Jeremy Coombs has been approved by the Board of Trustees to take over the Barton Community College men’s basketball program.
Becoming Barton’s 12th men’s basketball coach in 53 seasons of competition, Coombs replaces the vacancy following Craig Fletchall’s retirement of 16 years leading the program.
Coombs comes to Barton from Neosho County Community College where he spent the last 14 seasons guiding the Panthers. Leaving the school as the all-time winningest coach, Coombs’ squads posted a 228-203 overall record.
“With this appointment, likely the most important I will have made in my ten years as Athletic Director at Barton, it was imperative to me that we targeted a coach with impeccable character, irreproachable integrity, and one who fully understands the importance of incorporating the community into the culture of our men’s basketball program,” said Trevor Rolfs.
“One of the most highly regarded recruiters in junior college basketball, Jeremy Coombs brings to Barton tremendous work ethic and a commitment to excellence. The successful culture he was able to establish both on the court and in the classroom during his fourteen year head coaching stint at Neosho CC speaks volumes about his ability to do more with less. I fully believe given the resources afforded him here at Barton that Coach Coombs will take the program back to national prominence year in & year out.”
“Committed to doing things the right way and with class, I am confident Jeremy will present a program that the Cougar faithful will be extremely proud of. I am excited for him to get started.”
Taking over the Neosho program three seasons after Fletchall left Neosho County, Coombs arrived following a dismal two seasons of only 15 wins in facing a total rebuild of the winning culture.
Under Coombs, the program produced six NJCAA All-Americans, two KJCCC Players of the Year, thirty NCAA Division I players, twenty-four All-Conference players, seventeen All-Region players, and thirteen former players playing basketball professionally.
In 2016, Coombs’ Panthers went 30-6 in breaking several program records including the most single season wins. Named the 2016 Region VI Coach of the Year, Coombs’ squad marched through the playoffs capturing its first-ever Region VI Championship by defeating Hutchinson 66-58. Seeded 9th in its NJCAA Division I Tournament debut appearance, Neosho County won its first game before bowing out to 8th seeded Gillette 73-72.
Coombs began his coaching career as an assistant at Sacred Heart High School before spending the next three summers helping with the USBL Kansas Cagerz under Francis Flax. Coombs then assisted Flax at Brown Mackie College.
Prior to Neosho County, Coombs’ Jayhawk coaching experience includes stints at Highland Community College and Pratt Community College as an assistant coach. Working under current Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs at Pratt CC for two seasons, Coombs helped guide the Beavers to a 24-8 record in 2007 finishing second in the Jayhawk West that season.
Off the floor, the Panthers had 10 Academic All-America recipients with the two most recent season’s teams ranking in the top five nationally at 5th overall with a 3.37 GPA in 2019 and the 2020 squad achieving a nation’s 3rd best 3.45 GPA.
Coombs has also held a firm commitment to community service as the Panthers have been involved in over 250 hours of volunteerism, averaging 12-15 hours per student-athlete.
Graduating from Topeka’s Hayden High school, Coombs continued his playing career at Labette Community College, moving on to NCAA Division I Nicholls State University before returning home to Kansas finishing his playing career at Kansas Wesleyan University.
Married to the former Lindsay Krehbiel of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, the Coombs family includes three boys, Tye, Jackson, and Carter.
https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/releases/20210507vj0gb2
