Allen Payne enters his third season as an assistant coach for the IUP men's basketball program in 2019-20.
Payne has been an integral part of the coaching staff that has seen success. He helped lead the team to two-straight PSAC West regular season championships, a PSAC Championship title in 2019, NCAA tournament appearance, and the program's 11th straight 20-win season and third 30-win season (30-3).
Payne's role with IUP consists of recruiting, opponent scouting, player development and administrative duties. He worked closely with junior forward Jacobo Diaz, who earned first team All-PSAC West honors for the second straight year in 2018. Diaz averaged 14.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and increased his 3-point shooting by by nearly 100 points (.337 in 2016-17 to .429 in 2017-18).
Prior to IUP, Payne spent two seasons at Xavier as the Musketeers' graduate assistant. He helped Xavier to the NCAA tournament in both seasons on the staff, including an Elite Eight appearance as the 11th seed in 2017.
A 2014 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in public administration, Payne was a three-year starter for the Tigers, including team captain as a senior. He amassed 734 points and started in 90 of the 113 games he appeared in. He played one year of pro basketball in the United Kingdom for the Sheffield Sharks after graduation.
A native of Cincinnati, Payne was a four-year varsity letterman at Winton Woods High School. Payne earned All-State, All-City and Conference Player of the Year honors as a high school senior.
In 2017, Payne married the former Tyrese Tanner and they have one daughter named Ava.
Updated July 2, 2019
