Jackson College has announced the hiring of Joshua Kutchinski as the new Jets men’s basketball coach beginning with this upcoming 2019-2020 season.

Kutchinski spent eight years as associate head coach for basketball at Mesa Community College in Arizona, a season as an assistant at Lake Superior State University, and a season as head coach and general manager of operations for the City of Timbo, Brazil semi-pro basketball team. In his second season at Mesa, he helped steer the team to a 25-5 overall record and an NJCAA Region I Championship in 2009-10. He again helped lead the team to an NJCAA Region I Championship in 2015. For three years, 2009-12, Kutchinski also served as assistant athletic director for student success at Mesa, helping to guide student-athletes in developing their academic and career plans.

Kutchinski is excited about the opportunity to be the head coach for the College team and is busy getting to know the College and community. “I think the small community really drew me. When I finally got on campus and met the people, it feels like its own little village.” He looks forward to coaching the returning players he has met and recruiting, even more, to round out the team.

Originally from Baldwin, Mich., he won three consecutive district titles with Baldwin High School. He started coaching his high school team as an assistant in 1997, where he helped the team earn back-to-back district titles. He then went on to be an assistant coach at Mott Community College in 2002-03. He attended Baker College to finish his bachelor’s degree, and earned a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.

 “I look forward to getting busy, getting out into the community and making Jackson College basketball more known. I would like to thank Assistant Athletic Director Rick Smith as well as President Dan Phelan and the Leadership Committee for this great opportunity,” he said.

“We are excited to have Josh on board as our head men’s basketball coach and he came with a lot of references in the basketball community,” Rick Smith said. “His excitement, experience, and blue collar work ethic will rub off on his players as he builds his program at Jackson College. He is just what we were looking for in a coach. Josh will be well received in the MCCAA Conference. His basketball program will work hard as they build the program that is a privilege to be part of at the JUCO level. We are glad to have him in the Jet family and his hard work will fit in well with the other coaches on staff.”