COACHES
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
COACHES
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2008-2009 STATESMEN BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
STATESMEN BASKETBALL JASONCONNER
Head Coach • Third Year • Lakeland, Fla. • Belhaven College, 1987
The Conner File • Known as one of the top young coaches in the GSC and NCAA DII • One of the top recruiters and evaluators of talent in collegiate basketball • Master’s of Health, Physical Education and Recreation - Delta State University (1989) • Bachelor of Science in History/Political Science - Belhaven College (1987) • Served as an assistant coach for seven seasons at Delta State • Coached at the NCAA Division I level as a women’s assistant at the University of Houston, University of Texas at El Paso and the University of South Alabama
Jason Conner enters his third year at the helm of the Delta State Men’s Basketball program. In his first two seasons as head coach, Conner led the Statesmen to an overall mark of 32-23 with an appearance in the 2007 Gulf South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. This past year, Conner and his staff improved the overall GPA of his student-athletes by nearly a half-point, while not sacrificing the quality of play on the court. Before taking the head job Conner served seven seasons as the primary assistant coach under former head coach Steve Rives. Prior to joining the Statesmen program, Conner served the 1998-99 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Alabama. The 1999 Jaguar recruiting class ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Conner spent the 1997-98 season at the University of Houston as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach on the Cougars staff. Before taking the position at the University of Houston, Conner was the head men’s basketball and golf coach at his alma mater Belhaven College. During his stint as head coach of the Blazers, Conner guided Belhaven to the GCAC Tournament and a solid post-season finish.
The Lakeland, Fla., native got his first collegiate coaching opportunity as a graduate assistant for the Statesmen from 1987-90. During that time Conner was able to learn the ins and outs of on-the-floor coaching and the high-stakes game of recruiting. Conner would use his time at DSU to gain a spot on current Lady Statesmen head coach Sandra Rushing’s University of Texas-El Paso staff. He would serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Lady Miners from 1990-93. A 1987 Belhaven College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science, Conner received a master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Delta State University in 1989. Conner is married to the former Lauren Wilson of Jacksonville, Florida. Lauren is a stay at home mom. He is the son of Rev. Jerry and Norma Conner of Lakeland, Florida. They have a two-year-old daughter, Emma Grace. Conner’s Year-by-Year at Delta State: 2007-2008: 14-12 DNQ for GSC Tournament 2006-2007: 18-11 GSC Tournament Qualifier Totals: 32-23 Record in Two Season
FIVE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS • 12 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES
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DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY BrianEllis Assistant Coach • First Year • Pensacola, Fla. • West Florida, 2006 Brian Ellis enters his first season as the primary assistant coach to Jason Conner and the Statesmen basketball team. “Brian is one of the top young coaches in college basketball,” said Statesmen head coach Jason Conner. “When I started looking for an assistant, I didn’t have to look far for the right person for the job. Brian is an excellent recruiter and a true student of the game. He will be a valuable asset for this program for many years to come.” The University of West Florida grad spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant after coming to DSU from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College. Ellis started his playing career at Okaloosa Walton Community College. He then transferred to Enterprise Ozark where he obtained his Associate of Arts Degree. He was ranked third in the state of Alabama in three-point percentage at the end of his Juco career. He finished his college career at GSC-rival West Florida in 2005. His game high for the Argos was an impressive 37 points. Ellis graduated from West Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. He also earned his Master’s of Physical Education from DSU in 2007. Ellis is married to Courtney Moran Ellis. They have one “child” - Cloe, their pet akita.
ColbyHarris
PaulSwartz
Grad. Assistant • First Year
Grad. Assistant • First Year
New Orleans, La. Delta State, 2006
Pensacola, Fla. West Florida, 2005
Colby Harris is in his first season as a Graduate Assistant on coach Jason Conner’s staff at Delta State. A four-year letterwinner under former head coach Steve Rives, Harris was known as one of the top rebounders and post defenders in the GSC during his career. Averaged 6.1 points anf 4.9 rebounds per game for his career. Averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game his junior season. Harris received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from DSU in 2006. He is currently pursuing a master’s in Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Paul Swartz enters his first season as a graduate assistant for the Statesmen basketball team. Swartz coaching experience began in 2006 where he coached at Champions Academy, learning the fundamentals of coaching basketball. The following year, Swartz was an assistant at Pensacola Junior College. He played basketball at Navarre High School for four years under head coach Martello. Swartz graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Physical Education in 2005.
