Ranger Basketball Coaches

Head Women's Basketball Coach Don Edwards

Head Women's Basketball Coach Don Edwards is beginning his 24th season as a part of the Northwest coaching staff. Edwards has been the head women’s basketball coach for 22 years.
He owns a record of 320-202 during his tenure at the helm of the Lady Ranger basketball program.
After joining the Northwest staff in 1985 and serving as assistant coach for men’s and women’s basketball for two seasons, Edwards became women’s head coach in 1987.
During his tenure as head coach, Edwards has led the Lady Rangers to Region XXIII championships in 1990, 1996, 1998 and 2005 and state championships in 1995 and 1996. He received Region XXIII and District
16 Coach of the Year honors in 1990, 1996, 1998 and 2005. Edwards was MACJC Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990, and was MAC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year in 1990, 1995 and 1996.
Edwards came to Northwest from West Panola Academy at Batesville where he served as boys’ and girls’ basketball coach, golf coach and athletic director for eight years. Named Coach of the Year a total of six times, he coached in two academy All-Star games.
His record as a high school coach stands at 246-56 for girls and
162-82 for boys. Edwards’ girls’ teams finished in the top four in the state for six years, capturing the championship three times.
Before arriving at West Panola, Edwards worked at Quitman County High School where he was athletic director, football coach and driver’s education instructor.
He graduated from Crowder High School in 1968. After attending Northwest for two years, he transferred to Delta State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1973. He also holds an M.Ed. in administration and supervision from Delta State University.
Married to the former Angie Brock of Pleasant Grove, Edwards and his wife have two sons—Drew and Ross.

Assistant Men's and Women's Basketball Coach Shane Oakley

In his fifth season as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Northwest.
Since Oakley came to Northwest in 2004-05, the men’s program has compiled a record of 81-39, while the Lady Rangers are 53-47.
In Oakley’s first season at Northwest, the Lady Rangers captured the Region XXIII championship and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament. He helped lead the Rangers to back-to-back region championships and NJCAA National Tournament appearances in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Oakley was the assistant basketball coach for both men and women during the 2003-04 season at Mississippi Delta Community College. Before going to Mississippi Delta, Oakley’s first coaching experience came as a graduate assistant at Delta State University during the 2002-03 season.
A native of Senatobia, he graduated from Senatobia High School in 1997 where he earned several letters in football, basketball and baseball.

Oakley attended Northwest in 1997-98 before transferring to Delta State. At Delta State, Oakley received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education. Oakley is the grandson of the late W.C. “Bill” Oakley, who is a member of the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame. His cousins, Drew and Brooks, lettered in baseball at Northwest, and his twin brother Scott is an assistant softball coach at Northwest.