Jason Carpenter
Head Coach – 2nd season
Alma Mater: United States Sports Academy
jason.carpenter@southgatech.edu
229-931-2039
Jason Carpenter is entering his 2nd season as the women’s head basketball coach. He is only the third head basketball coach in the program’s history, replacing James Frey who was named associate head coach for the New Mexico State University Aggies women’s basketball program.
Carpenter takes the reins of the Lady Jets program with 13 years of coaching experience. He began his coaching career at NJCAA Division III Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY where he compiled a 232-50 record in 9 seasons. While at Mohawk Valley, he was recognized five times as the NJCAA Division III District A Coach of the Year and his team was ranked in the top 5 in the NJCAA Division III National Poll for all nine seasons. He was acknowledged as the Junior College Coach of the Year by Basketball Coaches Association of New York in 2017.
Carpenter spent 2 seasons with Georgia Highlands as an assistant coach in 2018-2019 and 2021-2022. During the 2021-2022 season he helped guide the Lady Chargers to a NJCAA National Tournament appearance with the team finishing 2nd overall in the tournament.
He most recently served as an assistant coach with the men’s and women’s programs at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL for the 2022-2023 season, where he also spent the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 seasons as well.
Carpenter has a Master of Science in Sports Management from the United States Sports Academy. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in History from SUNY College and an Associate of Science degree in General Studies from Mohawk Valley Community College.
In addition to his coaching duties, Carpenter is also the athletic director.
Carpenter has two children, Isabella, age 11 and Jason, age 9.
What they are saying about Coach Carpenter:
Morehead State University Women’s Basketball Head Coach Cayla Petree
“Jason is one of the best defensive minds I have ever been around regardless of level. His passion and attention to detail is second to none. Every program he has been associated with has won big so there is no doubt that the Lady Jets will continue their winning ways under his leadership. He is a good coach and an even better person so I am happy to call him a friend. SGT and the Americus community got a good one!”
Gulf Coat State College Men’s Basketball Head Coach Phil Gaffney
“Coach Carpenter is an excellent teacher of the game, especially at the defensive end of the court. His teams play with incredible discipline and energy, two things that makes them unbeatable. I have the utmost respect for his knowledge of the game, and the manner in which he coaches it. The Jets have made a great hire!”
Georgia Highlands College Athletic Director Brandan Harrell
“Jason is a relentless worker and has been successful everywhere he has been. The SGTC program is in great hands to continue the great tradition of that program. I look forward to watching Jason’s success and the continued excellence of the Lady Jets basketball program.”
Olivia Melvin
Assistant Coach – 3rd Season
Alma Mater: College of Coastal Georgia
olivia.melvin@southgatech.edu
229-931-2545
Olivia Melvin is entering her 3rd season with the Lady Jets. Melvin came to South Georgia Tech after four years as an assistant coach at her alma mater, College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Georgia.
At Coastal Georgia, Melvin coached the teams guards, recruited, oversaw the programs academic progress, and assisted with fund raising. During her time on staff at Coastal Georgia, the Lady Mariners amassed a 66-46 overall record and a 42-29 conference record.
Melvin, is one of the most decorated players as a point guard in Coastal Georgia women’s basketball history. A two-time All-American, Melvin holds multiple career, season, and single-game records for the Lady Mariners. Melvin is the programs all-time leading scorer with 1,431 career points which is nearly 400 more than the program’s second-leading scorer. She tallied over 400 points in a season twice, including a season-record 541 points as a junior. Melvin also has four of the top five single-game points totals.
Among the other career records Melvin currently holds are field goals made (475), field goals attempted (1,393), 3-point field goals made (153), 3-point field goals attempted (551), free throws made (328), free throws attempted (447), assists (286), steals (232), games played (122), and games started (75).
Melvin was part of Coastal Georgia’s first four NAIA programs from 2011-12 to 2014-15. In her playing career, the Mariners amassed an 80-45 record, advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in their first eligible year (2012-13) and earned three straight Southern Athletic Conference Tournament berths. AS a freshman at Coastal Georgia in 2011-12, she played for then Coastal Georgia assistant coach and now Lady Jets Head Coach James Frey.
Melvin earned her associate’s degree in mathematics in May 2015 and completed her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in mathematics in May 2022.
What they are saying about Coach Melvin:
Former College of Coastal Georgia and current West Virginia Tech Head Coach Roger Hodge
“I’m so happy for Olivia but also Coach Frey and South Georgia Tech. Even though South Georgia Tech has already experienced great success in women’s basketball, I think combining two people/coaches of this caliber can only make a great situation even better. I know how helpful Coach T (Melvin) was to me in building the program at Coastal Georgia and what an incredible impact she had on the players there. I expect her to do nothing less for the Lady Jets and I am very proud of her. I’m also thrilled that she has landed with such a great coach in James Frey. Olivia will have an opportunity to learn from one o the best and I’m sure that she will continue to grow with leaps and bounds under his tutelage. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish together.”
Former College of Coastal Georgia and current Florida Southern Head Coach Betsy Harris
“Olivia is a great addition to the Jet family. She is a proven winner and relates well with players. AS a player she was tough as nails and never backed down when challenged. Her experience and competitiveness will blend in well at SGTC.”