Jans announces men’s hoops staff additions
Credit: Mississippi State Athletics
by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications
June 26 – Doug Wagemester and Jordan Sperber will join the Mississippi State men’s basketball staff announced Wednesday by head coach Chris Jans.
Wagemester will serve as State’s Senior Associate Athletics Director of Men’s Basketball, while Sperber comes in as State’s Senior Director of Basketball Strategy.
“I’ve known Coach Wags my entire adult life,” Jans said. “Our relationship has been long and trustworthy. Wags will bring a multi-faceted skill set to our program. He knows me, knows ball and is a highly organized communicator who will serve our program well in the office, on campus, and in the community. We can’t wait to welcome Doug, Kim and his family to Starkville.”
Wagemester spent 26 seasons at Kirkwood Community College located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he followed Jans as the school’s men’s basketball coach from 1998-99 to 2012-13. He racked up 409 victories sparked by a trio of 30-win campaigns, captured 12 conference championships, coached 11 players to National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America accolades and secured NJCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2009-10.
Wagemester guided Kirkwood to nine NJCAA Tournaments fueled by three national runner-up finishes during the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2008-09 seasons. Overall, the Eagles amassed nine NJCAA Top 5 finishes over his 15-year tenure.
Most recently, Wagemester focused his efforts as Kirkwood’s Athletics Director over the last 11 seasons after he served in a dual capacity role as athletics director and men’s basketball coach from 2006-07 to 2012-13. The Eagles won 10 of the school’s 15 NJCAA National Championships with Wagemester in the athletic director chair.
Sperber worked for Jans as a video coordinator and analytics specialist at New Mexico State in 2017-18 where the Aggies posted a 28-6 record en route to a NCAA Tournament berth. He also was on staff for New Mexico State’s NCAA Tournament bid in 2016-17 under Paul Weir.
“The college basketball industry knows and respects Jordan Sperber,” Jans said. “Jordan is a relentless worker that possesses a rare talent. His ability to absorb and process information to help our team gain a competitive advantage is second to none. I’ve worked with Jordan and witnessed firsthand the analytical skills he will use to help us succeed. Mississippi State basketball got significantly better with the additions of Doug and Jordan to our staff.”
Sperber is well known around the college basketball community as the founder of HoopVision, a basketball analytics website he created when he was a junior in high school. The site has been a resource for coaches and scouts by providing a blend of statistical analysis, video coverage and insider access to leading coaches and voices inside the basketball community. He also has served as a private analytics consultant for numerous college programs, coaches and agents over the years.
