Delta State welcomes Boone as new basketball coach

Jim Boone speaks to students and faculty at Delta State last week after being named the new men's basketball coach.

From The Mississippi Link Newswire

CLEVELAND – Over 150 fans and media gathered in the Simmons Room of the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni House last week to welcome Jim Boone as the new head coach of the Delta State men’s basketball program.

Boone replaces Jason Conner, who was fired last month after a 6-21 season. He went 22-9 in his only season at West Virginia Wesleyan that included the Bobcats’ first-ever win in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Delta State University President Dr. John Hilpert led off with an initial statement welcoming everyone out and thanking the community for their continued support of the university and the athletics programs. Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain then took the time to go through the selection process detailing all of the qualifications that made Boone the right man for the job.

Boone took the time at the podium to address the fans and the media on what they expect to see from him and Statesmen men’s basketball program going forward into the future.

“I am extremely excited today to take over a program with such a rich tradition,“ Boone said “the challenge is before us and it’s time to get to work.”

Boone, a native of Winfield, W.V., brings 27 years of collegiate coaching experience to Delta State, including stops at the NCAA Division I and II levels. His career record speaks to his success on the hardwood, but his real niche has been at the NCAA DII level where he has posted a blistering 338-166 mark as a head coach.

During his career, his teams have recorded 17 or more wins on 16 occasions, including six conference championships, four tournament titles and seven postseason appearances. From 1990-96, his California teams recorded over 20 victories for six consecutive years tallying an impressive 150-33 mark during that span. His 94-24 league record in the PSAC is still the best of any coach in that conference’s history. He was named PSAC Coach of the Year on three occasions (1988, 1992, 1996) and NCAA Region Coach Year twice (1992, 1996).

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