Jacob Tyree was named the head coach for the Fighting Illini Men’s Wheelchair Basketball on July 26, 2024. He wrapped up his first season at Illinois with the 2024-25 campaign.

In his first season at Illinois, Tyree led the Illini to a 14-18 record, including a 13-13 record against collegiate teams. The Illini finished the season under Tyree with a 51-34 win against Missouri to finish 2-1 in the 2025 NIWBT. Under Tyree, one athlete was named a First Team All-American (Martrell Stevens), one Second Team All-American (Sebastian Milan), two to the All-Rookie Team (Sebastian Milan and Jack Binsfeld), as well as one Academic All-American Honorable Mention honoree (Grant Pierce).

In his first season, the men’s team had a 3.27 GPA in the Fall and a 3.24 GPA in the Spring.

Post graduation, Jacob returned home to Virginia and began working as a Computer Technician in a public school system for 8 years further receiving Dell and Apple Technician Certifications. During that time, he built community that led to forming the Roanoke Stars Wheelchair Basketball program which brought access to adaptive sports to Southwestern Virginia. Through this program he was able to provide adaptive sport demo events throughout the region introducing kids K-12 to normalizing having a disability, breaking down social stereotypes and stigmas, and educating instructional staff on how to integrate adaptive sports into their existing programs.

In 2021, Tyree expanded his coaching toolkit by earning a United State Tennis Association Wheelchair Coaches Certification, and shortly after switched professional careers and began working in national adaptive sports training and education as the Training Coordinator for Move United. During his 2 years there, he expanded his family of adaptive sport athletes, coaches, officials, and community support networks with the focus being expanding access to sport and recreation while creating sustainable development pathways. Tyree worked closely with various national land agencies and helped form the National Trail Access Task Force, a group spearheading expansion of outdoor access through the lens of trail information. He also worked very closely with National Recreation and Parks Association, and various sport governing bodies such as USA Archery, Bicycle Instructor Certification Program, Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors, and United States Tennis Association.

Tyree served as a member of the USTA Wheelchair National Committee – Junior Pathway Development Subcommittee 2023-2025 helping establish wheelchair tennis pathways for athletes and coaches. Additionally through this work, he helped assist colleges begin the process for establishing adaptive sport programs at James Madison University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. 

Tyree graduated from the University of Illinois in 2014 receiving his Bachelor’s in Communication with a Concentration in Technology. During college he began to expand his coaching career through a wheelchair basketball camp with the San Diego Wolfpack Veterans team in 2013 leading to a larger role coaching in Japan at J-Camp in 2013 & 2015, as well as Peru in 2014. Tyree was a student-athlete ambassador who presented at the 2013 NCAA Inclusion Forum advocating for the equity of access and expansion of adaptive sports into collegiate programs.

Athletically, Tyree was named to the 2013 USA Men’s U23 Wheelchair Basketball Team, and an alternate to the 2014 USA Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. During college he was awarded 1^st Team All-American in 2013 and 2014; 2nd Team All-American 2011 and 2012; and the NWBA Collegiate Sportsmanship Award in 2014, which continued on his commitment to character after receiving the Glenvar Highlander of Honor award in 2009. 

Tyree brings with him a diverse background in perspectives and areas of expertise extending well beyond the basketball court. During high school Tyree earned CompTIA Network + and Computer Technician National Certifications. While in college he helped with undergrad research involving multi-team systems in emergency response organizations studying how communication and information technologies promote or inhibit response.

Coaching Experience

2024-Present – Head Coach, University of Illinois
2013 and 2015 – J Camp Coach
2014 – Peru Camp Coach
2013 – San Diego Wolfpack Veterans

Playing Career

2010-2014 – University of Illinois
2014 – Named an alternate for Team USA Men’s Senior Wheelchair Basketball Team
2014 – NWBA Collegiate Sportsmanship Award
2014 – NWBA 1st Team All-American
2013 – NWBA 1st Team All-American
2013 – Member of Team USA U23 Men’s Wheelchair Basketball team
2012 – NWBA 2nd Team All-American
2011 – NWBA 2nd Team All-American

Personal

Born: Sept. 13, 1992
Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia
Education: University of Illinois ’14 – B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Technology