Southern Miss Basketball Coach Jay Ladner desires to see his Golden Eagles within the NCAA Event.

If any particular person was born to be a coach, it was undoubtedly Jay Ladner.  Rising up underneath the course of a Mississippi Sports activities Corridor of Fame Coach J. Larry Ladner as his father, additionally recognized within the state as “the Ambassador of Basketball,” was a studying expertise that supplied early tutelage in the direction of this profession.

With the historical past of constructing a profitable tradition in each establishment the place he has been, Jay Ladner has struggled being the pinnacle basketball coach within the final three years at his alma mater, the College of Southern Mississippi, with a subpar document of 46-69.  Nevertheless, the switching of conferences from Convention USA to the Solar Belt the place regional rivalries exist together with a powerful recruiting class, new workers and personnel are loads of the rationale USM is now 23-4.

“I can’t go a single day with out thanking the USM Golden Eagles trustworthy who’ve been with us by way of thick and skinny,” mentioned Ladner after the group was offered out within the 82-71 Southern Miss victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in entrance of 8000 individuals.  “This crowd at Reed Inexperienced Coliseum is so paying homage to 1987 once I was dwelling it.  There have been a few instances I’ve been on the sidelines and felt goosebumps with that vitality.”

The coach was reflecting on his time as a guard underneath the legendary USM Basketball Coach M.Okay. Turk from 1984 to 1988, after they gained in the one postseason event with a victory within the Nationwide Invitational Event (NIT) in 1987.  Regardless of his hiatus from basketball for a number of years after commencement, Ladner had the itch at a younger age to be a instructor and coach.

Shortly after, athletic director Jerry Spell from a small Catholic faculty in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (St. Stanislaus) known as when Ladner despatched a job utility in 1992 for an interview.  Following the introduction to the Brothers of the Sacred Coronary heart Catholic group, who ran the partial boarding faculty, the remainder was historical past.  After 20 years, 511 wins, and a MHSAA State Championship, the veteran coach determined to maneuver again house to Hattiesburg.

“It was an honor to teach every of the excellent males at St. Stanislaus,” expressed Ladner.  “The power to study from an important mentor in Jerry Spell, the various Brothers of the Sacred Coronary heart that I got here throughout, and excellent college was past my appreciation.”

Regardless that Ladner had a short function at this alma mater Oak Grove Excessive College, the junior school ranks from proper down the highway got here calling.  In July 2012, Ladner was employed because the Jones County Junior Faculty Head Basketball Coach.  Following a median season in 2012-13, the 2013-2014 Bobcats have been the primary staff in Mississippi historical past to win the NJCAA Nationwide Championship with a 28-5 document.  

A gap on the College of Southeastern Louisiana got here later in the summertime of 2014 and Ladner was employed by the Lions athletic director Jay Artigues.  Artigues had watched Ladner all through his profession on account of being from Bay St. Louis initially.  Equally to how every establishment had been for Ladner, his staff encountered issues for the primary few years.

Because it was Ladner’s first Division I teaching job, recruiting turned a big a part of placing wins and losses collectively versus X’s and O’s.

“Highschool coaches ask me on a regular basis what the distinction in teaching from their degree to junior school to Division I is,” said Ladner after a convincing Southern Miss victory over James Madison College in late January.  “I inform them it’s all concerning the superior scouting. We’ve a coach that appears approach forward for our future video games and breaks down groups very detailed.”

Ladner had a profitable fourth season for the Lions, ending 22-12 and profitable the common season title whereas incomes a berth to their first ever NIT. A yr later, the Southern Miss job turned out there and with monumental alumni assist, Ladner was employed.  

For 3 years, USM appeared like there was a darkish cloud over their basketball program as a result of that they had a time coping with all the pieces from the pandemic to earlier sanction considerations to the entire staff transferring. With a 24-65 document on the time, Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McLain went to bat for Ladner.

“Our focus and expectation continues to focus on enhancing our basketball program with Coach Ladner as our head coach,” McLain mentioned.

With the executive assist, the bigger crowds, a brand new convention, and an general embrace from Southern Miss followers, the Golden Eagles at present sit at 23-4 general and 12-2 in convention with a 14-0 document in Reed Inexperienced Coliseum in Hattiesburg after beating Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, February eleventh 76-67.  If Southern Miss wins their final 4 common season video games, they’ll maintain the NCAA document for biggest comeback ever by profitable 20 extra video games than the yr earlier than.

From the Coast to the Pine Belt, the one element that considerations Jay Ladner now’s the chance to get to the NCAA Event. That might prime off a profession with practically 700 wins and add to the teaching tutelage, the mentorship and the friendships Ladner has left alongside the best way as he has constructed a legacy.