Basketball | 8/27/2024 9:38:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (August 27, 2024) – Jake Stevens returns to the Texas Woman's basketball coaching staff, as Head Coach Beth Jillson announced the addition of Stevens as the Pioneers' newest assistant coach.

Stevens, who coached at TWU with Coach Jillson from 2017-21, said he is excited to return to assist the championship culture at TWU.

"I am thrilled to come back to TWU and have the chance to be a part of such an outstanding program once again," Stevens said. "Coach Jillson has done a tremendous job creating and sustaining a culture of excellence, and I am excited to help propel Pioneer Basketball to further success."

During his time with the Pioneers from 2017-21, Stevens helped guide the Pioneers to back-to-back Lone Star Conference Tournament appearances. He also assisted in spearheading one of the toughest defenses in the LSC, as the Pioneers held opponents to just 60.3 points per game over Stevens' final two seasons at TWU. While on the coaching staff, Stevens was integral in recruiting much of the core, current Pioneers' roster, including All-American Ashley Ingram, All-LSC honorees Jada Celsur and Leila Patel, and he coached All-LSC and NCAA Elite Eight All-Tournament Team member Scout Huffman.

"I am overjoyed to welcome Coach Stevens back to TWU," Coach Jillson said. "His commitment to excellence and passion for developing student-athletes on and off the court will continue to elevate our program. Since he helped recruit much of our current team, his eye for talent will help us grow our current success, while continuing to recruit incredible future Pioneers. Additionally, it will allow him to connect easily in the gym, which will allow us to grow quickly at the start of the season. Coach Stevens knows the values and cornerstones of our program, and I am so excited he decided to return to our program. We are excited for the season ahead!"

After his four-year stint at TWU, Stevens went to Tarleton State for two seasons, where he had previously coached from 2014-17 after being elevated from a graduate assistant position to an assistant coach during the 2016-17 season.

In his first campaign with the Texans, Stevens helped guide the Texans to the 2017 LSC Tournament Championship title as the No. 5 seed and earned the Texans' first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013-14 season. Stevens also served as the program's summer camp coordinator and oversaw recruiting, scheduling and player development.

Stevens returned to Tarleton in 2021-22, assisting in turning-around the Texans after entering NCAA Division I. The Texans boasted the second-best scoring defense in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), allowing just 59.2 points per game and holding opponents to .379 from the field. As an assistant coach, Stevens helped lead the Texans to their first winning season as a NCAA Division I program.

Following two seasons back with the Texans, Stevens joined the coaching staff at Abilene Christian as an assistant coach in 2023. During his one season, the Wildcats advanced to the WAC Tournament, after posting 10 wins in conference action. ACU averaged 69.9 points per game over the 2023 season. He also assisted in guiding the Wildcats to success off the court, as they celebrated two College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team members.

From Oakwood, Texas, Stevens graduated from Tarleton in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in fitness management. While serving as a graduate assistant with the Texans, he earned his master's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in interdisciplinary studies in 2016.

He began his coaching career in 2012-13 at Cherokee High School as an assistant boys' basketball and assistant football coach. During his time at Cherokee High School, the football team won a bi-district championship and the basketball team was a bi-district Division I qualifier. Then, he taught and served as an assistant boys' basketball coach at Westwood High School. Additionally, while at Westwood, he worked as a head junior varsity and an assistant varsity baseball caoch and head junior high football caoch. 

"With Dr. Feyten's guidance of the university and Sandee Mott's leadership of the athletic department, I know this program has such a bright future, and I can't wait to get started," Stevens said.