SupportStaff
Josh Dill Manager
22
Kei’taurus Johnson Manager
2008-2009 STATESMEN BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Hunter Moore, ATC Athletic Trainer
Daniel Hawthorne Media Contact
COACHES
2 20
2008-2009 STATESMEN BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
STATESMEN BASKETBALL JASONCONNER
Head Coach • Third Year • Lakeland, Fla. • Belhaven College, 1987
The Conner File • Known as one of the top young coaches in the GSC and NCAA DII • One of the top recruiters and evaluators of talent in collegiate basketball • Master’s of Health, Physical Education and Recreation - Delta State University (1989) • Bachelor of Science in History/Political Science - Belhaven College (1987) • Served as an assistant coach for seven seasons at Delta State • Coached at the NCAA Division I level as a women’s assistant at the University of Houston, University of Texas at El Paso and the University of South Alabama
Jason Conner enters his third year at the helm of the Delta State Men’s Basketball program. In his first two seasons as head coach, Conner led the Statesmen to an overall mark of 32-23 with an appearance in the 2007 Gulf South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. This past year, Conner and his staff improved the overall GPA of his student-athletes by nearly a half-point, while not sacrificing the quality of play on the court. Before taking the head job Conner served seven seasons as the primary assistant coach under former head coach Steve Rives. Prior to joining the Statesmen program, Conner served the 1998-99 season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Alabama. The 1999 Jaguar recruiting class ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Conner spent the 1997-98 season at the University of Houston as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach on the Cougars staff. Before taking the position at the University of Houston, Conner was the head men’s basketball and golf coach at his alma mater Belhaven College. During his stint as head coach of the Blazers, Conner guided Belhaven to the GCAC Tournament and a solid post-season finish.
The Lakeland, Fla., native got his first collegiate coaching opportunity as a graduate assistant for the Statesmen from 1987-90. During that time Conner was able to learn the ins and outs of on-the-floor coaching and the high-stakes game of recruiting. Conner would use his time at DSU to gain a spot on current Lady Statesmen head coach Sandra Rushing’s University of Texas-El Paso staff. He would serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Lady Miners from 1990-93. A 1987 Belhaven College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science, Conner received a master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Delta State University in 1989. Conner is married to the former Lauren Wilson of Jacksonville, Florida. Lauren is a stay at home mom. He is the son of Rev. Jerry and Norma Conner of Lakeland, Florida. They have a two-year-old daughter, Emma Grace. Conner’s Year-by-Year at Delta State: 2007-2008: 14-12 DNQ for GSC Tournament 2006-2007: 18-11 GSC Tournament Qualifier Totals: 32-23 Record in Two Season
FIVE GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS • 12 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES
21
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY BrianEllis Assistant Coach • First Year • Pensacola, Fla. • West Florida, 2006 Brian Ellis enters his first season as the primary assistant coach to Jason Conner and the Statesmen basketball team. “Brian is one of the top young coaches in college basketball,” said Statesmen head coach Jason Conner. “When I started looking for an assistant, I didn’t have to look far for the right person for the job. Brian is an excellent recruiter and a true student of the game. He will be a valuable asset for this program for many years to come.” The University of West Florida grad spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant after coming to DSU from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College. Ellis started his playing career at Okaloosa Walton Community College. He then transferred to Enterprise Ozark where he obtained his Associate of Arts Degree. He was ranked third in the state of Alabama in three-point percentage at the end of his Juco career. He finished his college career at GSC-rival West Florida in 2005. His game high for the Argos was an impressive 37 points. Ellis graduated from West Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. He also earned his Master’s of Physical Education from DSU in 2007. Ellis is married to Courtney Moran Ellis. They have one “child” - Cloe, their pet akita.
ColbyHarris
PaulSwartz
Grad. Assistant • First Year
Grad. Assistant • First Year
New Orleans, La. Delta State, 2006
Pensacola, Fla. West Florida, 2005
Colby Harris is in his first season as a Graduate Assistant on coach Jason Conner’s staff at Delta State. A four-year letterwinner under former head coach Steve Rives, Harris was known as one of the top rebounders and post defenders in the GSC during his career. Averaged 6.1 points anf 4.9 rebounds per game for his career. Averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game his junior season. Harris received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from DSU in 2006. He is currently pursuing a master’s in Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Paul Swartz enters his first season as a graduate assistant for the Statesmen basketball team. Swartz coaching experience began in 2006 where he coached at Champions Academy, learning the fundamentals of coaching basketball. The following year, Swartz was an assistant at Pensacola Junior College. He played basketball at Navarre High School for four years under head coach Martello. Swartz graduated from the University of West Florida with a degree in Physical Education in 2005.
SupportStaff
Josh Dill Manager
22
Kei’taurus Johnson Manager
2008-2009 STATESMEN BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Hunter Moore, ATC Athletic Trainer
Daniel Hawthorne Media Contact
