Newly hired Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball coach Jeff Hans participated in a question-and-answer session with our Marc Hardin last year while still at Thomas More University. Hans talked about recruiting and his coaching methods. This story originally appeared May 8, 2023 at LINK nky.
Jeff Hans entered Wilmington College in Ohio as an agricultural student. He hoped to capitalize on his experience growing up on a farm while attending National Trail High School in New Paris, Ohio. He finished college on the basketball coaching track after getting a taste of coaching his junior year at Wilmington when he assisted at nearby Clinton-Massie Middle School.
After he earned a degree in agriculture at Wilmington, Hans’ coaching journey continued at virtually every college level beginning at his alma matter as an assistant. It took him to NCAA Division II Northern Kentucky University, Division I Indiana State, St. Henry High School, Lexington Catholic High School, back to NKU and finally Thomas More University where Hans is credited with a 321-31 career record as the Saints have moved from NCAA Division III to the NAIA and now back to the NCAA at Division II.
Hans is credited with winning nine conference championships and three national titles including two unbeaten national championships at Thomas More, where he has coached 12 years and is the program’s all-time coaching victory leader. The Saints were national runners-up at the NAIA tournament this year for the second time. He has earned several coach of the week, coach of the month and coach of the year honors. To put Hans’ .911 college winning percentage into perspective, Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma’s career winning percentage is an NCAA Division I-leading .883.
I had a chance recently to catch up with coach Hans. Here is what he had to say.
QUESTION: Your career winning percentage at Thomas More is beyond impressive. You have won 92 of your last 102 games. How has this happened?
ANSWER: There are a lot factors that go into having the amount of success we have had during my 12 years and even before I became the head coach at Thomas More. It starts at the top with the support from our university presidents. Sister Margaret Stallmeyer took a chance by hiring me in 2011. Dave Armstrong and now President Joseph Chillo have been very supportive of our student-athletes. Our athletic department is one of the best in the country at any level. Terry Connor and Jeff Hetzer have done a lot for our student-athletes. Any good program has good assistant coaches and that has been the situation here. The biggest credit for our sustained success goes to the players.
Q: Talk a little bit about your practice and scheduling philosophies.
A: I have to be able to adjust our style of play to our team. We can recruit certain players to the system, but there are always adjustments that need to be made. One of those ways we teach our system and to see where we can be successful is to play a lot in practice. We are always keeping score. But we are doing it in different drills and different types of simulated games. We put them into game settings so they will be comfortable as different situations arise. We want to be ready to play for championships, but to do that, you need to see the best teams. I always feel it’s better to play against a tough non-conference schedule.
Q: Who’s on the Mount Rushmore of greatest Thomas More players? Is there a clear top tier?
A: That is a tough question. I don’t think you can limit to four players that have been instrumental in making this a great program. A list of players: Sydney Moss, Madison Temple, Abby Owings, Nicole Dickman and Amy Burke. Also, Allison Long, Zoie Barth, Devin Beasley, Jayme Thiem, Nikki Kiernan and Kim Prewitt.
Q: There are several local players on that list. A lot of girls from Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati have gone on to have success at Thomas More. There are 10 locals on your roster right now. How important is it to own your backyard and recruit locals to the program?
A: It’s important for us to recruit locally. Their families have been there to support them through a lot of ups and downs in athletics, academics, and life. When the local recruits come here, they can still have that support close to them. But also get away from home to gain the college experience. The families are still able to get to a lot of games home and away. It’s good to play at Thomas More because we have great tradition that was built by local recruits.
Q: Talk about transitioning next season to NCAA Division II.
A: We are looking forward to the transition to Division II and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Being in the NAIA and Mid-South Conference has helped us prepare for the transition. But we know there are areas we need to continue to grow in order to compete. This move allows us to separate ourselves from other universities in the region. We can hopefully help grow interest in Thomas More with some of the new academic programs that are being started. Our current players are excited about the challenge and opportunity to lead us into a new era.