Mississippi State named New Mexico State coach Chris Jans as the Bulldogs’ next men’s basketball coach Sunday.
Mississippi State fired Ben Howland on Thursday after seven seasons and a 134-98 record with just one NCAA Tournament appearance.
Jans guided No. 12 seed New Mexico State to a first-round upset of fifth-seeded UConn on Thursday in the NCAA tourney’s West Region.
The Aggies (27-7) ended their season Saturday with a 53-48 loss to No. 4 seed Arkansas.
“The Mississippi State Family is thrilled to welcome Chris Jans as our next head coach,” athletic director John Cohen said in a news release. “Throughout our thorough research, what stood out about Coach Jans was his culture of accountability, hard-working mentality, emphasis on player development, and vision for the future. Coach Jans is a proven leader and winner, who is considered by many to be one of the top coaches in the game. He is a tireless recruiter, brilliant Xs and Os tactician, and his overall resume speaks for itself.”
Jans compiled a 122-32 record in five seasons at New Mexico State, winning four regular season titles in the Western Athletic Conference and earning three trips to the NCAA Tournament. He is a three-time WAC Coach of the Year.
Jans, 52, coached at Bowling Green for one season before taking over the Aggies program, posting a 21-12 record in 2014-15.
–Field Level Media
