Valdosta State Athletics and Blazer basketball are proud to announce the hiring of Jason Mays as the program’s new assistant coach.
Mays brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Blazer basketball coaching staff, with his most significant accomplishments coming during his time at Georgetown College from 2000-07. Hired as an assistant coach in 2000 at 24 years of age, Mays worked his way into an associate head coaching position in 2003. During his time there, he took on fundraising, game prep, and recruiting responsibilities, while leading the program to an NAIA Elite Eight appearance in 2002 and Final Four appearances in both 2003 and 2004. Mays recruited both internationally and in 48 states within the U.S. while with the program, and helped produce five NAIA All-Americans and 20 All Mid-South Conference players. In addition, his work as a recruiter resulted in 11 players that went on to play professionally after college.
“I’ve known Jason for over 20 years, and I have a lot of respect for him as a coach,” said Head Coach Mike Helfer. “I followed the GC program very closely, and the success they had while he was there speaks for itself. I think Jason will bring a very solid coaching and personal background to the position.”
Team academics also became a focal point for Mays as a member of the Tigers’ coaching staff. Under his watch, players held a grade point average of 3.05 and graduated at a rate of 81 percent, and nine players earned Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference honors.
Mays’ coaching career began at Maine Central Institute in 1999, where he was promoted to an assistant coaching position by Head Coach Max Good while still serving as a graduate assistant. After Good left to coach at UNLV, Mays moved to St. Catharine College in the fall of 1999, where he coached for one year before returning to his alma-mater in 2000.
In 2007, Mays elected to take time away from coaching at the collegiate level in order to spend more time with his family. Since then, he has spent time working as a financial advisor and pursuing a Masters degree in Education at GC.
http://vstateblazers.com/news/2015/8/6/MBB_0806152524.aspx
Photo Courtesy Valdosta State Athletics
