From Jimmie Athletics
University of Jamestown men’s basketball head coach Danny Neville has announced two additions to his coaching staff for the 2023-2024 campaign. Both are familiar faces, as Taylor Jones was on staff in 2018-19 and Carter Janssen was a student assistant coach from 2020-2022. Jones will serve as assistant coach and Janssen has been named graduate assistant.
“We are excited to welcome Taylor back to the Jimmie family,” Neville said. “He is a tremendous coach and is superb with player relationships. Coach Jones was instrumental in our 2018-19 season, helping lead us to a GPAC championship and a sweet 16 appearance. Taylor is not only a great coach, but he’s family to me. His passion and love for the players made this hire a no-brainer for me.”
Jones spent the past two seasons at Saint Xavier (Ill.) University as an assistant coach, where the Cougars had a combined 41-22 record. Saint Xavier finished the 2022-23 season with a 24-8 record and received an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Jones coached two All-Americans in Josh Evans and Jaeden King.
Jones coached two seasons at Cloud County Community College where he coached three all-region players and three Division I signees.
Before his years at Cloud County, he spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant at the University of Jamestown. With Jones on staff, the Jimmies posted a 29-6 overall record, captured a Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship and made an appearance in the Round of 16 in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship. While at Jamestown, Jones also coached two NAIA All-Americans in Kevin Oberweiser & Jon Purintun.
Prior to that, Jones had a two-year stop at Dakota College at Bottineau from 2016-18. During his two seasons there, the Lumberjacks were 38-24 overall and had three players selected to the All-Region 13 Team.
His first coaching stint after college was at Garden City CC for the 2015-2016 season, where he coached under head coach, Brady Trenkle. The Broncbusters finished the year with an 18-14 record with 5 players earning scholarships on to the next level.
Jones is a former NCAA Division I player at Eastern Illinois University where he graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. He stayed at EIU to earn his master’s degree in Sport Administration (2015).
Before fulfilling his Division I dreams, Jones played one season of junior college basketball at Missouri West Plains in 2008-09. Jones grew up in Rochester, Ill and played for IBCA Hall of Fame Inductee, Jim Egan.
“I am very happy to be back at the University of Jamestown,” Jones said. “Coach Neville and I have a great relationship–he has been a great mentor and friend, and I am really looking forward to be working alongside him again. He has established an incredible culture with great young men that I am excited to get to know and build relationships with.”
Carter “Chuck” Janssen worked previously as a student assistant on Neville’s staff from 2020-2022. In that time, the Jimmies compiled a record of 53-17, winning 75.7% of their games. The Jimmies punched a ticket to the NAIA Tournament twice with Janssen a part of the program, and each time, they made it to at least the Sweet Sixteen. Janssen also coached a three-time 1st Team All-American and 2023 NAIA player of the year, Mason Walters.
“I’m excited to announce the hiring of Carter Janssen to be our next graduate assistant,” said Neville. ‘Chuck’ was a student assistant for us the last two years. He was a big part of our success, helping with both the varsity and junior varsity. Carter is a great person and someone that our players have tremendous respect for. I’m glad he decided to start his coaching career at UJ.”
“Jamestown has been home for the last four years and I’m thankful to be a part of the UJ family longer,” Janssen said. “I was blessed by the opportunity Coach Neville gave me the last two years as a student assistant and I’m excited to keep working with him and his staff.”
In addition to Jones and Janssen, the men’s basketball coaching staff will also include Hunter Thorpe, who will serve as a student assistant. Hunter’s brother, Riley, is an incoming freshman on the men’s basketball team. The Thorpes played their high school years at Ellendale (N.D.) High School, 65 miles south of Jamestown.
The Jimmies are coming off of a 27-7 record last season and a trip to the NAIA Tournament’s Round of 16. The Jimmies are the only NAIA team in the country to have made three consecutive Round of 16 appearances.