New Mexico State head men’s basketball coach Chris Jans announced the addition of assistant coach Jeff Mailhot to his staff for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity Coach Jans has provided me at New Mexico State University,” Mailhot said. “Additionally, I would like to thank those who have mentored me over the course of my career, which has allowed me to be better prepared for this position. I’m blessed to be able to work under a proven winner, a tireless recruiter and someone I have considered from a far, to be one of the best coaches in the country.  I am eager to not only work for him, but to learn alongside him and the rest of the staff. Having worked in the junior college ranks in West Texas, I am very familiar with NMSU and their storied tradition. For my wife and I, this was an easy decision to join the NMSU basketball family and I look forward to being able help continue their success!”

No stranger to the recruiting trail, Mailhot has been able to recruit, develop and send over 35 players to Division I teams across the country. His most notable recruit was Jae Crowder, who was drafted in the second round (34th pick overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012 and currently playing for the Boston Celtics.

“Jeff is a tireless worker while enjoying being a part of winning programs throughout his career,” Jans said. “He will build strong relationships with our players, having successfully mentored many student-athletes in his previous positions. Jeff will utilize his broad network of contacts he has built to recruit quality young men to NM State and is hungry to help our program move forward.”

Mailhot joins the Aggies staff after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Odessa College where he helped the Wranglers to a 29-6 record last season. They claimed the National Junior College Athletic Association Region V Championship for the second-straight year and took second in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference as well.  At season’s end, Mailhot was named the top-ranked junior college assistant by CoachState.net.

Prior to his stop at Odessa College, he was an assistant at San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas, for the 2013-14 campaign. There, Mailhot served as the recruiting coordinator and helped the Coyotes to a first-place finish in league play while laying claim to the south zone championships.

Mailhot spent two seasons at Midland College (2011-13) where he was once again the lead recruiter for the team. The Chaps were also ranked No. 3 in the country heading into the 2011-12 season while he was on staff.

Before moving to Midland, Texas, Mailhot earned notoriety as an assistant coach at Howard College from 2009-11. During his two years, the Hawks compiled an overall record of 58-7 and captured the 2010 NJCAA National Championship with a 33-2 record. Crowder, who was recruited by Mailhot and played for Howard College that year, earned NJCAA, NABC and Region V Player of the Year honors while also earning First-Team All-America honors. He also coached another All-American that year in Josh Watkins, who went on to play at the University of Utah after being named the national tournament MVP.

Mailhot earned his stripes as an assistant coach at the prep level, leading his alma mater Hopkins High School to the 2009 high school state championship during his second stop at HHS with an undefeated record of 29-0 and finished the season ranked No. 10 by USA Today. Between his two stints with the Royals, Mailhot was at Robbinsdale Cooper High School for the 2007-08 campaign where he coached a top-100 recruit that went on to play at Minnesota. While coaching at Hopkins High School, Mailhot saw eight players sign with Division I programs across the country.

The Minneapolis, Minn., native received his associate’s degree in general education from San Jacinto College in 2002 before earning his bachelor’s degree at Cal Baptist in business administration with cum laude honors.

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