Elon Names J.B. Tanner Director of Men’s Basketball Operations

ELON, N.C. – Elon University head men’s basketball coach Matt Matheny has named J.B. Tanner the new Phoenix director of basketball operations today, Sept. 4. Tanner spent the previous three seasons as the director of basketball operations on the men’s basketball staff at UNCG.

“We are fortunate to have a guy for our director of basketball operations position with the experience J.B. has,” Matheny said. “J.B.’s experiences as a player at North Carolina and on staffs at VCU and UNCG will add great qualities to our program at Elon.”

“I am very excited to join the staff Elon University,” Tanner added. “I am thankful for this great opportunity to work with such outstanding student-athletes and coaches. It’s a great time to be joining the Phoenix as Elon moves into the CAA and I am looking forward to taking on the challenges ahead.”

Prior to his time at UNCG, Tanner spent two seasons as a graduate assistant on Shaka Smart’s staff at VCU. In 2011, Tanner helped the Rams to a remarkable run through the NCAA Tournament, which culminated with an appearance at the Final Four in Houston. Overall, the Rams won 55 games during Tanner’s two seasons at VCU.

Before his time at VCU, Tanner was a student-athlete on the men’s basketball team at North Carolina. Tanner played two seasons (2007-09) at UNC and helped the Tar Heels to the 2009 national title in Detroit. Tanner appeared in 39 games in two seasons, winning a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference championships under head coach Roy Williams. Tanner spent his first two years at UNC as a member of the junior varsity squad.

Tanner earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Carolina in 2009 before earning a master’s degree in sport leadership from VCU in 2011. Tanner married the former Kristi Stricker on June 6, 2009.