Falcons set to introduce Jans as new head coach

3/25/2014

BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green State University formally announced Monday that Chris Jans, who most recently was the associate coach at Wichita State, will be the Falcons’ new men’s basketball coach.

Jans will be introduced to the public in a news conference today starting at noon at the Stroh Center. The event is open to the public.

Jans, who will receive a six-year contract at an annual salary of $325,000, replaces Louis Orr as head coach of the Falcons.

“Chris Jans is doing the things that we want to do at BGSU,” Bowling Green athletics director Chris Kingston said in a statement. “He is a championship coach, a championship recruiter, and a championship person. He is absolutely the right fit for Falcon men’s basketball.

“He has the coaching expertise and personality to immediately ignite the players and fan base, as we begin the new era of men’s basketball in the Stroh Center under his leadership.”

Jans spent the last seven season at Wichita State, the final three as associate head coach. During his time there, the Shockers posted a 174-71 record and advanced to the NCAA tournament each of the past three seasons.

Wichita State was undefeated entering the tournament this year and was a top seed, eventually losing to Kentucky on Sunday in the third round to finish 35-1. Last season, the Shockers advanced to the Final Four before losing to eventual national champ Louisville.

Wichita State also advanced to the National Invitation Tournament in 2009-10 and 2010-11, winning the event the second year.

His Division I coaching experience also includes three seasons as an assistant at Illinois State (2004-07) and two seasons as an assistant at Idaho (1999-2001).

Jans also has been a head coach at the junior college level for six seasons, compiling a 159-45 record and winning one national title.

He spent two seasons at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, posting a 56-16 record. In 1997-98 he led the Eagles to a 31-6 mark and a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II title.

In 1998-99 Jans moved to Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, and was 22-10. After coaching two seasons at Idaho, he then spent two seasons at Howard Community College in Big Spring, Texas, compiling a 49-14 record and earning a No. 15 ranking in the final NJCAA Division I poll in 2002-03.

Jans spent the following season at Chipola Junior College in Chipola, Fla., posting a 32-5 record and finishing sixth in the NJCAA D-I national tournament.

As a player, Jans earned four letters at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He set an NCAA Division III record with 133 3-pointers made in 1990-91 and averaged 28.3 points per game that season. He was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in 2010.

“I am privileged and honored to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Bowling Green State University,” Jans said in a statement. “I look forward to competing for championships in the near future.”

— John Wagner