Justin Wagner continues his third year as an assistant coach on the UAM men's basketball staff for the 2023-24 season.
Justin came to UAM from Lyon College. He was an assistant on the men's basketball staff for three years in which the Scots posted the best regular-season record since the 1984-85 season, recorded the most victories in the regular season since the 1983-84 season, and captured the first American Midwest Conference regular season title in school history.
The 2020-21 season proved to be a banner year for the Scots as they would capture their first American Midwest Conference regular season title by defeating Central Baptist College 91-78 on February 21. The Scots would do it, as usual, with defense, finishing the year number 1 in the nation in points per game allowed, 7th in points per possession, and top 25 in both field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense. For their efforts, head coach, Chad Tapp was named AMC Coach of the year. The final regular season poll would include the Scots for a second straight season. Three players would earn honors with Cole Anderson being named First Team All-Conference, Ray Price Second Team, and Dominique Loyd being named Third Team as well as All-Defensive Team. Eleven members of the team would be selected Academic All-Conference as well.
In the 2019-2020 season, the Scots finished the year with 18 wins. The 18 wins marks the most victories in a regular season since 1983-84. The Scots received votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll two times throughout the season, which marked the first time the Scots received votes since the 2014-15 season. The Scots upset then-No. 18 Central Baptist College, 65-61, on Jan. 4 at home. The Scots would once again finish fifth in the nation in points per game allowed and top 25 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Three players earned All-AMC accolades, while seven players were named to the AMC Academic All-Conference team. Lyon earned their fourth consecutive AMC Tournament appearance.
In the 2018-19 season, the Scots posted the best regular-season record since the 1984-85 season. Lyon defeated two teams that qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. On Nov. 7, 2019, the Scots took down Talladega College for a season-opening 70-69 overtime victory. Later in the season, Lyon upset No. 18 Central Baptist College by holding the Mustangs 34 points below their season average, 55-46. The Scots would finish second in the nation in points per game allowed and top 25 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. This was the Scots’ third consecutive AMC Tournament appearance.
Prior to Lyon, Justin was at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Mass., where he was an assistant men's basketball coach at his alma mater, while also working as a part-time enrollment counselor and completing his masters. In addition, Justin and his brother Jeremy worked closely with the sports information director with their duties including recording live stats for the men's and women's volleyball teams, being game-day managers, setting up and tearing down postgame, and announcing live sporting events.
Prior to coaching, Justin played both basketball and baseball at ENC. While there, the Wagner brothers helped lead the men's basketball program to the best four-year winning percentage in program history.
