bressler and Chris Jones were named to the Region 11 All-Tournament team. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

2014 – 2015 was a rebuilding year for Lakers they would finish 16 – 15 overall record.  The Lakers improved throughout the season winning four out of their last five to wrap up the season. Rachard Moody was name to the Region 11 Honorable Mention All-Region Team. Four sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

The Lakers would finish 2013 – 2014 season with an overall record of 23 – 9 and 10 – 4 in the ICCAC, good for second place. The Lakers would advance to the regional final. Deondre Parks was named a First Team NJCAA All-American, ICCAC Player of the year, and First Team All-Region 11 and Latrell Love and Diamontae McKinley were named Second Team All-Region 11. Latrell Love and Deondre Parks were named to the Region 11 All-Tournament Team. Five sophomores continued playing at the four-year level.

A great 2012 – 2013 season resulted in the Lakers qualifying for the NJCAA National tournament. The Lakers finished with an overall record of 26 – 8 and 11 – 3 in the ICCAC regular season.  Iowa Lakes would win its first regular season conference championship in school history. Deondre Parks was named a Second Team NJCAA All-American, and First Team All-Region 11, Ben Shellim was named First Team All-Region 11, Josh Schaben was named Second Team All-Region 11, and Kelly Madison was named Honorable Mention All-Region 11.  Five sophomores continued playing basketball at four-year schools.

Before coming to Iowa Lakes, Coach McKinney spent two seasons as a Student Assistant under Ray Shovlain at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. While at St. Ambrose McKinney aided in the recruiting and scouting efforts as well as pre- and post-season conditioning, practice, and in-game coaching.

Prior to St. Ambrose University, McKinney was the Head Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach at Calamus-Wheatland where he led the Warriors to their first playoff victory in 5 seasons. McKinney’s duties included developing and implementing a weight program, individual workouts, pre, and post-season workouts, scouting, practice, and in-game coaching. McKinney has also served as the Director of Basketball Operations for Sports Town Quad Cities in Eldridge, Iowa. He is also a founding member of the Iowa Lakes Basketball Club AAU team.

McKinney, a native of Calamus, Iowa holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Eastern Iowa Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Human performance from Iowa State University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from St. Ambrose University, and a Master of Education Degree from Iowa State University.  McKinney resides in Estherville with his wife Kayla, the Court Administrator for Jackson County Minnesota, son Braxton (16), and three-year-old twin daughters Elsie and Mary.