Mississippi State Basketball Adds Three Assistant Coaches
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball has hired three new assistant coaches, the program announced Thursday. The additions include Corey Barker, Alex Barlow, and Shunn Buchanan. Head coach Chris Jans said the new staff members will help strengthen the Bulldogs’ roster and recruiting efforts.
Corey Barker previously worked with Jans at Bowling Green and New Mexico State. During his tenure at New Mexico State, the Aggies won three consecutive Western Athletic Conference titles and posted a 25-6 record in 2019-20, nearly earning an NCAA Tournament bid before the season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Barker also spent time at Louisiana Tech and TCU, where he contributed to multiple postseason appearances and historic wins, including the Horned Frogs’ 24 victories in 2017 and their first NCAA Tournament appearance in two decades.
Alex Barlow joins Mississippi State after eight seasons with the Boston Celtics organization and three years as an assistant at Butler University. At Butler, Barlow helped the team reach the 2024 NIT and the 2025 College Basketball Invitational. He previously worked with the Celtics as a video assistant and served as head coach of their G League affiliate, Maine Celtics, in 2022-23, leading the team to 30 wins and a playoff appearance.
Shunn Buchanan most recently served as an assistant coach at New Mexico State, helping the team to two consecutive 21-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. He also worked as a graduate assistant at State, contributing to their NCAA Tournament runs and notable wins over AP Top 25 teams. Buchanan’s coaching background includes a stint at Navarro College, where he focused on guard development and defense.
Mississippi State is scheduled to open its 2026-27 season against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 2 at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs, led by Jans, are currently accepting season ticket deposits at www.HailState.com/tickets. Fans can follow the program on social media using the handle ‘HailStateMBK’ on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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