DAYTON – University of Dayton men's basketball coach Anthony Grant has announced several staff updates for the upcoming 2026-27 season, including the elevation of James Kane to associate head coach, as well as the hiring of Nick Irvin and Jordan Talley as assistants.
 
The 2026-27 campaign will be the seventh at Dayton for Kane, who was a member of Grant's first staff at UD in 2017-18 and returned as an assistant for the 2021-22 season. 
 
"I am pleased to announce the promotion of James Kane to Associate Head Coach," said Grant. "James has been an integral part of my staff throughout every stop of my head coaching journey and has been instrumental to our program's success throughout his tenure at Dayton. He is a relentless worker, a passionate teacher of the game, and a great mentor to our student-athletes. His basketball intelligence, recruiting acumen, and dedication to our culture make him the perfect fit for this elevated role."
 
"I'm grateful and want to thank Coach Grant for this opportunity," said Kane. "Dayton and the UD community are a special place, and I'm excited to continue competing for championships with our program."
 
Irvin joins the Flyers after stints at Arizona State and Western Illinois following a long career in the prep basketball scene in Chicago. He was the 2020 IBCA Coach of the Year to cap off a 12-year run as head coach at Morgan Park High School where he went 301-70 and won four state championships (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018). Irvin coached notable All-State selections, including current NBA player Ayo Dosunmu and a pair of former Flyers, Kyle Davis and Josh Cunningham.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Nick Irvin to our coaching staff and the Dayton Basketball family," remarked Grant. "Nick brings a wealth of coaching experiences, strong regional connections, and a commitment to player development that make him a tremendous fit for our staff. He is deeply connected throughout the Midwest and is legendary as a former Chicago ball player, high school, and AAU coach. His ability to identify and develop elite talent is well known and Flyer fans are personally familiar with his work having coached former Flyer standouts Kyle Davis and Josh Cunningham during their state championship high school runs. Nick's energy and passion will positively impact every facet of our program and community."
 
"I'm incredibly blessed and thankful for the opportunity Coach Grant has given me – this is truly a dream come true," said Irvin. "I'm thrilled to be joining him and this outstanding staff to build something special together. Dayton is a phenomenal place to be, with a basketball tradition that speaks for itself. I've been following Dayton basketball for years, so to now be a part of it means the world to me. I have such fond memories of watching my former players Kyle Davis and Josh Cunningham compete at UD Arena – the fan support and passion at the Arena is truly something special. I cannot wait to get to work and contribute to the continued success of this program!"
 
Talley is the final addition to the staff for the upcoming season, coming to Dayton after stops at Duquesne and Florida, where he was a Player Development Assistant for the 2025 National Championship team. The Lake City, Fla. native spent three seasons in Gainesville as a player development assistant before his time at Duquesne, where he helped the Dukes to a five-win improvement over the previous year.
 
"We are excited to welcome Jordan Talley to our coaching staff and the Dayton Basketball family," stated Grant. "Jordan brings a proven track record of elite player development, highlighted by his experiences with the University of Florida during their championship run. His energy, communication skills, and passion for mentoring young men, align perfectly with the values of our program. Jordan is a high-character leader who will positively impact our players, coaches, and staff on & off the court."
 
"Dayton embodies everything that makes college basketball special – tradition, toughness, pride, and community. I'm grateful to Coach Grant and the staff, the administration, and everyone at the University of Dayton for this incredible opportunity and trust. I'm excited to get to work and help continue the standard that has been built here."