David Kontaxis - Assistant Coach - Cowboy Basketball Coaches

David Kontaxis

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
mike.kontaxis@okstate.edu

Longtime AAU and collegiate coaching veteran David Kontaxis joined the Cowboy basketball coaching staff as an assistant in May of 2017, and instantly made an impact on and off the floor.

With Kontaxis on staff and serving as one of the program’s primary recruiters on the East coast, Oklahoma State posted a 21-win campaign in 2017-18 that included six wins over ranked opponents, which tied for the national lead, and a school-record four victories over top-10 squads.

He was instrumental in the development of a pair of All-Big 12 performers in Jeffrey Carroll and Mitchell Solomon, who led the Cowboys to a school-record-tying 15 home wins.

What’s more, Kontaxis is at the heart of OSU’s 2019 recruiting class, which is ranked by 247Sports.com as the nation’s No. 9 class.

Kontaxis spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant coach at James Madison University, and has a history of success in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“David is a guy that I’ve gotten to know really well, and he is a perfect fit for the Oklahoma State basketball program,” Boynton said. “He has great recruiting ties in the East, which is an area we plan on recruiting heavily over the coming years, and he’s known as a fantastic communicator with young men. David has coached at just about every level in this game, and I really look forward to him helping us elevating this historic program to new heights.”

At Oklahoma State, Kontaxis’ focus will be on recruiting the Eastern U.S., as well as the skill development of the Cowboys. He spent the summer working individually with OSU’s guards, including All-Big 12 wing Jeffrey Carroll, on his ball-handling skills and shooting touch.

In his one season at JMU, Kontaxis helped seniors Dimitrije Cabarkapa and Paulius Satkus become the first Dukes duo to earn Colonial Athletic Association All-Academic Team honors since 2008.

Kontaxis also worked with 6-7 guard Jackson Kent, who averaged 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 35.3 percent from 3-point in 2016-17.

Prior to JMU, he spent the previous seven years coaching successful AAU squads. He worked in the Washington, D.C. area with DC Assault before more recently working with Team Loaded in the Virginia/North Carolina area. Kontaxis worked primarily with the U17-U15 teams as the lead recruiter.

Prior to entering the AAU realm, Kontaxis acted as the director of basketball operations at William & Mary for the 2008-09 season.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Oklahoma State program, which has so much tradition and a history of success,” Kontaxis said. “I have a tremendous passion for the game of basketball, and I’m looking forward to working with coach Boynton in keeping the success rolling in Stillwater.”

He got his start in coaching at the prep level, serving for seven years at Central High School in Capital Heights, Maryland. From 2001-2006, Kontaxis was the assistant coach before earning a promotion to head coach for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Kontaxis played basketball collegiately at Montgomery College-Germantown from 1995-97. He served as a team captain during his final season in 1997. Kontaxis earned his associate’s degree from Montgomery College-Germantown in 1997 and was a Dean’s List student.

He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in social science education from South Florida in 2000. In 2004, Kontaxis received his master’s in education from Johns Hopkins University in Mild to Moderate Disabilities.