John Jakus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Jakus at Florida Atlantic in 2024 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Florida Atlantic |
| Conference | The American |
| Record | 36–31 (.537) |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 9, 1975[1] |
| Alma mater | Trinity International University (1999) Baylor University (2014) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2004–2008 | Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy |
| 2005–2008 | Athletes in Action (VHC) |
| 2008–2014 | Athletes in Action |
| 2008–2009 | Agape Bulgaria |
| 2010–2011 | ABA Strumica |
| 2012–2014 | Baylor (GA) |
| 2017–2022 | Baylor (assistant) |
| 2022–2024 | Baylor (associate) |
| 2024–present | Florida Atlantic |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2008–2014 | Athletes in Action (director) |
| 2010–2011 | ABA Strumica (AGM) |
| 2014–2017 | Gonzaga (DBO) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 36–31 (.537) |
| Tournaments | 1–1 (NIT) |
John Walter Jakus (born October 9, 1975)[2][1] is an American basketball coach who is the current head coach of the Florida Atlantic Owls men's basketball team.
Jakus was born in Chicago but grew up in Johnsburg, Illinois.[3] He attended Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, where he received an undergraduate degree in religious studies in 1999, and later received a master's degree in sports management at Baylor University in 2014.[3][4]
Coaching career
Jakus coached at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy from 2004 to 2008, having a winning percentage of .810 in four years as head coach.[3][4] He worked with the organization Athletes in Action (AIA) as a volunteer head coach for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and professional trips from 2005 to 2008.[4] In 2008, he volunteered as a head coach for AIA in a trip to Bulgaria.[2]
Jakus became a full-time coach and director for AIA afterwards and also began coaching the team Agape Bulgaria.[2][4] He also served as team chaplain with Agape Bulgaria.[5] He served with the team through 2009, and in 2010 became the head coach and assistant general manager of ABA Strumica in Macedonia.[4] He served in the position until 2011 and helped the team earn a promotion to the top division.[4] He continued working with AIA through 2014.[4]
Jakus returned to the U.S. in 2012 to care for his son, who was diagnosed with autism.[2] He accepted a coaching position that year as graduate assistant for the Baylor Bears, remaining in the role for two seasons.[6] He left the team following the 2013–14 season and became the director of basketball operations for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.[2][7] Jakus served three seasons at Gonzaga and helped them reach the national championship in 2017.[8][9] He returned to Baylor after the season to become an assistant coach.[10] He was an assistant coach at Baylor for seven seasons, assisting as they won the national championship in 2021 and won Big 12 Conference titles in 2021 and 2022.[11] Jakus was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2022-23 season.[12]
Jakus was named the head coach of the Florida Atlantic Owls on March 27, 2024.[13]
