Jonus leads women’s hoops to conference tourney

The LaGrange College women’s basketball team finished its first season under new Head Coach Jasen Jonus. The Panthers, playing an abbreviated conferenceonly schedule, won their first eight games and were the third seed in the USA South West Division Tournament.

“The season was an immense success,” said Jonus. “Despite all the obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic, our student-athletes were committed to the process throughout the entire academic year.

We have laid the groundwork for future success, and we must continue building off that in years to come. With an experienced returning group and a strong incoming class, we have high expectations for the 2021-22 season.

Jonus coached an up-tempo style of play for the Panthers. LC was fifth in the USA South in scoring, averaging 77.1 points per game. Senior guard Jahpera McEachin was fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game, the highest in the program’s history.

Jonus was an Assistant Coach for the LC men’s basketball program for seven years from 2013-20, serving as the Associate Head Coach for the final three seasons. He was the varsity reserve Head Coach for four years.

He was a key factor during one of the most successful runs in the history of men's basketball at LaGrange. From 2014-17, the Panthers won three USA South championships and reached the NCAA Division III tournament in four straight years.

Jonus’ wife, the former Hunter Connell ’14, was a member of the LC women’s basketball team from 2010-2014.