| Title: | Head Women's Basketball Coach |
| Phone: | 706-880-8270 |
| Email: | jjonus@lagrange.edu |
| College: | Birmingham-Southern '12 | LaGrange '15 |
Jasen Jonus enters his second season as the Head Coach of the LaGrange College women's basketball team in 2021-22. Jonus was named the fourth head coach in the history of the program on April 3, 2020.
During the 2020-21 season, the Panthers opened the season with eight straight wins, as the team finished with an 8-4 overall record and an 8-3 mark in the USA South. LC locked down the No. 3 seed in the USA South West Division tournament, the highest finish by the Panthers since the conference went to the West and East Division format in 2016-17.
Jahpera McEachin '21 and Jalaya Lewis were named to the USA South All-Conference West Division first and second team, respectively. McEachin averaged 19.3 points per game, the most by any Panther in a single season. She also tied the program's single-game assists record with 14 in a 106-25 season-opening victory over Agnes Scott in Mariotti Gym on Jan. 15.
Jonus worked as an Assistant Coach for the men’s basketball program at LaGrange for seven years from 2013-20, serving as the Associate Head Coach for the final three seasons. He was the Varsity Reserve Head Coach for four years.
Jonus was a key factor during one of the most successful runs in the history of men's basketball at LaGrange. From 2014-17, the Panthers won three USA South championships and reached the NCAA Division III tournament in four straight years.
Jonus graduated from Birmingham-Southern in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He continued his studies at LaGrange, earning a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2015, with concentrations in middle school grades and social studies.
He began his collegiate basketball career and played one season at Wallace State in Hanceville, Alabama, leading the conference in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made as a freshman.
He played three years of basketball at Birmingham-Southern from 2009-12. In 2009-10, the sophomore guard was named SCAC Co-Newcomer of the Year. Jonus received All-SCAC second team laurels during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns. He led the team in scoring and made 3-pointers all three years.
Birmingham-Southern won the SCAC East Division regular-season championship in 2011 and 2012. As a senior, Jonus guided the program to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.
After graduation, Jonus played semi-professional basketball for the Birmingham Blitz in the American Basketball Association during the 2012-13 season before coming to LaGrange.
The Boaz, Alabama, native played high school basketball at Crossville and was a two-year starter. He was a first team All-County and All-State selection both of those years. Jonus still holds school records for most 3-pointers in a game and most 3-pointers in a season. Crossville posted a 60-5 record during the two years that Jonus was a starter.
Women's Basketball Head Coach Jasen Jonus:
“It is an incredible honor to be named the head women’s basketball coach at LaGrange College. I am thankful for the opportunity and unconditional support of President Dan McAlexander, First Lady Celeste Myall and Athletic Director Jennifer Claybrook in this transition for my coaching career. It is a bittersweet transition because I step away from the men’s team and the quality young student-athletes that make it a championship-level program. To these young men, you will forever have my encouragement and friendship. Head Coach Kendal Wallace has been an outstanding mentor, challenging me to grow both as a coach and a person over the past seven years as his assistant coach. His friendship and support in this transition has been unwavering and I will forever be grateful to be a part of his coaching tree.
The LaGrange women’s team has and always will be special to my family. My wife, Dr. Hunter Connell Jonus, was a member of the program during the 2010-14 seasons. We are both beyond excited for the future of the women’s program and my potential to impact it as a young coach.
As the new head coach, my priority is to ensure the members of the current roster that I am dedicated to their success both on and off the court. I am excited to challenge each one to compete at a championship level, while building lasting relationships to see them reach their biggest dreams in life outside of basketball. I am so excited to start this journey and cannot wait to get to work. Hunter and I are blessed that this move will keep us in the amazing community that is the city of LaGrange. The support of my colleagues within the athletic and academic departments at the college and from friends within LaGrange is overwhelming and truly means the world to us. We are excited to continue our lives here and hope to have a long-lasting impact on the place that has given us so much and we love so dearly.”
Athletic Director Jennifer Claybrook:
“I am absolutely thrilled Jasen Jonus has accepted this position. Jasen has been instrumental in the success of our men’s basketball team and our men’s and women’s cross country teams. He is driven to create the best student-athlete experience, while being steadfast in his commitment to the athletic department and to fulfill the mission of LaGrange College. I cannot wait to see what the women’s basketball team will achieve under his leadership. It is a great day for Panther basketball.”
Men's Basketball Head Coach Kendal Wallace:
“I am very excited and happy for Coach Jonus. Although our program is losing a very important and hardworking member, the women’s program is gaining an incredible coach and person. Coach Jonus is a perfect fit for this position, as he has an incredible amount of patience, an excellent temperament and a thorough understanding of recruiting at the Division III level. Along with that, his basketball IQ is well above average. Continuing to work side by side with him is a win-win situation for both of us.”
Jasen Jonus' Head Coaching Record:
| Year | Record | USA South | Winning Percentage |
| 2020-21 | 8-4 | 8-3 | .667 |
