Men's Basketball | 6/9/2026 3:12:00 PM

June 9, 2026-Emporia State men's basketball coach Tom Billeter has announced the addition of Justin Tabor to the Hornet coaching staff.
 
Tabor spent last year as an assistant coach at UMKC after spending the previous three years as the Director of Player Development for the Roos. He was on the sidelines when Kansas City had one of their most successful seasons in recent history, finishing in second place in the Summit League and nabbing three All-Conference awards in 2023-24. 

Prior to Kansas City, Tabor served as the Assistant Coach at Southeastern CC for two years. Southeastern CC had a combined record of 41-12 and reached as high as #7 in the NJCAA National Poll

During a single season at Eastern Arizona CC, the team achieved their best season since 2008 by going 26-7 and winning the Region I Championship. Prior to Eastern Arizona, Tabor served as the Assistant Coach for two seasons for Hall of Fame Coach Jay Herkelman at Coffeyville CC. During his two seasons, the Red Ravens went 60-9, won two Jayhawk Conference Championships, with two National Tournament appearances including the Sweet 16 in 2018 and the Final Four in 2019.

Prior to Coffeyville CC, Tabor served as the Graduate Assistant at New Mexico State from 2015-2017 after spending 2011-15 as a Student Manager for the Aggies and the Head Student Manager for three seasons.  In his combined seven years at New Mexico State, Tabor had the honor of being a part of 168 wins, five NCAA Tournament berths (2012-2015, 2017), five WAC Tournament Championships (2012-2015, 2017), the 2016 WAC regular season championship, and one National Invitational Tournament berth in 2016. 

The Inglewood, Calif. native earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from New Mexico State University and his Master's in Higher Education Administration at UMKC. He played all four years at Golden Valley HS in Santa Clarita, Calif.