Echoes Of The Hardwood: Part 4 Coach Jans

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball opens its season in less than a month as the Bulldogs face West Georgia during their 2024-25 season opener on Monday, Nov. 4 at Humphrey Coliseum and officially embark on the program's third season under head coach Chris Jans.

Recently, the players were asked to describe Coach Jans.

Michael Nwoko
"Very intense, Coach takes things seriously. That's something you definitely need to have in a winning program. I really love how intense everything is. He's a great guy at the end of the day, a great guy off the court. He's always caring and wants what's best for his players individually and wants team success. Coach talks a lot about consistency, that's a big thing. Be consistent with the work you're putting in off the court. Be consistent in practice. If you're being consistent each day, you will play."

Josh Hubbard
"A lot of people in the stands see his coaching side, but once you really know him and see how he is, he's like one of us. Coach is another human being that loves to laugh and loves to have a good time. He's always said 'If you put the work in, it'll always show'. That's something that's stuck with me. It's motivated me to always put that work in each day, and one day hopefully it shows."

RJ Melendez
"Great coach. He's going to push you to your limits. He sees a lot of talent in you. He's going to tell you if you're not there yet. He'll say 'You ain't there yet, but I have a vision for you.' The way he coaches every single day with his attention to detail, and that helps you a lot mentally wise. I'm a lot stronger physically and mentally thanks to him. Coach is a great person and man. He has a great bond with all of his players, and I feel like that's a great part of being a head coach."

Trey Jackson III
"I would say that Coach is very motivating and very direct. He's going to tell you what you need to hear. It may not be always what you want to hear, but it's always in the best interest for you to be a better person and for you to be a better player than you were yesterday. This season, particularly Coach Jans has been saying 'Don't rush to relax'. Being a senior, that has been hitting home for me, not just on the court but in the classroom as well. Don't rush to relax even if it's going the extra mile or doing the extra work."

Claudell Harris Jr.
"I feel like Coach is the most genuine person in the world. He cares about me, and I can see it on and off the court. He's infatuated with the game of basketball. He cares about our lives off the court, our safety and our general well-being."

Dellquan Warren
"I feel like some people misunderstand Coach Jans, because he's loud and stuff. I feel he does that to get his point across. He really wants to see you do well. So, you've got to listen to him and not think the worst because he's trying to make you better. Most definitely, he cares about us outside of basketball. He's very funny too, sneaky funny."

Cameron Matthews
"Coach Jans, I definitely like him more as a coach than a person [laughs]. I don't know how to explain it, but he's so fiery and so energetic. He's very intense, but that's how I love it. I love him to death. That's my guy, and I'd run through a wall for him."

Shawn Jones Jr.
"He's definitely a down to earth person. He cares about everybody. He wants the best from everybody. He's always going to have your back, and he's always going to be there for me. If you have any questions, he's going to be there. He's never going to push you away. He's just a loving coach."

Kanye Clary
"You know he's going to be hard on you as a coach. It's going to be tough, and he's going to hold you accountable and push you to be the best you that you can be. Off the court, we know he just wants the best for every single one of us. I would say the main message I've took away so far from Coach is always go 100 percent. If you mess up, mess up going full speed."

Riley Kugel
"He brings a whole other level that you wouldn't really expect that he can bring out of you. He definitely pushes you to work hard, and he definitely wants you to play the best that you can. He wants everybody to succeed."

Jeremy Foumena
"I'd say Coach is a very family oriented as a person. He gives a lot of talks to the guys. He really acts like a role model to us. But, as a coach, he's really strict. That's what we need to have a winning team. He's very direct to you, and he's always pushing not only me but the team to be better."

Gai Chol
"Coach Jans is a very, very good person. Obviously, through his wins, he's very intelligent. He's intense at times to push you to make you a better person, and that's what a player needs. You need somebody to always push you to the extreme in order for you to get better. Off the court, he's the best person. He cares about me and my family."

KeShawn Murphy
"I describe Coach Jans as a great person. He's a great person on and off the court. He's not going to lie to you. If you're lacking in something, he's going to tell you, so you can get better as a person and as a basketball player."

Adrian Myers
"As a coach, defense, defense, defense. If you're not playing defense, you're not playing here. Then, as a coach and a person, he's going to be very hard on you every day. Off the court, it may seem like he may not act like he cares at times, but there's no doubt in my mind that he does care about me."

Martavious Russell
"He's going to push you to the limits that you need to be coached to. Off the court, he's really cool and down to earth. He's got a great personality."

EJ Paymon
"Coach Jans is a great coach. He makes sure that everything is in order. He makes sure everything is rolling smoothly. He's making sure that we're working hard, and that no one is being lazy or taking days off."

Harrison Alexander
"Coach is intense. He's intense on the court, but he's a great guy off the court. I love talking to him. He always talks about hard work and playing hard. Getting extra work in, trying to work on yourself and trying to become a better man."

Humphrey Coliseum was one of the nation's most electric environments in 2023-24 and posted the program's fifth highest attendance average for a season. The Bulldogs boasted seven sellouts, the most on record for a season dating back to 2008-09, highlighted by four in a row to conclude the season.

Fans can purchase single game tickets through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).

State has secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances fueled by a pair of 21-win campaigns with Coach Jans at the helm. The last time the Bulldogs collected back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids was during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. State will look to secure three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the third time in program history this season.

Last season, the Bulldogs captured three victories over Associated Press Top 10 opponents for the first time since 2001-02. State validated its regular season home win over No. 5 Tennessee by upending the top-seeded Vols at the SEC Tournament in addition to defeating No. 8 Auburn at Humphrey Coliseum.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its official social media accounts by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Echoes Of The Hardwood: Part 4 Coach Jans

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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