Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has ushered in a new era for its men’s basketball program with the appointment of John Jakus as head coach in March 2024. Jakus, widely respected as one of the nation’s premier assistant coaches, arrives at FAU after an impressive collegiate coaching career spent under the tutelage of two legendary figures in the sport: Scott Drew of Baylor and Mark Few of Gonzaga.
“When we embarked on this search, we consulted with coaches, athletic directors, administrators, scouts, and agents, and consistently, the name John Jakus emerged with exceptional praise,” stated Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White. “He perfectly aligns with our vision for enhancing and building upon the existing momentum within our program. His distinguished background, learning from two of the most accomplished coaches in basketball today, is truly unparalleled. John is known for his tireless work ethic, deep care for his players, and keen understanding of the contemporary college athletics landscape. He is a proven winner, committed to achieving success with integrity. On behalf of President Stacy Volnick and our Board of Trustees, I am delighted to welcome John, his wife Sara, and their children Brady, Cal, and Harper to the FAU family.”
Alt text: John Jakus, newly appointed FAU Men’s Basketball Head Coach, speaks at his introductory press conference, highlighting his vision for the program.
Jakus’s nine seasons on Scott Drew’s staff at Baylor, including his role as associate head coach since 2022, were instrumental in the Bears’ remarkable ascent to national prominence. During his tenure, Baylor achieved a National Championship title in 2021, a 217-86 overall record, a 100-58 conference record in the challenging Big 12, six NCAA Tournament appearances, and two Sweet Sixteen berths.
Notably, Baylor secured consecutive Big 12 titles in 2021 and 2022 – the program’s first conference championships since 1950 – becoming only the third team in conference history to achieve back-to-back titles. These dominant seasons culminated in No. 1 seedings for Baylor in the NCAA Tournament.
“We are thrilled to welcome John and his family to the Florida Atlantic family,” expressed President Stacy Volnick. “This is an exciting time for the men’s basketball team, and we have full confidence that John will sustain and elevate this program’s extraordinary trajectory.”
Before his impactful tenure at Baylor, John Jakus cultivated significant international basketball experience. Prior to joining Baylor in 2012, the 48-year-old Chicago native served as head coach and assistant general manager for ABA Strumica in Macedonia (2010-11). He also contributed to Athletes in Action for nearly a decade (2005-2014) as a volunteer head coach for both NCAA and professional basketball tours, and as international basketball head coach and director. His diverse background also includes three seasons as Gonzaga’s director of operations (2014-17), further solidifying his reputation before his return to Baylor as an assistant coach in 2017.
Alt text: John Jakus and FAU Athletic Director Brian White shake hands, marking the official announcement of Jakus as the new men’s basketball coach.
“This is an incredibly special moment for my wife Sara, our children Brady, Cal, and Harper, and myself,” shared Jakus. “I am deeply honored and humbled to be named the head coach at Florida Atlantic University. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Stacy Volnick, Director of Athletics Brian White, and the Board of Trustees for their faith in me and my vision for the future of the Owls. This program has been exceptionally well-managed, and I have immense respect for the achievements of Dusty May, his staff, and the players. FAU has established itself as one of the nation’s elite teams over the past two seasons, and I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to build upon that legacy.”
Baylor’s championship-caliber program, under the guidance of coaches like John Jakus, has consistently produced top-tier talent. Leading up to the 2023-24 season, Baylor guards earned All-America honors for four consecutive seasons with Jakus on staff: Jared Butler (2020, 2021), Davion Mitchell (2021), MaCio Teague (2021), James Akinjo (2022), and Adam Flagler (2023).
Jared Butler made history as the program’s first consensus first-team All-American and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Davion Mitchell swept the National Defensive Player of the Year awards, showcasing the player development expertise within the Baylor program where Jakus played a significant role.
Furthermore, since Jakus joined Baylor, the Bears have had an impressive five NBA Draft selections, including three consecutive lottery picks: Davion Mitchell (9th in 2021), Jeremy Sochan (9th in 2022), and Keyonte George (16th in 2023). Baylor stands alone as the only program with three top-16 picks in the last three years. The program’s 11 NBA selections since 2012 rank 10th nationally, demonstrating Baylor’s consistent ability to prepare players for the highest level of basketball.
With John Jakus contributing to the coaching strategy, Baylor has consistently ranked among the nation’s most potent offensive teams. Baylor and Gonzaga are the only two programs nationally to achieve a top-five offensive ranking in three of the last four years, and the only two with a top-10 offense for four straight years entering the 2023-24 season.
Recognized as an accomplished recruiter, John Jakus has been instrumental in Baylor securing two top-five recruiting classes and three top-15 classes in the last four seasons. Baylor and Duke are the only two programs to boast top-five recruiting classes in both 2023 and 2024. This recruiting prowess has brought four McDonald’s All-Americans to Baylor’s campus: VJ Edgecomb, Ja’Kobe Walter, Keyonte George, and Kendall Brown.
Jakus has also demonstrated success in attracting top talent through the transfer portal, adding eight Division I transfers in the past four years. Notable additions include Pac-12 first-team selection James Akinjo (Arizona), MaCio Teague (UNC Asheville), Adam Flagler (Presbyterian), and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (UNLV), who was named the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
John Jakus earned a Bachelor of Science in religious studies from Trinity International University in 1999 and a master’s degree in sport management from Baylor in 2014. He is married to Sara, and they are the proud parents of three children: sons Brady and Cal, and daughter Harper.
Media Releases:
Palm Beach Post: Click here
Associated Press: Click here
